Post-Quantum Security: Preparing for the Next Cryptographic Revolution

Quantum computing is no longer science fiction. While large-scale breakthroughs are still to come, one thing is certain: sooner or later, quantum computers will render today’s cryptography obsolete. For decision-makers, this means one thing — the time to prepare for Post-Quantum Security (PQS) is now. Preparation cycles are long, the risks immense, and regulatory pressure is increasing.

What Is Post-Quantum Security – and Where Do We Stand?

Post-Quantum Security refers to cryptography that remains secure even against quantum attacks. Algorithms such as RSA, ECC, and Diffie-Hellman will collapse once a sufficiently powerful quantum computer can run Shor’s algorithm at scale.

To address this, organizations such as NIST in the U.S. and BSI in Germany have been developing quantum-resistant cryptographic standards for years. The first official algorithms have already been announced — Kyber for key exchange and Dilithium and Falcon for digital signatures — paving the way for standardization.

Despite these initiatives, post-quantum security is still a young field. According to a Utimaco 2025 study, only about 20% of organizations have started migration. Another 34% plan to begin within the next 1–3 years, while 25% have yet to make any plans at all.

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Emerging Threat Scenarios

It will likely take years before PQS becomes standard practice—but we may not have that much time. In reality, state-level actors will be the first to gain access to functional quantum computers. Depending on who reaches that milestone first, organizations could face entirely new threat models:

• Classical cryptography will fail: Authentication, PKI, and digital identities will no longer be secure—affecting online banking, e-government, supply chains, and the entire internet.
• “Store now, decrypt later” becomes real: Adversaries are already stockpiling encrypted data to decrypt in the future using quantum capabilities. Sensitive data with long life spans — from medical records to state secrets to intellectual property — could suddenly become exposed.
• Quantum-resistant ransomware: The next wave of ransomware could adopt PQS algorithms itself, making encryption even harder to break — an unsettling shift in the cybercriminals’ power balance.
• Blockchain and cryptocurrency sabotage: Many digital currencies rely on elliptic-curve cryptography. A quantum computer could compromise wallets or destabilize entire blockchains.

A Capgemini 2025 study found that 65% of organizations see “harvest-now, decrypt-later” attacks as their top concern, while nearly 60% expect the so-called Q-Day — the day quantum computing breaks current encryption — within the next ten years.

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Why Companies Must Act Now

Waiting is no longer an option. The regulatory clock is ticking: In 2024, the European Commission issued a recommendation urging all EU member states to develop strategies for post-quantum cryptography. Financial institutions and operators of critical infrastructure are already under close scrutiny. Meanwhile, NIST has finalized its PQS standards, and in Europe, the NIS Cooperation Group is developing implementation roadmaps. Compliance teams need to get quantum-ready today.

On the technical side, the urgency is just as high. Any system expected to operate for the next 10–15 years — from ATMs and medical devices to industrial control systems — must already be designed with quantum-resilient cryptography in mind.

Typical first steps include mapping existing cryptographic assets and classifying high-value data. Many early adopters are now launching hybrid pilot projects, combining classical and quantum-safe algorithms to ensure a smooth transition.

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PQS and Confidential Computing

But there’s another — and often overlooked — path toward quantum resilience: Confidential Computing (CC). Unlike traditional security models, which protect data at rest and in transit, Confidential Computing safeguards data in use — during processing. It does this through enclaves (Trusted Execution Environments) that isolate workloads, keeping them secure even from compromised operating systems or cloud providers.

Building on this model, vendors like enclaive already deliver post-quantum-ready virtual HSMs, key management systems, and secure enclaves for cloud data processing. This approach empowers organizations to achieve digital sovereignty—maintaining control over their keys and data, even in the face of potential state-level quantum threats.

Confidential Computing not only strengthens security today but also lays the foundation for the security architectures of tomorrow. Investing now means building an adaptable infrastructure — one that can seamlessly integrate PQS and evolve as new cryptographic standards emerge.

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Conclusion

Post-Quantum Security is not a distant concern — it is a strategic risk demanding attention today.“Store now, decrypt later” attacks are already happening, and regulators are beginning to require quantum-readiness.

Confidential Computing offers a pragmatic entry point: it delivers tangible security benefits now while creating a future-proof base for PQS integration. Organizations that act today are not only protecting their data — they are securing their digital sovereignty. And in a world where quantum capabilities may first emerge in the hands of nation-states, that sovereignty could become a decisive competitive advantage.

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