Quantum computing is advancing faster than expected—and so is the risk to your data. Within a few years, quantum machines may be able to crack the encryption that secures our emails, bank accounts, and even government secrets. That’s why companies are racing to adopt post-quantum encryption (PQE) before it’s too late.
Why Current Encryption Could Fail
Most of today’s encryption—including RSA and ECC—is based on problems that quantum computers can solve exponentially faster. Once machines like Google’s Sycamore or IBM’s Condor scale further, they could break current encryption in hours or minutes.
“It’s not a matter of if—only when,” says Dr. Neena Choudhary, a cryptographer at MIT.
What Is Post-Quantum Encryption?
PQE refers to cryptographic algorithms designed to withstand both classical and quantum attacks. These include:
- Lattice-based encryption (e.g., Kyber, Dilithium)
- Hash-based signatures
- Code-based schemes
The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has already selected four algorithms for standardization to replace vulnerable legacy protocols.
Who’s Adopting It First?
Financial institutions and defense agencies are among the first adopters:
- JPMorgan Chase: Deployed lattice-based PQE for interbank data exchange
- Google Chrome: Testing PQE for TLS connections in Canary builds
- NATO: Transitioning secure communications infrastructure to hybrid PQ protocols
Cloud providers like AWS and Azure are also offering PQE as a service to enterprise clients.
