Every day, your organisation relies on encryption. It keeps your data safe, your systems running, and your customers confident that their information is protected. But what if that security wasn’t guaranteed forever?
Quantum computing is moving from theory to reality. It promises incredible innovation, but it also brings new risks. One of those is its potential to break the encryption we depend on today. The result? Sensitive data that feels secure now could be vulnerable in the years ahead.
In this blog, we’ll explore what quantum computing really is, why it matters to your organisation, who needs to start paying attention, and the first steps you can take to prepare for post-quantum cryptography.
Let’s get going!
How Will Quantum Computing Break Today’s Encryption?
Encryption keeps data safe by relying on maths problems that are hard for classical computers to solve. Algorithms such as RSA and ECC are everywhere. They protect TLS, VPNs, email and digital signatures.
Quantum computers process information in a different way. They use qubits that can represent many states at once. That lets them solve certain problems far faster than classical machines. In practice, that speed could make some current encryption methods breakable.
Key points to remember:
- RSA and ECC depend on hard maths problems. Those problems are hard for classical computers.
- Quantum computers can approach some of those problems much more efficiently.
- A powerful quantum machine could reduce the time to break encryption from centuries to hours or days.
- Attackers are already collecting encrypted data now. They plan to decrypt it when quantum tech is available. This is known as “harvest now, decrypt later”.
- Transitioning to new algorithms takes many years. Planning must start well before quantum machines are widely available.
- Symmetric cryptography such as AES and SHA is less affected by quantum computing. It still needs strengthening in some cases, but it does not face the same level of risk as RSA and ECC.
It is also important to understand where long-term risk sits in real environments. Some examples include archived backups that must remain protected for decades, certificates with long expiry dates, or IoT and operational technology devices that stay in service for many years. These systems cannot simply be updated overnight, which is why preparation matters now.
Major authorities are already acting. The UK’s NCSC is advising organisations to prepare now. NIST in the US has run a multi-year project to select quantum-resistant algorithms. ETSI in Europe is developing standards for quantum-safe cryptography. These bodies are shaping how the industry will move to post-quantum solutions.
Who Needs to Prepare for Post-Quantum Cryptography?
Quantum computing will change the security landscape for everyone. If your organisation handles sensitive data, relies on encryption, or needs to prove compliance, this matters to you.
Those most affected include:
System owners and CISOs
Responsible for protecting data across complex environments. Encryption supports VPNs, TLS, authentication, and certificates.
Public sector bodies
Hold vast amounts of citizen data that must remain confidential for decades. From health records to government archives, long-term protection is vital.
Critical infrastructure operators
Energy, healthcare, and transport systems rely on secure communication and uptime. Any compromise could disrupt essential services.
Financial and legal sectors
These sectors face strict regulatory oversight. Data confidentiality, audit trails, and encryption standards are all under scrutiny. New rules like DORA and NIS2 will soon expect evidence of quantum readiness.
Intellectual property–driven industries
Companies in pharma, gaming, engineering, and research protect data that defines their competitive edge.
How Can Organisations Start Preparing for Post-Quantum Cryptography?
Preparing for post-quantum cryptography might sound complex, but it’s manageable if approached step by step. The goal is not to rush. It’s to build awareness, gather the right information, and create a plan that fits your organisation.
You can start with these key actions:
- Build awareness internally. Make quantum readiness part of risk and governance discussions.
- Create a cryptography inventory. Identify where encryption is used.
- Engage vendors and partners. Ask your suppliers about their post-quantum roadmap.
- Review compliance frameworks. ISO 27001, DORA and NIS2 already mention crypto-agility and resilience.
- Develop a migration roadmap. Many organisations are already exploring hybrid cryptography for real-world systems such as TLS and VPNs. This combines classical and post-quantum algorithms to provide a safer transition period.
- Your risk register. Record quantum risk as part of your wider cyber and operational resilience planning.
The NCSC emphasises that migration to post-quantum cryptography will take years. Starting early allows time to test, learn, and make changes gradually.
How Can Organisations Build Long-Term Quantum Resilience?
Moving to post-quantum cryptography is not a one-time project. It’s a long-term transition that needs careful planning, testing, and coordination across teams. The goal is steady progress, not rushed change.
The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is finalising new quantum-resistant standards. These include CRYSTALS-Kyber for encryption and CRYSTALS-Dilithium for digital signatures. These algorithms will form the backbone of post-quantum cryptography across industries. You can follow their updates on the NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography Project.
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) recommends that organisations start preparing now rather than waiting for the threat to arrive. In its guidance, Next Steps: Preparing for Post-Quantum Cryptography, NCSC highlights that understanding where and how cryptography is used is the most important early step.
Here are a few key actions to prioritise:
- Treat quantum readiness as a long-term governance challenge, not a one-off IT task.
- Build crypto-agility into your systems so you can adopt new algorithms as they are standardised.
- Use frameworks like ISO 27001, DORA, and NIS2 to document, evidence, and manage progress.
- Review emerging standards from ETSI, which continues to publish global guidance on Quantum-Safe Cryptography.
- Engage external specialists who can assess cryptographic risk and help design a structured migration roadmap.
The next few years will define how organisations protect data for the decades ahead. Those that prepare early will minimise disruption, maintain compliance and show leadership.
Why Now Is the Time to Plan for Post-Quantum Cryptography
Quantum computing is not a distant concern. It is already shaping how we think about security and risk.
Starting early matters. Planning for post-quantum cryptography takes time. It involves coordination across people, systems and suppliers. Early preparation means lower costs, less disruption and stronger long-term resilience.
Every organisation will need to review where encryption sits, how it is used and how it will evolve. Those that can demonstrate crypto-agility will meet compliance expectations and earn trust from customers, regulators and partners.
At OmniCyber Security, our experts help organisations understand their cryptographic exposure and prepare for what comes next. From initial discovery to building a practical roadmap, we guide teams through each stage of readiness.
If you’re unsure where to start, we’re here to help. Together, we can make sure your organisation is ready for the quantum era, securely, confidently and at the right pace for your business.
