Abstract Michael Egan, Director of Quantum Technologies for KPMG Australia, explains why when it comes to assessing cyber risk, long-term quantum preparedness should be high on the agenda.
Quantum technologies hold immense potential to revolutionise industries, society and our way of life. However, unlocking its benefits requires a balanced approach; one that acknowledges its vast potential while proactively addressing the potential risks and unforeseen challenges. This position paper introduces the concept of quantum readiness - a proactive and multifaceted strategy that equips government, industry, academia, and civil society to responsibly navigate the quantum landscape. Quantum readiness encompasses two key aspects: general quantum readiness for leveraging the potential benefits of quantum technologies, and quantum cyber readiness to address the unique cybersecurity risks and challenges posed by these advancements. A proactive approach to quantum readiness can unlock unprecedented opportunities for businesses, government, academia, and civil society, while mitigating emerging (cyber) risks and ensuring a secure, competitive, and sustainable future. We also propose a systematic approach, guided by responsible innovation theory, for assessing the quantum readiness of industry sectors. We are currently applying it to assess the quantum readiness of Australian industry to identify critical gaps, vulnerabilities, and potential opportunities. This assessment will provide actionable insights to policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers, enabling them to enhance Australia's overall quantum readiness and position itself as a global leader in responsible quantum technology development and adoption.
The growing concern around AI-driven cyber threats has often overshadowed a deeper structural weakness within enterprise security systems, namely the fragile state of cryptographic foundations that were never built for long-term resilience. While artificial intelligence amplifies the speed and scale of attacks, quantum computing introduces a more disruptive possibility, the obsolescence of widely used public-key encryption. The release of post-quantum algorithms by the National Institute of Standards and Technology marks an important milestone; however, the broader challenge extends beyond algorithm selection to issues of data sovereignty, interoperability, and delayed preparedness. Sensitive assets such as financial systems, healthcare records, national security data, and intellectual property remain exposed under a harvest now, decrypt later strategy already adopted by adversaries. This situation calls for a shift from reactive cybersecurity measures toward crypto-agility, where enterprises actively assess cryptographic inventories, align with emerging standards, embed quantum-resistant mechanisms, and integrate intelligent threat detection with durable encryption strategies. Leading cloud and technology providers including IBM, AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform have begun operationalizing quantum-safe initiatives through structured discovery, migration roadmaps, hybrid cryptographic models, and enterprise-wide inventory assessments. The transition toward quantum-safe security is not a temporary fix but a long-term architectural transformation aimed at ensuring governance, compliance, and institutional survival in an evolving threat landscape.
With digital technology and increasingly linked economies comes a new set of risks from a slew of cyber-attacks. To improve cyber resilience, a cybersecurity capability system comprised of People, Process, and Technology is required to control the ongoing advancement of science and technology, particularly the quantum computer. As a result, attempts have been undertaken to lay new groundwork for cryptography research in computer communication networks. One of these attempts resulted in the creation of quantum cryptography technology, the security of which is based on quantum mechanics rules. Cyberspace security has emerged as the most important problem for the Internet in the foreseeable future. The objective of this research paper is to discuss the flaws and security problems in contemporary encryption, quantum cryptography essential concepts, real-world application use of this technology, and lastly the future direction of quantum cryptography.
The growing concern around AI-driven cyber threats has often overshadowed a deeper structural weakness within enterprise security systems, namely the fragile state of cryptographic foundations that were never built for long-term resilience. While artificial intelligence amplifies the speed and scale of attacks, quantum computing introduces a more disruptive possibility, the obsolescence of widely used public-key encryption. The release of post-quantum algorithms by the National Institute of Standards and Technology marks an important milestone; however, the broader challenge extends beyond algorithm selection to issues of data sovereignty, interoperability, and delayed preparedness. Sensitive assets such as financial systems, healthcare records, national security data, and intellectual property remain exposed under a harvest now, decrypt later strategy already adopted by adversaries. This situation calls for a shift from reactive cybersecurity measures toward crypto-agility, where enterprises actively assess cryptographic inventories, align with emerging standards, embed quantum-resistant mechanisms, and integrate intelligent threat detection with durable encryption strategies. Leading cloud and technology providers including IBM, AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform have begun operationalizing quantum-safe initiatives through structured discovery, migration roadmaps, hybrid cryptographic models, and enterprise-wide inventory assessments. The transition toward quantum-safe security is not a temporary fix but a long-term architectural transformation aimed at ensuring governance, compliance, and institutional survival in an evolving threat landscape.
The emergence of quantum computing is set to reshape the landscape of cybersecurity, presenting a blend of significant challenges and groundbreaking opportunities. This paper delves into the growing risks tied to quantum technologies, with a particular focus on post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and the threats posed by the possible obsolescence of traditional cryptographic methods. As quantum computing capabilities advance at a rapid pace, the need for the development of quantum-resistant security protocols has become more urgent than ever. This research investigates the vulnerabilities of current cryptographic systems, the potential dangers posed by quantum computing, and the solutions already available in the field of post-quantum cryptography. Furthermore, the paper outlines a comprehensive framework for cybersecurity solutions that are resilient to future quantum threats, emphasizing the importance of collaboration across academic, industrial, and governmental sectors. By reviewing current literature and technological developments, this paper provides a roadmap for transitioning to quantum-safe security practices, addressing the risks brought on by quantum advancements, and ensuring that critical infrastructure is well-defended against quantum-driven attacks. The findings indicate that while quantum computing introduces profound risks to traditional cybersecurity systems, a proactive, strategic adoption of PQC solutions can effectively protect vital infrastructure in the post-quantum age.