NVM Express Begins Post-Quantum Cryptography Update to Counter Quantum Threats

NVMe is a high-speed storage protocol connecting solid-state drives with host systems and is widely used in data centers, enterprise servers and personal computers. As quantum computing could break current public-key encryption, stored data faces a “harvest now, decrypt later” risk. The NVM Express consortium therefore plans to adopt post-quantum cryptography (PQC) mechanisms developed by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

The NVM Express consortium has begun updating the NVMe specification to integrate support for NIST post-quantum cryptography, helping storage devices and their management processes address encryption threats in the quantum-computing era. The features are expected to be formally incorporated into the standard specification in the second half of 2026. The consortium has not yet disclosed an exact release date, implementation costs or a timetable for supported products.