The Countdown to Quantum

Quantum computing. It’s becoming an increasingly common topic of discussion within the IT industry, and with good reason.

The closest historical comparison that can be drawn is to that of the infamous Y2K bug of the 1990s. The concern was that when the year 1999 transitioned to 2000, older programs that only used two digits to represent years would misinterpret ‘00’ as 1900 instead of 2000, potentially wreaking havoc across computing systems across the globe. It was a legitimate fear that ultimately didn’t come to fruition.

A couple of key differences to consider. First: nothing motivates like a deadline, and there was a very clear, concrete one for Y2K – 1^st January 2000.

Here’s where things get concerning: we don’t know when quantum computing will become a reality. It might not be for years, it might be tomorrow, it might already be here (granted, if that’s the case, then we’ve timed this post eerily well and I am ready to begin my new life as some kind of cybersecurity prophet). When is the best time to start preparing for post-quantum? In all honesty – probably last year.

This is where we come to the second, and even more alarming, key difference: the disruption caused by Y2K ended up being minimal thanks in large part to extensive global update efforts to avert the threat. Yet while 69% of organisations recognise the risk quantum computing poses to current encryption standards, and while the process of becoming truly quantum-ready could take years, only 5% have implemented quantum-safe encryption.

Why is quantum-safe encryption so vital? For context, current technology is estimated to take a few quadrillion years to crack a 2048-bit encryption. A quantum computer? It could do it in months, or even a matter of hours. Now factor in the reality that cyber criminals are also aware of this fact, and are at this point playing a much longer game, holding onto the encrypted data that they’ve harvested for the day that a quantum computer is available – and that day is fast approaching.

So: quantum computing is on the horizon, it’s going to turn the cryptography world as we know it on its head, we don’t know when it’ll be here, and the world as a whole is worryingly unprepared for it.

As the immortal, comforting words on the cover a certain Hitchhiker’s Guide soothed: Don’t Panic.

The sooner organisations start to make the transition to quantum-safe cryptography, the stronger their security posture will be. Fortunately, DigiCert is on hand to help you get started.

Take a look at DigiCert’s guide below to learn how you can best prepare and set yourself up for post-quantum success:

Getting a handle on your crypto assets to prepare for PQC | DigiCert

Want to learn more? Head on over to our vendor page to find out more about the platform and book a demo:

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