On March 24, 2020, the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) published version 2020-01 of its Technical Guideline TR-02102-1 on cryptographic mechanisms. The update introduced the first formal BSI recommendations for post-quantum cryptography (PQC), specifically recommending FrodoKEM and Classic McEliece with appropriate security parameters for PQC applications in conjunction with a previously recommended asymmetric mechanism, according to the published guideline.
By recommending these algorithms for hybrid use alongside classical cryptographic schemes, the BSI became one of the first national cyber security agencies globally to issue formal PQC guidance in its technical standards. The update also recommended Argon2id for password-based key derivation and extended the conformance period for RSA keys with a length of 2000 bits or more to the end of 2023.