Quantum safety is about maintaining trust and ensuring your organization’s resilience against future inevitable threats.

You’re likely already aware that boards and executives are responsible for managing cyber risks and can even be held personally accountable for major security failures. But a new and even more serious threat is on the horizon. Quantum computing is often called the “master key” of the digital world, with the potential to break almost all of today’s cyber protections. This isn’t a distant science fiction scenario—it’s a real and growing risk.

Lately, more and more boards have called us in for private briefings. These leaders understand that quantum computing could turn cybersecurity on its head, but they don’t want a lecture on complex science. They want to know the essentials: how serious is the threat, how soon do we need to act, and what should we be asking our tech and risk teams?

The Quantum Threat Explained Simply

Imagine the encryption that protects your company’s sensitive data as a very strong lock. This lock guards everything from financial records and customer information to trade secrets. Standard hackers try to pick these locks by exploiting software flaws, stealing passwords, or tricking people. It’s a constant game of finding and fixing vulnerabilities.

Now, imagine someone invents a powerful tool that can instantly open almost any lock. This is what a large-scale quantum computer could become for cybercriminals. Without getting into the technical details, the key point is that quantum computers can solve the tough mathematical problems that our current encryption relies on, and they can do it incredibly fast. A problem that would take a traditional computer millions of years to solve could potentially be cracked by a powerful quantum computer in just a few days or hours.

This means that the core encryption used for online banking, secure emails, e-commerce, and corporate networks would no longer be safe. An attacker with a powerful quantum computer wouldn’t need to look for small weaknesses or trick people—they could go directly to the heart of your systems and break almost any encryption they choose. It’s the difference between picking one lock at a time and having a master key that opens every door.

Why Act Now? The Clock Is Ticking

Today’s quantum computers aren’t yet powerful enough to break modern encryption. However, the technology is advancing quickly. Experts believe we could reach a point where quantum machines can threaten common cryptography within the next five to ten years. Major companies like IBM and Google are making rapid progress, and governments are investing heavily in this race.

The critical issue for boards is one of timing. We are in a race between the pace of quantum development and our defensive preparations. Consider these three factors:

• Data’s Shelf-Life: How long does your sensitive data need to remain confidential? For some information, this could be 5, 10, or even 20 years.
• Upgrade Time: How long will it take to replace or upgrade your company’s encryption across all systems? For large organisations, this can take many years to plan, budget, and deploy.
• Time to “Q-Day”: When will an attacker have a powerful enough quantum computer to break today’s encryption? Some forecasts point to as soon as 2030, but no one knows for sure.

If the time you need your data to be safe plus the time it takes to upgrade your systems is longer than the time until a quantum attack becomes possible, you have a serious problem. In this scenario, even data encrypted today could eventually be exposed. Security experts call this the “harvest now, decrypt later” threat. An adversary could steal your encrypted information now and simply hold onto it. Years from now, when they have a powerful quantum computer, they can easily decrypt that data. There is already evidence that some attackers may be doing this, stockpiling encrypted data in preparation.

Waiting until quantum computers are operational to take action will be too late. By then, any encrypted data stolen today could lead to a catastrophic data breach. A delay could put your reputation, client relationships, and insurance costs at risk. The time to start preparing is now.

A Board-Level Responsibility

Why should busy board members care about a technical issue like this? Because quantum cyber risk is a business risk and a governance issue. When today’s encryption fails, the fallout will affect every part of the company—legal, financial, operational, and reputational. It is a threat that could undermine all other cyber defences at once.

Regulators worldwide are already warning that boards are responsible for managing this evolving cyber risk. Failing to prepare for the quantum threat could be seen as a breach of your fiduciary duty. In some places, board members could even face personal liability for major oversight failures. If the board and senior executives make quantum risk a priority, management will follow.

The good news is that cybersecurity experts have been working on new forms of encryption that can resist quantum attacks. These are called post-quantum cryptography (PQC) or quantum-resistant algorithms, and standards are being finalised.

However, developing PQC is only half the battle. Implementing it across all of your systems is a huge task. Everything from your customer-facing websites to internal databases, from cloud services to the firmware on your devices, may need to be updated. This transition takes years of planning and execution. Regulators and standards bodies have already outlined a roadmap, suggesting that vulnerable encryption be phased out this decade. While this might sound far off, hitting those deadlines requires starting well now.

From a board’s perspective, ensuring crypto-agility—the ability to easily swap out cryptographic tools—should be a key part of your IT strategy. Your management should be encouraged to include quantum resistance in their long-term plans.

To ensure your company is on the right track, you should be asking the right questions of your Chief Information Officer (CIO), Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), or Chief Risk Officer (CRO).

Therefore, you need to find answers to these key questions for the board members.

• What is our exposure to the quantum threat? Which of our critical systems and data would be vulnerable if today’s encryption were broken?
• How long do we need our sensitive data to remain confidential? Do we have data that needs to be secure for 5, 10, or 20 years?
• Do we have a transition plan to quantum-safe encryption? What is our strategy and timeline for migrating our systems to post-quantum cryptography once standards are ready?
• How are we defending against the “harvest now, decrypt later” risk? Are we protecting today’s high-value information with quantum-resistant tools or limiting the lifespan of secrets?
• Are we tracking and preparing for new regulations or standards on quantum security?
• What is our contingency plan if quantum breakthroughs arrive sooner than expected?
• Are our critical systems designed for “crypto-agility,” so we can swap out encryption quickly without a major overhaul?
• How are we evaluating and ensuring our critical vendors and partners are prepared for quantum-related risks?
• Have we included quantum computing risks in our formal enterprise risk assessments and scenario planning?
• Have we designated clear ownership and accountability for quantum risk management within the executive team?
• Do we have the right expertise and talent to tackle quantum computing challenges, and if not, how will we address these gaps?
• How are we educating the board and executive leadership about quantum computing risks and opportunities?

Early acting with the right partner

The quantum threat can be managed if organisations act early. Those who begin preparing now will be in the best position to avoid chaos later and might even gain a competitive advantage. It is about preserving trust and ensuring your organisation is resilient in the face of this coming change.

CREAPLUS cybersecurity and cryptography experts can assist you with your quantum journey, from helping you define a comprehensive strategy to implementing the right solutions and post-quantum cryptography (PQC) to secure your organisation’s future. We can help you identify your critical assets, assess your cryptographic inventory, and develop a clear roadmap for your transition to a quantum-safe environment. This includes guiding you through the selection and deployment of PQC algorithms, managing the complexities of cryptographic updates, and ensuring your organisation is prepared for future challenges.