Have you seen the Apple TV+ series “Prime Target?” The series’ premise is that prime numbers apparently have patterns that can be manipulated to defeat every type of encryption. While the series is pure fiction, the part about encryption can become a scary reality owing to a computer that is yet to fully exist. Quantum Computing is a still-emerging technology that has a lot of potential. Unlike traditional computers. It operates on quantum physics laws, which allow it to supersede traditional computers, at a fraction of the time when compared with a traditional computer. While the technology is far from ready, it can transform AI and the general computing landscape. How is the technology going to impact various fields? Here is a table describing it.
| Use Case | Impact |
| Cryptography (Encryption & Security) | Can break traditional encryption (RSA, ECC) with Shor’s algorithm to drive adoption of post-quantum cryptography. |
| Drug Discovery & Molecular Simulation | Can simulate complex molecules and protein folding far faster than classical computers. This ability enables accelerating drug design and precision medicine. |
| Optimization Problems (Logistics, Finance, Supply Chain) | Can solve large-scale optimization tasks like route planning, risk modelling, portfolio optimization with greater efficiency. |
| Material Science & Chemistry | Can enable discovery of new materials such as superconductors, advanced batteries by simulating quantum interactions. |
| Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning | Enhances training and inference through faster linear algebra and better handling of high-dimensional data. |
| Climate Modelling & Sustainability | Models atmospheric and environmental systems with greater accuracy, which can improve climate predictions and renewable energy optimization. |
| Financial Services (Risk & Fraud Analysis) | Accelerates Monte Carlo simulations, risk assessments, and fraud detection at massive scale. |
| Cybersecurity (Quantum-Safe Security) | Can force shift toward quantum-resistant encryption, quantum key distribution (QKD), and quantum-secure networks. |
| Manufacturing & Industry 4.0 | Improves production efficiency, predictive maintenance, and supply chain optimization with quantum-driven algorithms. |
| National Security & Defense | Boosts cryptanalysis, secure communication, and advanced simulations. This ability makes it both a strategic risk and advantage. |
Looking at the table, we can immediately see that, along with a lot of capabilities, the technology has areas of concern: cryptography. The technology is used today to safeguard various types of data. Quantum computers can perform operations that are speedier than traditional computing systems. This ability also allows it to break algorithms like RSA-2048 and AES-256 that are currently the backbone of encryption. The bad actors can also pull a long con by stealing encrypted data and decrypting and selling it through quantum computing. This tactic is (un)fondly called “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later.” Primary users of encryption technology, such as finance, healthcare and Government, have a big reason to worry and plan for protecting themselves. How is the market responding to this issue by focusing on something called Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC).
Quantum-proofing measures
The first thing is looking for algorithms that are not affected by Quantum Computing. The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has already released three quantum-resistant algorithms. Vendors, including cloud providers, are also offering a hybrid model that combines a current algorithms with PQC-enabled ones. But the technology so far remains more hype than reality. Things are also moving fast on the compliance front. Governments are preparing laws to ensure effective migration to quantum-proof (or resistant) cryptographic solutions. We can safely state that PQC adoption is most likely to be added as a prerequisite by insurers soon.
A seismic shift
Quantum Computing’s operational mechanics set it quite apart from classical computing. It replaces bits with qubits. However, unlike bits, it can hold both 0 and 1 values at the same time. It also uses a phenomenon called entanglement. Both supercharge computing. This accelerated computing capability also means problems that can take years to solve with the current computers can be solved in a much shorter time span. This also means that companies need to inventory all assets associated with cryptography. The technology is ushering in computing at an unprecedented scale. Not shifting to PQC would be a massive, massive mistake. Because when the Quantum Computing technology matures, traditional cryptography does not stand a chance.
The road ahead
Quantum Computing is tomorrow’s problem, but it should be treated as today’s planning challenge to ensure being future ready. The following steps can make this happen:
1. Inventory Cryptographic Assets: Identify assets using encryption across your systems, applications, and third-party integrations.
2. Assess Quantum Risk Exposure: Classify the assets that would be most vulnerable if current encryption were broken.
3. Adopt Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC): Begin transitioning to NIST-recommended algorithms.
4. Implement Crypto-Agility: Design systems that can swap cryptographic algorithms without major reengineering.
5. Strengthen Key Management: Shorten cryptographic key lifetimes and enforce strong key management practices.
6. Enhance Data Governance: Classify and segment sensitive data with long-term confidentiality needs (e.g., healthcare, legal, defense).
7. Prepare Incident Response Plans: Include quantum threats in resilience testing and crisis playbooks.
8. Upskill Security Teams: Train SOC staff on quantum threats, PQC algorithms, and crypto-agility practices.
9. Engage the Board & Regulators: Translate quantum risk into business and compliance terms to secure budget and oversight.
Final word:
Quantum Computing is still in development, so there is still time to prepare for any kind of challenge it will pose for the security stack. Ultimately, only the fully prepared will be able to weather the storm. QKS Group’s security analyst Kunal Kumar quips, “Quantum Computing is simultaneously the most disruptive innovation and the most formidable risk multiplier in modern cybersecurity. While its real-world impact is still years away, organizations cannot afford to wait. Their transition to post-quantum cryptography will not be a single ‘big bang’ event but a phased journey requiring crypto-agility, regulatory alignment, and board-level awareness. Those who start planning today will not only mitigate future threats but also position themselves to harness quantum’s transformative potential across industries.”