Abstract

As quantum computing approaches practical viability, the cryptographic foundations of modern digital infrastructure face an existential threat. Hardware Security Modules (HSMs), the bedrock of digital trust, were designed around traditional cryptographic algorithms such as RSA and ECC, both of which could be rendered obsolete by quantum-powered attacks1 . This white paper examines what it truly means for an HSM to be Quantum-Safe by design. Through a forwardlooking thought experiment and a detailed exploration of nine architectural imperatives, it demonstrates why future-proofing the HSM cannot be achieved through software patches or simple algorithm swaps. Instead, it requires a fundamental re-engineering of the trust architecture itself. As the operational backbone of digital sovereignty, the HSM must be resilient in a post-quantum world, a challenge that carries both strategic and national importance.