Post-Quantum Cryptography Algorithms for Future-Proof Security

Abstract

The 2024 NIST finalisation of post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standards -- CRYSTALS-Kyber (FIPS 203), CRYSTALS-Dilithium (FIPS 204), FALCON (FIPS 205), and SPHINCS+ -- marks the transition from research to deployment-ready quantum-resistant cryptography. This paper proposes the Post-Quantum Cryptography Algorithm Evaluation (PQCAE) framework, a systematic performance and security analysis of five NIST-standardised and candidate PQC algorithms across five deployment dimensions: key/signature size, computational performance, security level, implementation complexity, and hardware acceleration potential. PQCAE evaluates CRYSTALS-Kyber-768, CRYSTALS-Dilithium-3, FALCON-512, SPHINCS+-128s, and BIKE-L1 on three hardware platforms (x86-64 server, ARM Cortex-M4 embedded, and FPGA). CRYSTALS-Kyber achieves the best overall profile for key encapsulation -- fastest operations (KeyGen 0.06 ms, Encaps 0.08 ms, Decaps 0.09 ms on x86-64) with compact keys. FALCON-512 provides the smallest signature sizes (897 bytes) at moderate computational cost. SPHINCS+ offers the strongest conservative security (hash-based, no lattice assumptions) but largest signatures (8 KB). PQCAE provides migration guidance for organisations transitioning from classical to post-quantum cryptography.