Quantum Threats Are No Longer Theoretical

Ben Card
Sep 3
2 min read

Why Businesses Must Prepare Now

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In the past week, a bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate has reignited national attention on quantum cybersecurity, signaling a shift from theoretical concern to urgent action. The legislation calls for a comprehensive federal strategy to protect systems from future quantum-powered attacks, underscoring a growing realization: quantum computing is advancing rapidly, and its implications for encryption and data security are profound.

The core concern is the concept of “harvest now, decrypt later.” Nation-state actors, particularly China, are reportedly stockpiling encrypted data with the expectation that quantum computers will soon be able to break current cryptographic algorithms. Once quantum machines reach cryptographically relevant scale, they could render today’s encryption obsolete, exposing sensitive communications, financial transactions, and intellectual property.

For businesses and organizations, this threat is not confined to federal agencies. Any entity that relies on public-key cryptography—used in everything from VPNs and secure email to digital signatures and e-commerce—is potentially vulnerable. The risk is especially acute for industries with long data retention cycles, such as healthcare, finance, and legal services, where sensitive information must remain secure for decades.

The new legislation mandates that federal agencies inventory their cryptographic assets annually and begin migration planning. While this is a federal directive, it sets a precedent that private-sector organizations would be wise to follow. Preparing for quantum resilience involves several key steps:

Conduct a cryptographic inventory to identify where and how encryption is used across systems and applications
Evaluate vendors and third-party services for quantum readiness and post-quantum cryptography support
Begin testing and piloting quantum-safe algorithms recommended by NIST’s Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization Project

• Update incident response and business continuity plans to account for quantum-related risks

The acceleration of government action reflects the seriousness of the threat. With China investing over $15 billion in quantum research and other nations racing to keep pace, the timeline for quantum disruption is shrinking. Businesses that wait until quantum computing becomes mainstream may find themselves exposed to retroactive breaches and regulatory fallout.

Quantum threats are no longer a distant possibility. They are a present-day planning imperative. Organizations that act now—by assessing their cryptographic posture and initiating migration strategies—will be better positioned to protect their data, maintain customer trust, and ensure long-term resilience in a post-quantum world.