Abstract
What does it take to keep the world’s most widely used cryptographic library secure in the quantum era? In this episode of Shielded: The Last Line of Cyber Defense, host Johannes Lintzen welcomes Tomáš Mráz, Director of the OpenSSL Software Foundation, and Jon Ericson, Community Manager at the Foundation. Together, they explore OpenSSL’s evolution, from its 25-year legacy to its upcoming OpenSSL 3.6 release, hybrid cryptography, and the global effort to achieve FIPS certifications for post-quantum algorithms. Learn how community contributions, funding models, and industry partnerships are shaping OpenSSL’s role in securing the internet’s future.OpenSSL has secured the internet for over 25 years, but how does a project with such deep legacy prepare for the quantum future?
What You’ll Learn
- How OpenSSL evolved from engines to providers, enabling faster adoption of new cryptographic standards
- Why community contributions, from bug fixes to corporate sponsorships, remain critical to OpenSSL’s future
- The significance of OpenSSL 3.5 and what to expect in the upcoming 3.6 release
- How the Foundation approaches FIPS 140-3 certification and the challenges of validating post-quantum algorithms
- Why hybrid cryptography and TLS-style agility are central to migration planning
- The importance of funding diversification and how organizations can contribute
- What to expect at the first OpenSSL Conference in Prague
- OpenSSL’s three-to-five-year outlook on PQC adoption, performance, and global standards alignment
Tomáš Mráz is the Director of the OpenSSL Software Foundation and a long-time contributor to the project. After years at Red Hat maintaining OpenSSL packages and serving on the OpenSSL Technical Committee, Tomáš now leads both governance and technical efforts for the Foundation. He has played a key role in transitioning OpenSSL to a provider-based model and integrating post-quantum cryptography support.
Jon Ericson is the Community Manager at the OpenSSL Software Foundation. With a background in programming and community building, Jon works to strengthen the connection between OpenSSL’s global user base and its core developers. From GitHub sponsorships to community use case surveys, he ensures that OpenSSL remains responsive to the evolving needs of its contributors and stakeholders.
With the shift to post-quantum cryptography accelerating, Tomáš Mráz and Jon Ericson’s message is clear: OpenSSL’s future will be defined by community, funding, and cryptographic agility, ensuring the internet’s most trusted library stays secure in the quantum era.
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