Quantum Computing Readiness

The July 2024 OMB report makes clear that post-quantum cryptography migration is a long-lead operational program, not a future technology upgrade. Even without a cryptanalytically relevant quantum computer today, Federal agencies must begin inventorying cryptography, prioritizing long-lived data, identifying non-migratable systems, and aligning to NIST standards now to manage record-now-decrypt-later risk and avoid disruptive, costly replacements later.

2026 marks a pivotal shift from theoretical planning to operational execution. As NIST standards integrate into vendor products, the gap between the ready and the deferred will widen. This year demands cross-functional ownership of the quantum posture...ensuring security, innovation, and executive leadership operate from a single, unified roadmap.

Federal moves to accelerate quantum adoption signal that quantum readiness is no longer a future concern but a present operational requirement. As post-quantum cryptography expectations from NIST, CISA, and international regulators take shape, organizations face audits, evidence requests, and deadlines they are not prepared for. Most still lack visibility into where quantum-vulnerable cryptography exists. Readiness, not announcements, is now the critical first step.

This week, we closed the QuantumPQC pilot. The response from our beta community exceeded every expectation we had when we released these capabilities on GitHub. We wanted to test a simple idea: quantum readiness, including post-quantum cryptography migration efforts, should not cost six figures or require specialized consultants. Organizations of all sizes deserve to know their cryptographic exposure before they can act on it. Here's what we learned and why it matters.