Within the ever-evolving panorama of cybersecurity, HNDL (Harvest Now, Decrypt Later) is rising as a silent however critical risk. It doesn’t require an attacker to interrupt encryption at this time—it simply bets that they are going to be ready to take action tomorrow.
What’s HNDL?
HNDL is a long-term knowledge breach technique through which adversaries intercept and retailer encrypted knowledge at this time, with the intention of decrypting it sooner or later when computing energy—notably quantum computing—makes breaking present cryptography possible. The worth of the information doesn’t have to be fast. Delicate medical information, confidential enterprise contracts, protection communications, or citizen knowledge can all retain strategic worth years down the highway.
Why Ought to You Be Involved?
- Quantum computing is just not science fiction anymore. Progress is accelerating, and whereas sensible quantum decryption should still be years away, risk actors (together with state-sponsored teams) are already making ready by harvesting knowledge now.
- Most encryption used at this time (like RSA and ECC) will ultimately be weak to quantum assaults until up to date with post-quantum cryptography (PQC).
- You might by no means understand it’s taking place. In contrast to ransomware or denial-of-service assaults, HNDL leaves no fast hint.
What Ought to Organizations Do?
You don’t want a crystal ball to defend in opposition to future dangers—you want a roadmap. Right here’s find out how to act now:
1. Stock and Classify Your Cryptographic Property
- Begin with a crypto-agility evaluation: Establish all situations of cryptographic use throughout your infrastructure, together with TLS, VPNs, inside apps, backups, and cloud integrations.
- Categorize the knowledge sensitivity and longevity of confidentiality required. Something that should keep confidential for greater than 3-5 years is doubtlessly in danger from HNDL.
2. Prioritize Lengthy-Lived, Excessive-Sensitivity Visitors
- VPN tunnels, database backups, and software program distribution programs are prime targets for HNDL.
- Visitors between core programs and long-term logs are particularly weak.
3. Undertake Put up-Quantum Cryptography The place It Issues Most
- Start testing or deploying hybrid cryptographic protocols (e.g., classical + PQC) that meet each present and future safety wants.
- Search for standards-compliant options like these aligned with NIST’s FIPS 203/204/205 (for ML-KEM, ML-DSA, and SLH-DSA).
4. Demand PQC Roadmaps from Your Distributors
- Ask your safety distributors and infrastructure suppliers what they’re doing to assist PQC and mitigate HNDL.
- Search interoperability exams and pilot deployments—don’t look ahead to full productization.
5. Shield the Channel, Not Simply the Endpoint
- Even when your endpoints are safe, site visitors in transit is weak to interception.
- Safe communication channels (IPsec, TLS, MACsec) ought to evolve to assist PQC as a prime precedence.
Remaining Thought
HNDL isn’t only a future drawback—it’s a gift threat disguised by time. Organizations that wait till quantum computer systems are absolutely operational will have already got misplaced the battle for his or her previous knowledge. The time to behave is now.
If you’re headed for the #RSAC, you may be taught extra from the Cisco session on Architecting the Way forward for Safety by Cisco Thought Chief Tim Rowley on Tuesday, April twenty ninth 2025 at 10:30 am on the Cisco Safety Sales space #N5845. We’d love to attach and trade concepts as we put together for the brand new frontiers in safety.
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