Quantum Threat: The Clock is Ticking
The first half of fiscal year 2026 has brought about a significant shift in the way organizations approach cybersecurity, particularly when it comes to addressing the threat posed by quantum computers at scale. According to Andy Leaver, Chief Executive Officer of Arqit, governments and enterprises are no longer asking if they need to upgrade their cryptographic security posture, but rather when they will do so.
The urgency to migrate to post-quantum cryptography has been heightened by recent research from leading players in the quantum and security space. Google, Cloudflare, and IonQ have all advised that organizations must migrate to post-quantum cryptography by 2029, with some estimates suggesting that this may be too late.
The threat posed by quantum computers is not just a future concern, but also one that affects data already stolen today. Any data protected with current encryption technology is vulnerable to exposure when a quantum computer sets to work on it at a later date. This is known as a Harvest Now, Decrypt Later attack, and protecting sensitive or time-sensitive data requires the use of post-quantum encryption now.
Migrating to post-quantum cryptography involves analysis, planning, and execution across an organization's entire data and communication architecture, which requires time. However, with the accelerated timeline proposed by Google, Cloudflare, and IonQ, time is of the essence. Arqit's product set is well-positioned to enable an end-to-end migration to a post-quantum cryptographic security posture.
Arqit's Encryption Intelligence risk analysis tool gives organizations complete visibility into all encryption technologies in use across their network, automatically identifying weak points and vulnerabilities, including those susceptible to quantum attacks. This is a critical step in developing a migration strategy, as understanding what encryption is in use allows CISOs and CTOs to scope their risk and develop a game plan to upgrade to post-quantum cryptography.
Arqit's software-based post-quantum encryption solutions allow organizations to upgrade now, protecting against Harvest Now, Decrypt Later attacks, and when quantum computers arrive at scale. These solutions are cryptographically agile, giving CISOs and CTOs flexibility to mix and match post-quantum algorithms and symmetric key cryptography.
Furthermore, Arqit's encryption solutions are software-based and lightweight, requiring no new hardware devices and can be implemented quickly. In fact, the company has completed deployments in as few as a couple of days.
