Abstract
As quantum computing inches closer to real-world impact, organizations can no longer afford to treat post-quantum cryptography as a future concern. In this episode of Shielded: The Last Line of Cyber Defense, host Johannes Lintzen speaks with Professor Bill Buchanan, OBE, FRSE, to examine what it takes to transition into the post-quantum era. They explore the importance of cryptographic agility, the myths around PQC performance, and why human error remains the biggest vulnerability in cybersecurity. From hybrid adoption to hardware integration and upcoming regulatory mandates, Bill offers a candid and practical look at how organizations can prepare for the next generation of encryption before it’s too late.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why cryptographic methods are near-perfect and humans are the real weakness
- How TLS exemplifies cryptographic agility (and why you should learn from it)
- What Apple vs the UK Government reveals about trust and end-to-end encryption
- Why hybrid approaches are more than a stepping stone—and how to do them right
- The real performance and key size implications of PQC (Hint: it’s not scary)
- How to think about certificates, signatures, and dual-key infrastructure
- What’s coming next: homomorphic encryption, multi-party computation, and privacy-preserving design
- Bill’s top 3 priorities for organizations starting their post-quantum journey
Professor Bill Buchanan, OBE, FRSE, is a cybersecurity professor at Edinburgh Napier University and one of the most recognized voices in applied cryptography and digital trust. With over 30 books, 400+ research papers, and multiple spin-out companies to his name, Buchanan has dedicated his career to bridging the gap between theoretical cryptography and real-world implementation. His work spans homomorphic encryption, digital identity, secure system design, and blockchain-based trust frameworks. As a passionate advocate for privacy, fairness, and resilience in digital systems, Buchanan has contributed extensively to shaping both academic research and public policy in cybersecurity. He regularly advises governments and organizations on the future of secure infrastructure in a post-quantum world and is a driving force behind efforts to improve cryptographic literacy and engineering practices. Known for his clear thinking, technical depth, and human-first approach to security, Buchanan remains a trusted voice in the global conversation on quantum readiness and digital transformation.
With the shift to post-quantum cryptography accelerating, Buchanan’s message is clear: crypto agility and system design, not just new algorithms, will define the next era of trust.
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