Hello! We hope you\u2019re doing well. <\/p>\n
From time to time, we come across articles that don\u2019t just talk about today\u2019s cyber risks, but about what may fundamentally change cybersecurity in the years ahead. One topic that continues to surface in those discussions is quantum computing \u2014 and what it could mean for encryption, data protection, and long-term cyber risk.<\/p>\n
While quantum computers are not yet a practical threat, their eventual arrival raises important questions that businesses should begin thinking about now \u2014 calmly and pragmatically.<\/p>\n
Quantum computers promise computing power far beyond what today\u2019s systems can achieve. One well-understood impact is on public key cryptography, the encryption methods that protect most online communications today, including RSA and elliptic curve cryptography (ECC).<\/p>\n
Once sufficiently powerful quantum computers exist, they will be able to run Shor\u2019s algorithm, which could break these encryption methods in a very short time. This is not speculation \u2014 it is a known mathematical reality.<\/p>\n
Because of this, security researchers believe some attackers are already running \u201charvest now, decrypt later\u201d (HNDL) campaigns. In simple terms, this means stealing encrypted data today and storing it, with the intention of decrypting it in the future when quantum capabilities become available.<\/p>\n
Quantum computers already exist, but they are currently too small and too unstable to pose a real cryptographic threat. Most public projections suggest that a cryptographically relevant quantum computer \u2014 often referred to as \u201cQ-Day\u201d \u2014 is still several years away.<\/p>\n
The challenge is that no one knows exactly when that day will arrive.<\/p>\n
As John Farley from Gallagher has noted, quantum risk is the opposite of the Y2K problem. With Y2K, everyone knew the date but didn\u2019t know the outcome. With quantum computing, the outcome is clear \u2014 encryption will be broken \u2014 but the timeline is uncertain.<\/p>\n
This uncertainty makes it easy for organisations to delay action, especially when budgets are tight and current cyber risks already demand attention.<\/p>\n
Many security leaders point out, quite reasonably, that most cyber incidents today don\u2019t involve advanced cryptography at all. Instead, attackers succeed through phishing, social engineering, unpatched systems, and poor identity controls.<\/p>\n
From a risk-based perspective, those problems absolutely deserve immediate focus.<\/p>\n
However, this does not change the underlying reality: quantum computing is coming, and transitioning to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is not a simple switch. It will take years of planning, testing, and gradual migration.<\/p>\n
Some experts now warn that organisations that have not begun even the first phase of preparation could struggle to catch up once timelines accelerate.<\/p>\n
This is not about panic or rushing into expensive technology changes. It\u2019s about awareness and preparation.<\/p>\n
Cybersecurity planning has always involved preparing for risks before they become urgent. Quantum computing is simply another example where early awareness allows calmer, better-paced decisions later.<\/p>\n
Practical steps today might include:<\/p>\n
None of these require immediate technical overhaul \u2014 just visibility and planning.<\/p>\n
At CSB, we see quantum computing as a strategic, long-term cybersecurity issue, not an immediate operational crisis. Businesses don\u2019t need to solve it today \u2014 but they do need to understand it.<\/p>\n
Cybersecurity maturity is often about knowing what not to ignore, even when the threat feels distant. Quantum risk fits squarely into that category.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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