Preparing For Quantum Computing Threats

As organizations become increasingly aware of the threats posed by quantum computing to traditional network security, it’s essential to establish a robust, step-by-step timeline for upgrading security measures. In this blog post, we’ll walk through a practical conversation with the Quantum Network Monitor Assistant to plan, prioritize, and begin monitoring your network for quantum-safe compliance—a crucial starting point for any organization getting ready for the quantum future.

Step 1: Assess Your Current Network Security Posture

User: I need to know what assets are currently being monitored on my network.

Assistant: Absolutely! To get started, let’s retrieve a list of all the network hosts and services under monitoring. Here’s how I’d call the get_host_list function:

{
  "name": "functions.get_host_list",
  "arguments": {
    "detail_response": true
  }
}

The function returns a detailed overview of your monitored endpoints, including their addresses, protocols, and configurations. This gives you a clear inventory of what you already have in place.

Step 2: Identify Vulnerable Services That Need Upgrades

User: Which of my hosts are using encryption methods that aren’t quantum-resistant?

Assistant: Good question! Let’s filter your monitored hosts for those using standard HTTPS (which may rely on algorithms likely to be broken by quantum attacks).

{
  "name": "functions.get_host_list",
  "arguments": {
    "detail_response": true,
    "endpoint": "https"
  }
}

This lets us pinpoint which systems need quantum-ready upgrades, so you can prioritize accordingly.

Step 3: Schedule Quantum Security Assessments

User: I want to know which of these HTTPS hosts are already quantum-resistant or need urgent attention.

Assistant: We can test your critical endpoints for quantum-safe algorithm support. For example, to test if mydomain.com:443 supports quantum-safe protocols, I’ll use:

{
  "name": "functions.call_quantum_expert",
  "arguments": {
    "message": "Test mydomain.com:443 for support of post-quantum algorithms such as Kyber512 and Dilithium2.",
    "agent_location": "Scanner - EU"
  }
}

Once the assessment is complete, I’ll provide a report indicating which hosts are secure, which are at risk, and what needs to change.

Step 4: Plan Upgrade Timelines

User: How do I create a timeline to address these vulnerabilities?

Assistant: After reviewing the quantum expert’s report, you’ll know which assets to upgrade first. Let’s document critical endpoints with immediate risks, followed by less critical ones. You might set quarterly goals—updating mission-critical web servers in Q1, email systems in Q2, internal services in Q3, and so on.

Tip: Use the monitor assistant’s alerting functions to track upgrade deadlines and monitor when endpoints are brought into compliance.

Step 5: Implement and Monitor Upgrades

Once you start migrating services to quantum-safe protocols, you can use the add_host function to start monitoring them in quantum mode:

{
  "name": "functions.add_host",
  "arguments": {
    "detail_response": true,
    "address": "secure.example.com",
    "endpoint": "quantum",
    "email": "[email protected]"
  }
}

This ensures ongoing verification and alerts you about any fallback to insecure algorithms.

Conclusion

Preparing your network for quantum threats is a process, not a one-time task. The Quantum Network Monitor Assistant helps you take inventory, assess risk, engage quantum security experts, and set a clear timeline for upgrades—all in a collaborative, workflow-oriented way. Ready to secure your future? Start mapping your quantum upgrade journey with the assistant today!