Getting Started with Q by Wentzel

What is Q by Wentzel?

Q by Wentzel is a post-quantum cryptography (PQC) readiness product. It helps your organization discover where you rely on cryptography today, understand which of those uses are exposed to risk from future quantum computers, and plan a structured migration toward quantum-resistant algorithms.

The shift to post-quantum cryptography matters because large-scale quantum computers, once available, could break many of the public-key algorithms that secure data and communications today (for example, RSA and elliptic-curve cryptography). A particular concern is "harvest now, decrypt later", where data captured today could be decrypted in the future. Q by Wentzel is designed to give you a clear, prioritized picture of your cryptographic landscape so you can act with confidence.

Who is it for?

Q by Wentzel is built for the people responsible for cryptographic risk and modernization, including:

• Security and risk teams who need to assess and report on quantum-readiness.
• Platform, infrastructure, and application engineers who own the systems where cryptography is actually used.
• Compliance and governance stakeholders who need to demonstrate progress against emerging post-quantum guidance and standards.

No prior expertise in quantum computing is required. The product is designed to translate cryptographic findings into practical, prioritized work.

How it works at a high level

Q by Wentzel centers on a few core capabilities:

• QRecon scanner — discovers and inventories cryptographic usage across your in-scope systems so you can see what you have.
• Findings — the scanner produces findings that describe where cryptography is used and how it relates to quantum risk, so you can focus attention where it matters most.
• NIST PQC guidance — the product points you toward the post-quantum standards published by NIST to inform your algorithm choices.
• Migration planning — findings feed into a prioritized plan for moving toward quantum-resistant cryptography over time.

First steps

1. Confirm access. Make sure you can sign in to your Q by Wentzel account. If you do not yet have access, contact your account team or your internal administrator.
2. Define your scope. Decide which systems or environments you want to assess first. Starting with a well-defined, representative slice of your estate makes the initial findings easier to interpret and act on.
3. Run the QRecon scanner. Use QRecon to perform an initial discovery scan of your in-scope systems. This builds your first cryptographic inventory. See Running the QRecon scanner in this Knowledge Base for details.
4. Review your findings. Once the scan completes, work through the findings to understand where cryptography is used and which areas carry the most quantum risk.
5. Begin planning your migration. Use the findings, together with NIST PQC guidance, to start prioritizing what to migrate and in what order.

Where to go next

To continue, we recommend these Knowledge Base articles:

• Q by Wentzel — Frequently Asked Questions for quick answers to common questions about the scanner, findings, and migration planning.
• Q by Wentzel — Troubleshooting & Common Issues if you run into problems while scanning or interpreting results.

If you have a question that these articles do not answer, please open a ticket through the support portal or reach out to your account team. We are happy to help you get started.