Bengaluru-based quantum security startup QNu Labs has launched QShield 2.0, a sovereign, full-stack post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and crypto-agility platform. Introduced at the company’s 10th anniversary event, the platform serves as the core execution engine for India’s National Cryptographic Assessment & Assurance Framework (NCAAF). The release aligns with recommendations from the Department of Science and Technology’s National Quantum Mission (NQM) Task Force Report, which mandates that critical infrastructure sectors initiate formal PQC migration by 2027.
The NCAAF architecture is structured around an iterative workflow cycle: Discover (mapping cryptographic assets across legacy IT/OT networks), Assess (scoring algorithms and certificates against quantum vulnerability windows), and Assure (continuous, real-time posture validation). Built for on-premises sovereign deployment in banks, defense agencies, and critical infrastructure, QShield 2.0 consolidates five operational modules into a unified management plane to address “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” attack vectors and AI-driven attack surfaces.
| [ QNu Labs QShield 2.0 Module Architecture & NCAAF Scope ] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Module Name | Core Security Function | Sovereign Implementation Scope |
| 01: Quantum Entropy | • Hardware Quantum Random Number Generation (QRNG) | • Physics-based entropy generation via Tropos hardware backends |
| 02: Quantum Readiness Risk Assessment | • Automated discovery, classification, and scoring | • Continuous asset discovery and real-time vulnerability posture tracking |
| 03: Quantum PKI | • Crypto-agile certificate authority & identity lifecycle | • Dynamic, seamless algorithm migration without breaking client code |
| 04: Quantum Vault | • Hardware-secured key custody & secret store | • Protection of long-lived confidential records, root keys, and session keys |
| 05: AI Security | • Cryptographic verification for AI models and pipelines | • Signed model weights, prompt/data pipeline integrity, & agentic AI identity |
Incubated at IIT Madras Research Park and supported by the National Quantum Mission, QNu Labs’ hardware-software portfolio also includes its Armos Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Tropos QRNG systems, which are listed on India’s Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal. The launch incorporates initial deployment accounts across major Indian commercial banks and national security depositories.
Review the launch announcement on QNu Labs Newsroom here and explore platform specifications via QShield 2.0 Platform here, and inspect defense report details on Raksha Anirveda here.
September 21, 2026
Leave A Comment