The World Should Prepare For The Looming Quantum Era

A Rigetti quantum computer displayed at the Nvidia GTC in October. Step aside, artificial intelligence. Another transformative technology with the potential to reshape industries and reorder geopolitical power is finally moving out of the lab: quantum. The United Nations dubbed 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. It’s been marked by a flurry of announcements — and a mountain of hype — around a mind-boggling field of science long dismissed as perpetually a decade away from usefulness. But that’s how people talked about AI, too, before ChatGPT spurred the current global arms race and investor euphoria.

On June 24, 2025, a House Oversight Subcommittee held a hearing titled “Preparing for the Quantum Age: When Cryptography Breaks.” This hearing convened government, industry, and academic experts to discuss the looming threat quantum... Witnesses included (in my opinion a great selection) Dr. Scott Crowder of IBM, Marisol Cruz Cain of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Denis Mandich of Qrypt, and Professor Brenda Rubenstein of Brown University. The session was prompted in part by recent GAO reports warning that quantum computers could eventually break widely used encryption. Lawmakers and experts largely agreed on the urgency of “quantum readiness” – modernizing encryption and systems before a powerful quantum computer arrives – but they differed on timelines and approaches. Below I tried to summarize key themes from the hearing and offer personal perspective on these issues.

I appreciated the point of agreement and the persistance with which some experts were stressing that America’s leadership in the quantum era will depend on robust investments in foundational science and in training a... Dr. Brenda Rubenstein repeatedly warned that this quantum talent pipeline is in jeopardy due to proposed severe cuts to basic research funding. Her and Mr. Mandich were doing a great job highlighting how the planed cuts to the National Science Foundation’s science budget by 57% (and 85% for Physics) would impact the national quantum preparedness and competitiveness”. Other panelists echoed the need for sustained support of R&D and education.

GAO’s Marisol Cruz Cain testified that “the United States needs to develop a strong quantum workforce to maintain its leadership… leveraging programs, training, and hiring are key.” She added that “sustained investment is particularly... To do so, basic funding for research and early development activities is essential.” In plain terms, without funding the science itself and educating the next generation of quantum engineers, any hope of long-term security... Encouragingly, the witnesses praised initiatives to boost quantum R&D. They also highlighted the role of national labs and public-private partnerships. Denis Mandich underscored that U.S. national laboratories (like Los Alamos and Livermore, where Rubenstein once worked) have historically driven breakthroughs in cryptography and quantum science – resources the U.S.

must not neglect or defund. Both Mandich and Rubenstein stressed that cutting research budgets now would be counterproductive just as other nations are doubling down. In short, the panel sent a clear bipartisan message: Invest in the fundamental science and talent today to secure America’s quantum future. Home » Cybersecurity » Are We Truly Prepared for the Era of Quantum Computing? With major tech names like IBM, Microsoft, Amazon and Google already rolling out quantum computing (QC) cloud services, it’s evident that the era of QC is upon us. Specialised firms like Quantinuum and PsiQuantum have achieved unicorn status, and experts predict that the global QC market could add as much as $1 trillion to the world’s economy by 2035.

Despite this huge, predicted success, can we say with confidence that the benefits outweigh the risks? While these cutting-edge systems do hold the promise of revolutionising areas such as drug discovery, climate modelling and AI development, they also introduce serious cybersecurity challenges that need to be addressed. Fully functional quantum computers capable of breaking today’s encryption standards may still be several years away but these cybersecurity concerns are closer to home than we may realise. QC has the potential to break encryption algorithms that have been previously considered ‘unbreakable’, posing a huge threat to modern-day cybersecurity. According to a survey by KPMG, around 78% of U.S. companies anticipate that quantum computers will become mainstream by 2030.

More shockingly, 73% of U.S respondents believe it’s just a matter of time before cybercriminals start using QC to undermine current security measures. Modern encryption methods rely heavily on mathematical problems that classical computers cannot solve within a reasonable timeframe. For instance, factoring the large prime numbers used in RSA encryption would take a classical computer around 300 trillion years. However, with the help of Shor’s algorithm, developed in 1994 to help quantum computers factor large numbers quickly, a powerful quantum computer could solve this encryption exponentially faster. The Dawn of Quantum Computing and Its Impact on Cybersecurity Quantum computing is on the verge of fundamentally transforming the landscape of cybersecurity.

As this technological revolution approaches, organizations can no longer afford to delay their adoption of quantum-resistant cryptography. The power of quantum computers to quickly break many of the cryptographic algorithms currently in widespread use poses an immediate threat—potentially undermining existing encryption systems overnight. This looming danger is exemplified by what are known as “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” attacks. These involve malicious actors collecting encrypted data today with the intention of decrypting it once a powerful enough quantum computer is available. Even if the data is not immediately sensitive, its confidentiality might be compromised in the future, emphasizing the urgent need for proactive measures. While transitioning to a new cryptographic paradigm is inherently complex, it is an unavoidable step.

To ensure continued trust and operational integrity, organizations must undertake careful planning, enforce robust governance, and adopt strategies that facilitate a smooth shift to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). This effort must be executed without compromising security or disrupting day-to-day operations. A successful transition starts with a meticulous inventory of cryptographic assets. This critical process involves assessing the existing infrastructure to identify risks and prioritize efforts: Which data must remain confidential over the long term? Which systems, if breached, could threaten corporate integrity or erode customer trust? It is essential to focus on the most critical assets first—such as root certification authorities, firmware signing platforms for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and authentication systems.

These components often have long lifespans and can become vulnerable to quantum attacks sooner rather than later. Immediate action to replace or safeguard these assets is vital, even if comprehensive post-quantum standards are not yet finalized, as some keys and certificates are approaching the end of their operational life and could... There are benefits and risks to quantum computing. Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto In the dynamic realm of technology, quantum computing emerges as a transformative force. It offers the ability to tackle problems that classical computing can't handle, but it also presents a substantial risk to existing cryptographic systems, creating numerous uncertainties.

Here, I explore the critical need to ready individuals, products and systems for a quantum-secure digital future, specifically addressing the challenges arising from quantum computing's capacity to compromise current cryptographic protocols. Quantum computing, possessing unparalleled computational power, poses a significant risk to the cryptographic protocols safeguarding our digital realm. Current cybersecurity cornerstones, such as RSA and ECC algorithms, are vulnerable to quantum advancements. These risks are rapidly shifting from theoretical to tangible due to swift progress in quantum computing. Addressing these threats demands multifaceted efforts: developing new designs and implementing novel algorithms and protocols. This process necessitates specialized skills, substantial time and resources.

With the urgency of these developments, it's imperative to act promptly, recognizing the extensive work that lies ahead. The concept of quantum resistance is crucial in this context. It involves developing secure algorithms and protocols that can withstand attacks using quantum, classical computers and a combination of both. Quantum-resistant technologies are key to safeguarding IoT devices and ecosystems, ensuring data safety and protecting digital assets against these emerging threats. .chakra .wef-4hfq0n{line-height:var(--chakra-lineHeights-base);}What is the Forum doing to avert a cyber pandemic?

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