In June 2025, the IETF published RFC 9794, titled “Terminology for Post-Quantum Traditional Hybrid Schemes.” The Informational RFC defines foundational language for cryptographic constructions that combine post-quantum and traditional asymmetric algorithms, providing a shared vocabulary for PQC standardization across protocols.
RFC 9794 was authored by Florence Driscoll and Mark Parsons of the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and Dr. Britta Hale of the Naval Postgraduate School. The NCSC published a first draft in July 2022, and the document was refined through three years of IETF consensus-building. More than 20 other IETF drafts and several academic papers cite RFC 9794, according to the NCSC.
Starting from first principles, the document specifies definitions related to cryptographic algorithms, artefacts, protocols, and security properties. It acknowledges alternative terms in the literature and maps them to the standard definitions. As the IETF continues updating TLS, SSH, and IPsec for PQC, RFC 9794 provides the common reference framework for those efforts. The document is a product of the PQUIP Working Group.