Yes. ASUSTOR says ADM 5.1 and later can automatically negotiate a post-quantum hybrid TLS 1.3 connection between the ADM web interface and a browser that supports the exchange. The stated combination is X25519+ML-KEM 768. No manual setting is required, but the feature depends on browser support; ASUSTOR does not publish a browser/version compatibility list on its PQC feature page.
What ADM 5.1’s post-quantum support does
The feature concerns the TLS connection between a compatible browser and ADM. ASUSTOR says that, when the browser supports post-quantum cryptography (PQC), ADM 5.1 and later automatically use a hybrid TLS 1.3 key exchange. In that context, “hybrid” means combining the classical X25519 key-exchange component with ML-KEM-768, a post-quantum key-encapsulation mechanism.
ASUSTOR presents this as a response to “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” risks: an attacker might record encrypted traffic today in hopes of decrypting it in the future. The claim is limited to the described browser-to-ADM TLS connection. It does not establish that stored files, every ADM service or protocol, or all remote access to the NAS is protected by post-quantum cryptography.
Does the browser need to support PQC?
Yes. ASUSTOR’s description makes browser support a condition of the hybrid connection. If the browser does not support the exchange, the feature is not described as activating for that session. The company’s feature page does not identify supported browsers or minimum browser versions, so check current browser documentation rather than assuming a particular browser or release qualifies.
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Do you need to configure it?
No separate PQC setting is described. ASUSTOR says ADM 5.1 and later enable the feature automatically through TLS 1.3 when the client browser supports PQC. The available product information does not provide a user-facing indicator or a procedure for verifying the negotiated algorithm, so do not treat the presence of ADM 5.1 alone as proof that a particular session used the hybrid exchange.
What ML-KEM-768 means—and what NIST standardization does not mean
NIST published FIPS 203 on August 13, 2024. The standard specifies ML-KEM, a mechanism that lets two parties establish a shared secret over a public channel; it defines ML-KEM-512, ML-KEM-768, and ML-KEM-1024. NIST says ML-KEM derives from the CRYSTALS-KYBER submission. The current standardized name is ML-KEM.
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Standardization of ML-KEM is not product certification of ADM or independent validation of ASUSTOR’s full implementation. ASUSTOR describes its implementation as NIST-certified; that is the company’s characterization, not evidence that NIST certified the NAS product as a whole.
Check your NAS model before upgrading
ADM 5.1 compatibility depends on the exact NAS model. ASUSTOR’s ADM release notes list supported model families for ADM 5.1.0, including AS63/64, Nimbustor, Drivestor, Lockerstor, and Flashstor variants. The notes identify AS31, AS32, AS40, AS61, and AS62 as no longer receiving feature updates; ADM 4.3 is the last major version for those families. Confirm your exact model against ASUSTOR’s current support material and release notes rather than relying only on the family name.
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ASUSTOR’s news index records ADM 5.1.0.RN42 as available on November 5, 2025, and the release notes list later ADM 5.1.x releases. Check the current notes for the latest version and the applicable update path instead of assuming the initial 5.1 release is current.
Prepare for the ADM 5.1 upgrade
- Confirm eligibility: Find your NAS model in ASUSTOR’s current ADM release notes and verify that the relevant ADM 5.1 update supports it.
- Back up your data: ASUSTOR recommends making a backup before upgrading.
- Decide whether to proceed: ASUSTOR warns that downgrading is unavailable after ADM 5.1 is installed.
- Update apps afterward: ASUSTOR recommends updating App Central apps after the ADM upgrade for compatibility.
What is not established
ASUSTOR’s published information does not provide a browser compatibility matrix, independent validation results, or measurements of handshake latency or throughput impact. It also does not establish post-quantum protection for every ADM service or for data stored on the NAS. The feature should therefore be understood as a conditional improvement to the specified browser-to-ADM TLS connection, not a guarantee that the whole device is quantum-proof.
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