Quantum Shield: Post-Quantum Security for Next-Generation Digital Communication
Dr. K Raghavendar,
T Khyathi Gayathri,
T Mounika,
P Babu
The advent of cryptographically relevant quantum computers poses an existential threat to
current public-key cryptographic systems (RSA, ECC) widely used in digital communication
protocols such as TLS, IPsec, VPNs, and secure messaging. Traditional systems face risks from
"Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" attacks, compromising long-term confidentiality of sensitive
data in finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure. This paper proposes
Quantum Shield, a comprehensive post-quantum secure framework for next-generation
digital communication. It integrates NIST-standardized post-quantum algorithms (ML-KEM
for key encapsulation, ML-DSA and SLH-DSA for digital signatures) with hybrid crypto-agile
designs, hardware acceleration support, and role-based access controls. The system ensures
quantum-resistant key establishment, authentication, and end-to-end encryption while
maintaining low latency and high throughput. Experimental evaluation on simulated network
traffic demonstrates acceptable performance overhead, enhanced resistance to quantum
attacks, improved traceability, and secure multi-party coordination. Quantum Shield bridges
the gap between classical and quantum-safe infrastructures, fostering trust and compliance
in an era of quantum threats.
