Abstract

The development of quantum computers will provide modern cryptographic systems with a practical computing infrastructure, yet the number-theoretic assumptions these systems are built on poses an acute security risk at this juncture, especially when Shor and Grover’s algorithms are considered. In this article, we present QRC-Stack (Quantum Resilient Cryptographic Stack): A modular architecture for post quantum about cyber resilient communication in current and next generation infrastructures of the internet. QRC-Stack combines lattice-based and hash-based schemes with transport layers and key management to guarantee data integrity, confidentiality, and authenticity within classical networks as well as software-defined networks. The architecture of QRC-Stack is enhanced by incorporating hybrid key exchange models that integrate classical (e.g., ECDH) and post-quantum (PQ) cryptography; Kyber and Dilithium from NIST PQC finalists to sustain legacy interoperability while advancing resilience to future threats in quantum networked environments The newly proposed QRC-Stack model includes three interrelated parts that together improve the security and flexibility of cryptographic communication within a quantum-threat context. Starting with the key management layer for quantum-aware systems (QKML), it incorporates a session key distribution system that the quantum cryptography foe cannot breach. Furthermore, the Adaptive Cipher Suite Negotiation (ACSN) injects a more node centric, risk-adaptive model in whereby selection of a cryptographic suite from a pool of available options is done dynamically where the suit best optimizes contextual threat. In addition, Q-Protect Transport Module enables seamless alignment with pre-existing transport protocols such as TLS/IPSec and QUIC or SD-WAN tunnels with limited overhead footprint. Emulation testing on SDN testbeds and active WAN environments showed that QRC-Stack sustained enterprise-class encryption throughput while adding latency overhead less than eight percent. Moreover, this hybrid architecture gives forward secrecy and stronger resistance to quantum-enhanced man-in-the-mid solar attacks with faster key refresh rates. QRC-Stack also outperformed classical TLS 1.3 alongside other variants of Transition Post-Quantum Cryptography’, claiming steadfast post-compromised security while surpassing baseline models in adaptability, resilience, and versatility making it ideal for next-generation network backbone design. This information reconfirms QRC-Stack's supurb strength as an extensible multi-layered blanced framework solution for communication systems in layers form situated in scenarios involving surveillance from powerful post-quantum adversaries. It helps to control the move toward safely moving quantum national, enterprise, and IoT networks from cryptographic systems built for surveillance heavy environments with minimal changes to current infrastructure.