Nevertheless, get ready to move over, AI. The coming quantum revolution promises to be just as consequential for the world, turbocharging technology breakthroughs even further and faster.
Perhaps you have heard similar claims before and view quantum announcements as hyperbole. But consider this example from Warp News: “Google’s new quantum computer solved a calculation in five minutes that would take longer than the universe’s existence to solve with a regular super-computer. The time it would take the supercomputer to do the calculation is nearly a million billion times longer than the age of the universe.”
Other teams of quantum industry experts have shown major advances over the past year, from Ivy League universities to tech companies like D-Wave Quantum, which recently saw its share price soar after new product announcements about using quantum technology to solve previously unsolvable problems.
In another example, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is working with quantum tech for atomic clock research, bringing more rugged solutions than GPS, which can be easily jammed or taken offline. Indeed, the United Nations has declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum.
But in the same way AI is bringing major advances while also accelerating cyber threats, quantum computers promise to bring a dark side to the cybersecurity landscape.
A few years back, I wrote about the coming Q-Day, which is the internationally feared day when encryption as we know it will become obsolete because quantum computers will easily decrypt our secrets. This will cause a huge gap in the way data is protected globally, and most experts believe that day will arrive in the next few years.
Sadly, recent surveys suggest that public- and private-sector enterprises are not ready for Q-Day. A May 2025 study from DigiCert reported that just 5 percent of enterprises have quantum-safe encryption in place. More than 46 percent reported that substantial portions of their encrypted data could be compromised.
Despite a majority (69 percent) of organizations believing quantum computers will break current encryption within five years, preparedness remains low: Only 38 percent feel “very prepared” for quantum threats, while 19.2 percent claim they are “extremely prepared.”
In August 2024, NIST released a final set of encryption tools designed to withstand the attack of a quantum computer. These standards secure a wide range of electronic information, from confidential email messages to e-commerce transactions that propel the modern economy.
NIST also encourages system administrators to begin transitioning to the new standards as soon as possible, and the NIST Computer Security Resource Center has guidance on post-quantum cryptography.
Beyond NIST, industry experts urge public- and private-sector enterprises to start quantum-readiness projects now. Steps include:
Education and Awareness: Raising awareness about quantum computing and its potential impact on various business functions is crucial for successful implementation.
Assessing Current Systems: Organizations need to identify where they currently rely on vulnerable cryptographic systems and assess the potential impact of quantum computing on their operations.
Developing Quantum-Safe Strategies and Policies: This includes planning for the transition to quantum-resistant cryptography (QRC) and other quantum-aware technologies. Involve your procurement teams and ensure policies and contract language are updated.
Implementing QRC: This involves migrating to post-quantum cryptography standards and implementing related governance and monitoring processes.
Embracing Quantum-Aware Technologies: Organizations should explore how to use quantum computing for competitive advantage, such as in optimization, simulation and machine learning.
In late 2023, I asked in a blog post whether a “ChaptGPT moment” is coming for quantum computing. Almost everyone now believes that answer is a resounding “Yes!”
This story originally appeared in the Summer 2025 issue of Government Technology. Click here to view the full digital edition online.
