Post-Quantum Cybersecurity: Threats and Mitigations

Post-Quantum Cybersecurity: Understanding the Threats, Engaging in Mitigations

Develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to understand and address emerging cybersecurity risks posed by advances in quantum computing. Through applied learning, real-world examples, and industry-relevant activities, this micro-credential equips learners to assess vulnerabilities and prepare for the transition to quantum-safe cryptography.

Understand how quantum computing could affect current cybersecurity systems and encryption methods
Assess risks associated with post-quantum cybersecurity threats
Explore quantum-safe cryptographic approaches and mitigation strategies
Apply practical knowledge in cybersecurity, risk management, and technology environments
Earn a UVic micro-credential in Post-Quantum Cybersecurity

Choose from the following intakes:

October 13, 2026
January 4, 2027

Program at a glance

The Post-Quantum Cybersecurity micro-credential prepares learners to address emerging cybersecurity threats driven by advances in quantum computing. Focused on applied and industry-relevant skills, the program helps learners assess risks to current encryption systems and evaluate strategies for implementing quantum-safe cryptographic mitigations.

Learners can study on their own schedule through flexible online learning, complemented by live instructor-led sessions.

Program details

October 2026 intake: October 13 to December 18, 2026
January 2027 intake: January 4 to March 12, 2027
Program duration: 10 weeks
Delivery: Fully online with self-paced learning and optional live sessions
Optional live sessions: Two 1-hour instructor-led sessions per week
Time commitment: Approximately 5 to 7 hours per week
Learning experience: Self-paced online learning complemented by practical exercises, industry-relevant assessments, collaborative learning activities, and optional live instructor-led sessions

Industry alignment

Addresses emerging cybersecurity challenges associated with advances in quantum computing.
Focuses on practical approaches to assessing cryptographic vulnerabilities and organizational risk.
Examines approaches to strengthening organizational resilience in a post-quantum environment.
Supports professional development for cybersecurity, technology, risk management, and digital transformation professionals.

Why post-quantum cybersecurity?

Advances in quantum computing are expected to transform many areas of computing while creating new challenges for cybersecurity. As quantum technologies advance, some widely used encryption methods may become vulnerable to future quantum-enabled attacks.

Organizations across government, industry, and critical infrastructure sectors are increasingly assessing their readiness for a post-quantum future. Understanding emerging risks and available mitigation strategies is becoming an important capability for cybersecurity and technology professionals.

This micro-credential provides a practical introduction to post-quantum cybersecurity, helping learners understand evolving threats, assess organizational readiness, and explore strategies for transitioning to quantum-safe cryptographic solutions.

What sets this program apart?

This micro-credential combines practical cybersecurity knowledge, real-world learning activities, and emerging post-quantum concepts to help learners prepare for the evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Practical mitigation strategies

Explore approaches for identifying cryptographic risks and implementing quantum-safe protections.

Connect policy, technology, and risk
Develop an understanding of the technical, organizational, and strategic considerations involved in post-quantum readiness.

Industry-relevant learning
Apply concepts through authentic assessment activities and real-world cybersecurity scenarios.

Focus on emerging challenges
Build an understanding of how advances in quantum computing may affect cybersecurity practices, encryption methods, and organizational risk.

Is this program right for you?

This program is designed for professionals, graduates, and lifelong learners who want to better understand emerging cybersecurity risks and the implications of quantum computing for organizational security. This program is ideal for:

Cybersecurity professionals
Information security analysts and practitioners
IT managers and technology leaders
Risk management, governance, compliance, and audit professionals
Government and public sector employees
Professionals responsible for digital infrastructure and organizational security
Technology professionals interested in emerging cybersecurity challenges
Computer science and engineering students and graduates
Individuals seeking to understand the cybersecurity implications of quantum computing and post-quantum readiness

What you'll learn

Learners will develop knowledge and skills in:

The fundamentals of quantum computing and its implications for cybersecurity
The impact of quantum technologies on current cryptographic systems
Emerging risks to classical encryption methods
Post-quantum cryptography concepts and standards
Quantum-safe mitigation strategies and migration planning
Cryptographic risk assessment approaches
Organizational readiness for post-quantum cybersecurity
Cybersecurity governance and strategic planning considerations
Real-world applications and use cases in post-quantum security
Emerging trends in quantum-enabled cybersecurity

What you'll gain

A UVic micro-credential in Post-Quantum Cybersecurity
Foundational knowledge of post-quantum cybersecurity concepts and challenges
An understanding of how quantum computing may impact current cybersecurity practices
Practical approaches for assessing cryptographic risks and vulnerabilities
Exposure to quantum-safe cryptographic strategies and mitigation frameworks
Experience applying concepts through authentic assessment activities
Preparation for further study and professional development in cybersecurity, quantum technologies, and digital risk management

Program outline and resources

Module 1: The quantum threat & problem focus (weeks 1–3)

Week 1 — Understanding quantum and the cybersecurity threat landscape: Classical vs. quantum computing, quantum principles/technologies, CRQC timelines, HNDL threat model, and the resulting cybersecurity challenge.
Week 2 — Cryptographic vulnerability analysis: Symmetric vs. asymmetric encryption, vulnerable vs. resilient algorithms, Shor's and Grover's algorithm impacts, and crypto-agility.
Week 3 — Risk assessment & migration urgency: Risk triangle (Mosca's theorem), qualitative vs. quantitative risk, regulatory pressure (NIST, CNSA 2.0), and QKD vs. PQC.

Module 2: Post-quantum mitigation & solution focus (weeks 4–6)

Week 4 — Post-quantum cryptographic standards & algorithms: NIST PQC standards (ML-KEM, ML-DSA, SLH-DSA), trade-offs vs. classical algorithms, PQC vs. QKD, and ongoing evaluation.
Week 5 — Crypto-agility & hybrid cryptography: Hybrid key exchange/certificates, crypto-agility patterns, PKI implications, and early hybrid TLS lessons.
Week 6 — Migration planning & implementation strategy: Migration playbooks, testing/interoperability, TLS 1.3 updates, vendor dependencies, and common pitfalls.

Module 3: Application and use case focus (weeks 7–9)

Week 7 — Industry-specific PQC case studies: Sector drivers (finance, defense, healthcare, OT/ICS), early pilots, and case analysis.
Week 8 — PQC tooling & operational implementation: Discovery/inventory tooling, TLS library support, HSM/CA readiness, and vendor maturity.
Week 9 — Building an organizational PQC migration roadmap: Roadmap/maturity-model thinking, prioritization by data sensitivity, and executive communication.

Assessment

The micro-credential will be assessed as pass/fail. Assessments will be a combination of short knowledge checks (e.g., quizzes), programming activities, and a culminating assisgnment.

Tuition

Tuition: $1,800 CAD

Funding is available to help offset tuition costs for eligible learners. To learn more about tuition subsidy opportunities, please contact pp_info@uvic.ca.

Key dates

October 2026 intake:

Application deadline: October 6, 2026
Program start date: October 13, 2026
Program end date: December 18, 2026

January 2027 intake:

Application deadline: TBD
Program start date: January 4, 2027
Program end date: March 12, 2027

Register now

Contact us

For questions pertaining to the Post-Quantum Cybersecurity: Understanding the Threats, Engaging in Mitigations micro-credential, please contact pp_info@uvic.ca.