Forescout, a global cybersecurity leader, has unveiled a patented technology that detects non-quantum-safe encryption in real time, addressing critical vulnerabilities in IT, OT, and IoT environments. This breakthrough, part of Forescout’s Quantum-Safe Security Assurance strategy, enables organizations to identify and mitigate post-quantum cryptography (PQC) risks as quantum computing threats loom closer.
Forescout’s patented technology detects non-quantum-safe encryption in real time.
Only 6% of SSH servers globally support post-quantum cryptography (PQC).
Quantum-Safe Security Assurance strategy covers IT, OT, and IoT environments.
Forescout 4D Platform detects, enforces, mitigates, and controls PQC risks.
Research shows less than 20% of communications use PQC-ready TLS 1.3.
Solution protects against “harvest now, decrypt later” quantum attacks.
The rise of quantum computing poses significant risks to current encryption methods, with “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks becoming a pressing concern. Forescout Research – Vedere Labs found that only 6% of 186 million SSH servers support PQC, leaving most systems vulnerable. With 40% of manufacturers expecting quantum technology adoption by 2026, organizations must act swiftly to secure their infrastructure.
“Quantum computing is no longer a far-off concept,” said Barry Mainz, CEO of Forescout. “It’s a fast-approaching reality that will challenge the foundations of digital trust. Every organization, public or private, needs to start thinking about post-quantum resilience across IT, OT, and IoT environments today.”
Forescout’s patented solution, developed in 2023 and patented in 2024, continuously analyzes device encryption to identify non-quantum-safe ciphers. Integrated into the Forescout 4D Platform, it employs a four-pronged approach: detecting PQC-safe assets, enforcing network segmentation with eyeSegment, mitigating risks using proprietary threat intelligence, and controlling vulnerable devices by limiting their traffic. This ensures comprehensive visibility and protection across hybrid networks.
Positioned at the network layer, Forescout’s technology identifies risky encryption usage, even on unmanaged or evasive devices. By scoring cryptographic ciphers against PQC standards, it provides organizations with clear visibility into their cryptographic posture. This capability is critical for protecting sensitive data, such as PHI from medical devices or financial data, from future quantum-based attacks.
“As organizations prepare for a post-quantum future, detecting systems using outdated encryption is critical,” said Robert McNutt, Chief Strategy Officer at Forescout Technologies, Inc. “Forescout is already delivering on this with our patented technology—the only solution that identifies non-quantum-safe ciphers in real time.”
Forescout’s research reveals significant gaps in PQC readiness. Only 6% of SSH servers and less than 20% of global communications using TLS 1.3 support quantum-safe encryption. Adoption of NIST-standardized algorithms like ML-KEM has grown 554% in six months but remains below 0.1% of servers. OT, IoT, and IoMT devices face additional challenges, often requiring significant hardware or firmware upgrades to achieve PQC compliance.
“We’re seeing a clear drop-off in PQC migration once the early adopters are accounted for,” said Daniel dos Santos, Head of Research at Vedere Labs. “The data shows that most systems aren’t upgrading fast enough to keep pace with the advancing threat model.”
Forescout’s breakthrough technology positions organizations to proactively address quantum computing risks. By offering real-time detection and a robust security framework, Forescout empowers enterprises to safeguard critical data and stay ahead of emerging threats in the quantum era.
For more than 25 years, Fortune 100 organizations, government agencies and large enterprises have trusted Forescout as their foundation to manage cyber risk, ensure compliance and mitigate threats. The Forescout 4D Platform™ delivers comprehensive asset intelligence, continuous assessment and ongoing control over all managed and unmanaged, agented and un-agentable assets across IT, OT, IoT and IoMT environments. Forescout’s open platform makes every cybersecurity investment more effective with seamless data integrations and automated workflow orchestration across more than 100 security and IT products. Forescout Research – Vedere Labs is the industry leader in device intelligence, curating unique and proprietary threat intelligence that powers Forescout’s platform.
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