Challenges for IT Professionals in Quantum Technology

I am scared for your calibration stack. Because the skills that we've been teaching most grad students and quantum engineers are not the ones that will be sufficient to turn a multi-qubit chip into a high performing quantum processor. Here's what's happening: We've basically trained a generation of quantum engineers to think about calibration as characterization. Measure your qubits, tune your parameters, document the performance. If things drift, recalibrate. Rinse, repeat. That works for publishing papers. It doesn't work for building computers. A computer doesn't run calibration sequences between every operation and hope the parameters hold. It measures, detects drift, corrects in real time, and keeps running. That requires closed-loop feedback operating fast enough to track fluctuations that happen on timescales shorter than your calibration routines. And that's a completely different problem. You need people who understand: • Statistical estimation techniques • Optimization algorithms • Sparse Maths • Real-Time Systems Orchestration • Hardware-Centric Logic These are software engineering and computer science skills. Look at what we're teaching: Quantum mechanics. Circuit QED. Pulse engineering. Decoherence mechanisms. All critical. But statistical estimation? Optimization on FPGAs? Real-time control? We're not teaching them. And if your team doesn't have that expertise, you're building a lab setup that publishes papers. Not a computer that runs.

Three weeks ago, our Devsinc security architect, walked into my office with a chilling demonstration. Using quantum simulation software, she showed how RSA-2048 encryption – the same standard protecting billions of transactions daily – could theoretically be cracked in just 24 hours by a sufficiently powerful quantum computer. What took her classical computer billions of years to attempt, quantum algorithms could solve before tomorrow's sunrise. That moment crystallized a truth I've been grappling with: we're not just approaching a technological evolution; we're racing toward a cryptographic apocalypse. The quantum computing market tells a story of inevitable disruption, surging from $1.44 billion in 2025 to an expected $16.22 billion by 2034 – a staggering 30.88% CAGR that signals more than market enthusiasm. Research shows a 17-34% probability that cryptographically relevant quantum computers will exist by 2034, climbing to 79% by 2044. But here's what keeps me awake at night: adversaries are already employing "harvest now, decrypt later" strategies, collecting our encrypted data today to unlock tomorrow. For my fellow CTOs and CIOs: the U.S. National Security Memorandum 10 mandates full migration to post-quantum cryptography by 2035, with some agencies required to transition by 2030. This isn't optional. Ninety-five percent of cybersecurity experts rate quantum's threat to current systems as "very high," yet only 25% of organizations are actively addressing this in their risk management strategies. To the brilliant minds entering our industry: this represents the greatest cybersecurity challenge and opportunity of our generation. While quantum computing promises revolutionary advances in drug discovery, optimization, and AI, it simultaneously threatens the cryptographic foundation of our digital world. The demand for quantum-safe solutions will create entirely new career paths and industries. What moves me most is the democratizing potential of this challenge. Whether you're building solutions in Silicon Valley or Lahore, the quantum threat affects us all equally – and so does the opportunity to solve it. Post-quantum cryptography isn't just about surviving disruption; it's about architecting the secure digital infrastructure that will power humanity's next chapter. The countdown has begun. The question isn't whether quantum will break our current security – it's whether we'll be ready when it does.

Headline: Quantum Threats Extend to Orbit as Space Systems Face Urgent Security Overhaul Introduction: The approaching “Q-Day,” when quantum computers can break current encryption, is no longer theoretical. Experts warn that space systems—long considered secure by distance—are now highly exposed, forcing governments and industry to accelerate a complex transition to post-quantum cryptography. Key Developments: Breaking the Illusion of Space Security Recent cyber incidents, including satellite hacks and data interceptions, prove space is not inherently secure Adversaries can already intercept and store satellite communications for future decryption Threats include spoofing, jamming, command hijacking, and denial-of-service attacks Quantum Race and Strategic Risk U.S. and China are competing to achieve quantum breakthroughs with national security implications Concerns persist that China may gain a first-mover advantage while obscuring progress Q-Day could render current encryption across space and terrestrial systems obsolete Mandated Transition to Post-Quantum Security U.S. policy requires migration to quantum-resistant cryptography under CNSA 2.0 Deadlines: quantum-secure systems by 2035, with major milestones in 2025 and 2027 NIST standardized key algorithms in 2024, enabling immediate transition efforts Operational Challenges in Space Space systems face constraints in size, weight, power, and compute capacity Post-quantum keys are larger, complicating deployment in constrained environments Satellites have long lifecycles, making hardware upgrades difficult or impossible Emerging Solutions and Industry Response Emphasis on crypto agility to enable software-based updates without hardware replacement Manufacturers are embedding post-quantum security directly into hardware and onboard systems New quantum-secure space infrastructure, including routers and communication modules, is under development Immediate Risk Factors “Harvest now, decrypt later” exposes sensitive data already in transit or storage Side-channel attacks and key extraction are already feasible in some scenarios Delay in migration increases long-term exposure and potential mission compromise Why It Matters: Space is now a contested digital domain where encryption integrity underpins national security, economic infrastructure, and military operations. The transition to post-quantum cryptography is not optional—it is a strategic imperative. Organizations that fail to act risk systemic vulnerability across satellite networks that cannot be easily repaired once deployed. The broader implication is clear: future resilience will depend on proactive architecture, crypto agility, and the ability to secure systems against threats that have not fully materialized—but are already inevitable. I share daily insights with tens of thousands followers across defense, tech, and policy. Keith King https://lnkd.in/gHPvUttw

The most dangerous IT risk in 2026 is not AI. It is the erosion of trust at machine speed. Boards, CEOs, and CFOs are already wrestling with five core IT fears: AI without governance, cyber fraud at machine speed, technology spend without measurable value, legacy debt and weak data foundations, and third-party fragility. What is changing now is that quantum risk does not sit beside those fears. It amplifies all five. ISACA’s 2025 global Quantum Computing Pulse Poll found that 62% of technology and cybersecurity professionals are worried quantum computing could break current internet encryption before browsers and websites fully transition to post-quantum cryptography. Yet only 5% say quantum is a high priority for near-term planning inside their organizations. That gap should get every board’s attention. 1. AI without governance The more autonomy we introduce into enterprise systems, the more trust matters. If the cryptographic foundations behind identity, secure access, signatures, and protected data flows weaken over time, AI governance becomes even harder. 2. Cyber fraud at machine speed Quantum risk is not just a future compute story. It is a trust story. Public-key cryptography underpins key exchange, digital signatures, certificates, and software trust. That is why harvest-now-decrypt-later should already be a board-level issue. 3. Technology investment without measurable value The next wave of spend cannot be just another innovation sprint. It has to include post-quantum readiness, crypto-agility, and modernization decisions that reduce exposure without disrupting the business. 4. Legacy debt and weak data foundations Many organizations are still running aging platforms, brittle integrations, and undocumented dependencies. That makes cryptographic transition harder, slower, and more expensive than most leadership teams expect. 5. Third-party fragility Your enterprise may move faster than your vendors. But if critical providers are not quantum-ready, your exposure does not stop at your perimeter. It cascades across the ecosystem. That is why quantum is not a sixth fear. It is the accelerant beneath the five. The leaders who get ahead now will not be the ones chasing the most technology. They will be the ones rebuilding trust, resilience, and crypto-agility before the market forces the issue. #BoardGovernance #Cybersecurity #QuantumComputing #DigitalTransformation

The OECD - OCDE report “Building Business Readiness for Quantum Computing: Key Barriers and Support Mechanisms” (Digital Economy Papers No. 383, March 2026) explores how firms can prepare for quantum #computing as a long-term technology. Quantum readiness involves incremental capability-building—starting with awareness and evolving toward use-case identification, #skills development, infrastructure, and #ecosystem engagement—rather than immediate production deployment. Drawing on #interviews with 16 organizations across 10 countries and recent #surveys, the paper identifies four main barriers: limited technological maturity (high error rates and instability), unclear business value and use cases (e.g., optimization in finance/pharma, drug discovery), high costs of access/training (cloud time can reach tens of thousands of dollars; hardware millions), and #talent shortages blending quantum expertise with industry knowledge. These challenges concentrate efforts among large R&D-intensive firms, risking a digital divide with SMEs and lagging sectors. Support mechanisms include networking platforms, advisory services, technology extension programs, R&D grants, and stakeholder consultations. The report recommends hybrid quantum-AI-HPC approaches as entry points, stronger #industry-#academia partnerships, expanded skills pipelines, and policies to broaden access and prevent uneven adoption. It stresses building resilience, including post-quantum #cryptography. Overall, early exposure and internal adaptation are key to future competitiveness as quantum advantage emerges. In my recent Forbes Business Council article, I argue that the convergence of #quantum, #AI, #blockchain, #6G, and #satelliteinternet demands a shift from Web2’s control-based models to decentralized #Web3/Web4 architectures.I explore emerging phygital #business models—like decentralized intelligence marketplaces, quantum-secure #identity services, and autonomous ecosystem orchestrators—to build quantum #resilience, redefine value flows, #trust, and performance metrics beyond profits.

The era of quantum computing is closer than we think, and it’s going to change the foundations of digital security. NIST’s recent draft publication, NIST IR 8547 (link in 1st comment), outlines critical steps organizations must take to transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). Why This Matters Now ⏩ Quantum computers will eventually break traditional encryption algorithms like RSA and ECC. While secure today, these systems won’t be once quantum systems mature. NIST’s Post-Quantum Standards ⏩ NIST has selected algorithms like CRYSTALS-Kyber (for key establishment) and CRYSTALS-Dilithium (for digital signatures) to lead the transition. What Organizations Should Do ⏩ Inventory Cryptography: Assess where and how cryptographic algorithms are used. ⏩ Test PQC Algorithms: Experiment with hybrid solutions combining classical and quantum-safe algorithms. ⏩ Engage with Vendors: Ensure tech partners are preparing for PQC compatibility. Challenges Ahead ⏩ Performance trade-offs: Some PQC algorithms require more computational resources. ⏩ Interoperability: Integrating new cryptographic methods into legacy systems isn’t trivial. ⏩ Timeline pressure: The longer you delay, the harder it will be to catch up. The message is clear: preparation can’t wait. The organizations that start now will be in a much better position when the quantum era fully arrives.

One of the most humbling things I've ever done professionally was go to a crypto conference around the time when SHA-3 was being reviewed. Slides full of intense math with active debates around the approaches. Now fast forward here we are...One of the most unfortunate things about this AI madness is that we are collectively not talking about some of the other major issues facing us. For a very real example, the post-quantum crypto conversation is actively shifting from academic to practice. Encrypted data from two years ago is sitting in an adversary's storage cluster somewhere. They can't read it yet. They're waiting. "Harvest now, decrypt later" is already happening per the NSA and CISA. Nation-state actors are collecting TLS sessions, VPN traffic, and encrypted transfers today, betting that cryptographically relevant quantum computers exist before 2035. NSS compliance requires migration to NIST-approved PQC algorithms by January 2027. Most organizations haven't inventoried their cryptographic dependencies, let alone sequenced a migration. We're already almost in Q2 of 2026. PQC migration is harder than most security projects because you can't patch your way through it. Discovery is the first problem, every system using RSA or ECDH for key exchange needs to be found, catalogued, and prioritized by data sensitivity and longevity. Since we've done such a crap job of basic asset management in nearly every other cyber-discipline, I imagine this is going to be a long pole in the tent. Hybrid cryptography (running classical and post-quantum algorithms in parallel) will buy time on external-facing systems while teams work through internal dependencies. But migration validation isn't a trivial issue, swapping cryptographic primitives can quietly break things that were working fine. I suspect the organizations that will struggle most are the ones starting their discovery late. If an organization already struggles with basic discovery in other areas, it's likely this will be compounded. #ciso #ai #pqc #postquantum 

THE LEAP: Quantum computers are coming. And they’re creating security blind spots almost no one is ready for. Quantum machines aren’t just faster supercomputers; they’re fundamentally different. Qubits can link in weird ways (unwanted “crosstalk” or entanglement) that leak sensitive data or let attackers tamper with calculations undetected. Many current quantum systems store valuable IP directly in the hardware. With cloud access growing, one vulnerability could expose multiple users’ proprietary algorithms, designs, or results. Classical defenses (firewalls, patches) aren’t enough. We need hardware-level fixes: noise reduction, circuit scrambling, data compartmentalization, and tools to verify computations haven’t been altered. Why act now? • Quantum tech is shifting from labs to production faster than expected. • Attack surfaces are expanding daily. • Companies that treat quantum security as an afterthought risk losing their crown jewels (IP and sensitive models) before the tech goes mainstream. Leaders who build interdisciplinary teams (physics + engineering + cybersecurity) today will have a real edge tomorrow. What steps is your org taking to harden against these emerging quantum vulnerabilities, beyond just post-quantum cryptography? #QuantumComputing #Cybersec

Most people think quantum security is a cryptography problem!!! It’s increasingly becoming a migration problem. As quantum threats get more attention, new approaches are emerging: - Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) - Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) But the real question isn’t just: “Which solution is better?” It’s: “How do we transition existing systems safely?” The reality: Today’s infrastructure is deeply tied to classical cryptography. Even as quantum-resistant algorithms are being standardized: - Systems need upgrades - protocols need changes - Dependencies need coordination And that takes time. Why does this matter? We’re already in a phase where: - Encrypted data can be stored today - and potentially decrypted later This is often referred to as: “harvest now, decrypt later.” What is the industry saying? Organizations like the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Security Agency emphasize that: - Migration to quantum-resistant systems will take years - Preparation needs to start early - Deployment and coordination are major challenges The bottleneck: Security doesn’t fail because solutions don’t exist. It fails because: - Adoption is slow - Systems are complex - Coordination is hard Final thought: Quantum security is not just a technical problem. It’s an engineering and migration challenge on a global scale. Curious to hear your view: What’s the biggest challenge in quantum security? 1. Stronger algorithms 2. Migration and adoption 3. Infrastructure readiness 4. Awareness Comment 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 🔗 References NIST PQC standards: https://lnkd.in/dJ4U6fQZ NIST migration guidance: https://lnkd.in/g96xGhTd NSA quantum readiness: https://lnkd.in/g4yVZcB2 #QuantumComputing #CyberSecurity #PostQuantumCryptography #DeepTech #Innovation

Quantum is no longer a theoretical risk. It is now moving from a science project to a boardroom topic - are you ready for the government or the regulator asking you to present your post quantum plans? US defense contactors need to be Post Quantum Computing (PQC) ready by Jan 2027 - for other critical infrastructure, the PQC compliance date is 2030. Financial regulators will ask questions soon ... Quantum computing hardware and capabilities are improving at an exponential rate - see the chart below👇- and forecast for the timing for “Q-day” are getting brought forward. Even if Q-Day (when current encryption can broken) is a decade plus away, data stolen today can be stored and decrypted later. How long is your data sensitive for? For the State sector, this can be decades ... Quantum computers can exploit exposed public key signatures and compromise blockchain security. Bitcoin has a particular challenge as migration to PQC software is a lengthy social coordination challenge. Our latest Citi Institute report looks at why the quantum security race is accelerating, what’s already at risk, and why post-quantum cryptography can’t wait. Download the report ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e8rJyXq3 #CitiInstitute Kaiwan Master Prag Sharma Ronak Shah Sophia Bantanidis Alex McMahon Rob Rowe Christian Papathanasiou Ciaran Fennessy Sarah McCarthy Daniel Doll-Steinberg Garrison Buss, PhD Sebastian Ganson Steve Suarez® Sudha E Iyer Rebecca Krauthamer Tahmid Quddus Islam William Hague Alex Miller Anuj Gangahar Esther Spaarwater