Quantum Readiness: How Organisations Can Manage Emerging Risks

Cyber Security Awareness Month is about helping organisations take practical steps to build resilience. In its fourth and final week, the focus turns to a challenge that may feel distant but carries enormous implications: quantum computing.

Quantum computing has the potential to break many of the encryption methods we currently rely on to protect sensitive data. Cybersecurity Awareness Month raises this issue to encourage early preparation, as prevention is better than a cure. By starting now with post-quantum planning and updated cryptographic strategies, you can turn what looks like a distant threat into a manageable reality.

What is Quantum Computing?

When you hear the words quantum computing, it might sound like something reserved for research labs or high-end science programs. In simple terms, quantum computers use the principles of quantum physics to process information in ways that traditional computers can't. This enables them to represent multiple states at once and gives them extraordinary potential to solve problems far faster than any technology we use today.

The power of quantum computing could be transformative for everyday business challenges.  From optimising complex supply chains to improving financial modelling and enabling more accurate forecasting, the technologies could provide breakthroughs across all industries.

However, like any powerful technology, these benefits come with new risks. The same processing power that makes quantum computing exciting could also be exploited by cybercriminals to break the encryption methods we rely on to protect sensitive data and critical systems. What's more, information stolen today could be stored and decrypted later once quantum capabilities mature, exposing organisations long after the original breach. This is why organisations need to start thinking about quantum readiness now.

How The ASD is Preparing for Quantum Readiness

The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), through the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), is actively preparing for the security challenges posed by quantum computing. Their guidance on Post-Quantum Cryptography makes it clear that, while large-scale quantum computers are not yet a reality, the time to prepare is now.

The ASD is actively working to prepare Australia's cyber defences for the quantum era, including:

• Updating the Information Security Manual (ISM): Ensuring Australia's core security framework reflects emerging post-quantum cryptography (PQC) requirements.
• Evaluating new standards: Monitoring international PQC standardisation processes and identifying the most secure and practical options for adoption.
• Exploring alternatives: Assessing hybrid encryption approaches and other methods to strengthen resilience during the transition.
• Guidelines for cryptography: Reinforcing the need for strong, approved cryptographic practices today, with a pathway to migrate securely in the future.

While the exact arrival of large-scale quantum computers remains uncertain, international PQC standards are expected to be finalised in the coming years. ASD's message is clear: use this time wisely. Preparing now by identifying where cryptography is used, assessing data that requires long-term protection, and planning for migration ensures that when standards are ready, you'll be able to adopt them smoothly and securely.

What Infotrust Can Offer

Quantum readiness isn't optional; it's a necessity. Analysts predict that quantum computing could start causing significant problems for Australian businesses as early as 2028, particularly for organisations that rely on encryption to protect sensitive or long-lived data. The risks are too important to ignore, which is why preparation must begin now.

At Infotrust, we can help you turn ASD's recommendations into practical action by embedding Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) into every stage of quantum readiness:

• Governance: Developing clear policies, strengthening supplier relationships, and embedding security requirements into contracts to ensure cryptographic resilience is built in from the start.
• Risk: Through Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM) and our Managed Security Operations Centre, we identify and monitor vulnerabilities across your environment, including cryptographic dependencies and access risks, so that you can prioritise mitigations.
• Compliance: Our Data Security services provide classification frameworks and protection controls that support regulatory requirements while reducing cryptographic exposure.
• Assurance: We deliver independent assessments and third-party risk management services, giving organisations confidence that their cryptographic strategies, governance frameworks, and supplier practices meet evolving standards.

By aligning with ASD guidance and embedding quantum readiness into your GRC strategy, we can help you reduce risk, maintain trust, and ensure long-term resilience in the face of emerging quantum challenges.

Safeguarding Your Digital Future

The challenges of quantum computing may seem distant, but their impact on cryptography and data security could be profound. By taking steps now, you can ensure you're ready to adapt when new standards are introduced and avoid being caught unprepared. Ultimately, by embedding cryptography planning into your organisation, you can safeguard your digital future.

To learn more about quantum readiness and safeguarding your digital future, contact the experts at Infotrust to schedule a consultation.