Why a Cryptographic Inventory Is Key for Addressing the Quantum Computing Threat
Tenable, Friday, August 28th, 2026
Tenable argues harvest now, decrypt later makes quantum an operational threat today, requiring a cryptographic inventory.
When quantum computers become generally available they will be able to break current public-key cryptographic algorithms, putting stored and transmitted data at risk.
Tenable argues the threat already exists in operational terms because of harvest now, decrypt later tactics, in which adversaries actively collect and store encrypted data with the intent of decrypting it retroactively once the capability arrives.
Data with a long confidentiality lifetime is therefore already exposed.
The post makes the case for building a comprehensive cryptographic inventory, so an organization knows what algorithms are in use where, and executing a phased migration strategy from that baseline.