In a nutshell: Storage systems require cryptographic flexibility rather than rigid encryption to withstand current and future quantum-based attacks.
Research findings suggest that quantum computers could break classical encryption methods faster than previous forecasts indicated. Cybercriminals are already employing the harvest-now-decrypt-later strategy to decrypt encrypted information at a later date.
According to IT security experts at Dell Technologies, even less powerful quantum computers are sufficient to compromise established cryptographic procedures. Particularly problematic is the widespread “harvest-now-decrypt-later” strategy: attackers copy encrypted data today and store it in order to decrypt it later with advanced quantum systems. This threatens in particular enterprise storage systems on which confidential information is secured over extended periods — including backups, archives, compliance records and intellectual property.
A second threat level emerges from the manipulation of digital signatures by quantum computers. Such signatures are essential for validating firmware, secure boot processes, software updates and the integrity of certificate chains. If these mathematical security proofs are compromised, attackers can inject malicious firmware or undermine manufacturers’ update mechanisms, thereby endangering the entire hardware ecosystem.
The transition to quantum-resistant infrastructure is not a one-time hardware or software step. Because mathematical standards and security assessments continuously evolve, building cryptographic agility is required. Storage systems consist of heterogeneous components from different vendors that implement new procedures at different points in time. Architectures must therefore be designed so that new procedures can be integrated gradually and hybrid approaches combining classical and post-quantum cryptography can be supported simultaneously. In concrete terms, this means: certificates and key management must be updatable without forcing complete hardware replacements.
Steve Kenniston, Senior Cybersecurity Consultant at Dell Technologies, sums up the requirement succinctly: “Post-quantum capability is not the one-time status of a system, but the long-term ability to respond flexibly to new standards, technological developments and changing threat landscapes.”
Source: www.it-daily.net · Published 22 June 2026
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