Arqit to assist NCSC’s post-quantum cryptography pilot

The Nationwide Cyber Safety Centre (NCSC) has enlisted quantum-safe encryption pioneer Arqit Quantum to assist lead on the UK’s looming migration to post-quantum cryptography.

The NCSC’s PQC Pilot scheme is a part of a wider authorities initiative – the Assured Cyber Safety Consultancy (ACSC) Scheme – that’s in search of to construct nationwide experience in getting ready odd organisations to bear this complicated migration, which may start in earnest as quickly as 2028.

Arqit’s function shall be to supply discovery and migration planning providers to organisations getting ready to change on quantum-safe know-how, centring its Encryption Intelligence product, which has been developed to assist customers uncover, assess and handle their cryptographic dangers and exposures.

“Publish-quantum cryptography is likely one of the few moments in cyber historical past the place we will act earlier than the disaster hits,” mentioned Andy Leaver, CEO of Arqit. “Being chosen by the NCSC to take part within the PQC Pilot is a powerful endorsement of our strategy, utilizing the Encryption Intelligence product to assist UK organisations as they face the PQC migration problem. This programme will assist enterprises transfer from uncertainty to motion, with clear steering and sensible instruments to future-proof their safety.”

It’s now well-known that the basic cryptographic algorithms that sit on the core of present-day cyber safety will very doubtless crash and burn as soon as quantum computing turns into a actuality, threatening the confidentiality of delicate communications, information, and authentication methods.

The NCSC has already set out a phased migration plan, advising that organisations ought to have already got beginning the planning course of, with essentially the most high-priority upgrades full by 2031, and completion set for 2035, a decade from now.

Arqit claims its Encyption Intelligence product may also help organisations stroll by way of the method by enabling them to map and perceive current cryptographic property and dependencies, assess danger on important methods and prioritise the early high-priority updates.

It mentioned that by embedding cryptographic agility as we speak, it may well additionally guarantee organisations adapt as new requirements and updates emerge over the approaching years.

Arqit’s admission to the PQC Pilot comes within the wake of its latest acquisition of Belfast-based encryption danger advisory and analytices know-how startup Ampliphae, earlier in 2025, a mixture that the companions hope will exploit synergies between Arqit’s current quantum experience and Ampliphae’s visibility and analytics capabilities.

A variety of different consultancies are additionally concerned within the pilot scheme, which in accordance with the NCSC is designed to supply a “credible cadre” of firms to work with authorities and significant nationwide infrastructure (CNI) operators – and wider business – to establish the precise assist. In addition to Arqit, these embody Avella, Cambridge Consultants, Capgemini, CGI IT, Frazer-Nash, IBM and PQShield.

All these concerned have demonstrated they’re able to offering assist providers for cryptographic discovery and planning, and some assured to supply direct recommendation on PQC use that aligns to the NCSC’s printed positions.

This does, nevertheless, include a caveat – the NCSC has mentioned that whereas the pilot is designed to supply assurance, patrons ought to nonetheless conduct their very own business due diligence throughout their procurement workout routines.

The present pilot is predicted to run till the top of March 2027, at which level it is going to be reviewed.