Introduction

Human history has been shaped by technological revolutions that have defined ages. From the Bronze Age through the Industrial Revolution to the present data driven society, technology has played a central role in shaping our world.

Each new technology introduced a betterment of the human condition but also perils for humanity overall. With the mastery or metallurgy from bronze to iron we see the quality of life for many improve, but through this period we also saw some of the most powerful empires in human history arise that enslaved and wiped-out entire populations.

We are in a new major technological revolution that will shape and change how future generations exist. This revolution will also introduce threats to society never seen before.

The new Iron Age will be Quantum Computing.

The benefits of quantum computing will not be understood until it becomes accessible to most of society. Just as Alan Turing never envisioned a world where computers were at the palm of your hands, this will be the effect of quantum computing on the social structure.

In recent years, quantum computing has moved from research labs to the frontlines of innovation. Major tech companies and governments are investing billions in this next-generation technology that promises to revolutionize how we solve problems.

But with this breakthrough comes a significant concern: how quantum computing will disrupt cybersecurity as we know it. For business leaders, CIOs, and CISOs, the message is clear, the time to prepare is now.

Which brings us to where Quantum Computing will have the greatest impact initially.

• By 2030, there could be between 2,000 and 5,000 quantum computers globally
• IBM has developed a quantum processor that surpasses 1,000 qubits 

Quantum computing is expected to significantly impact the industries such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, financial services, and transportation, with potential economic gains reaching $2 trillion by 2035.

Why Quantum Computing Matters for Security?

Today’s digital world relies on encryption to protect everything, from online banking and medical records to intellectual property and national defense. This encryption works because, with current computing power, it would take millions of years to break.

Quantum computing changes that. Its ability to process information in entirely new ways means that the encryption systems we depend on today could be broken in a matter of minutes once quantum capabilities reach a certain point.

It may sound like science fiction, but experts agree that this reality could arrive within the next 10–15 years possibly sooner.

Consider Quantum Computing the best safe cracker in the industry and is part of your bank robbing crew. This does not change the amount of threat much, because you will still need to get into the bank. That means access to the corporate crown jewels can be impeded by their security posture.

This is where Zero Trust becomes a necessity for all industries looking to safeguard their crown jewels. Another approach to mitigate this threat is by the adoption of NIST post-quantum cryptography (PQC). Which in our opinion will not negate the decoding of encryption but will slow it down considerably.

Another unknown threat but one that will arise is the use of Quantum Computing to develop sophisticated malware at such a speed that pretty much everything will become a zero day. The present cybersecurity landscape is not prepared to address this kind of threat; only when quantum computers become the norm for organizations can you effectively counter this evolution.

The Real Threat: Future-Proof Data Theft

One of the most critical risks is what’s called “harvest now, decrypt later”. Even if hackers can’t break encrypted data today, they can steal and store it now, waiting until quantum computers are powerful enough to unlock it.

This puts long-term sensitive data at risk, including:

• Trade secrets and IP
• Government contracts
• Financial records
• Healthcare data
• Legal documents

Think of it like someone stealing a safe today, knowing they’ll eventually get the key.

A Strategic Shift in Cyber Defense

This isn’t just a tech problem; it’s a business resilience issue. Much like preparing for climate risks or supply chain disruptions, quantum readiness should now be part of enterprise risk planning.

Here’s what strategic leaders should focus on:

This isn’t just a tech problem; it’s a business resilience issue. Much like preparing for climate risks or supply chain disruptions, quantum readiness should now be part of enterprise risk planning.

Here’s what strategic leaders should focus on:

1. Know What’s at Stake: Understand which parts of your organization rely on traditional encryption. Most companies use it in web apps, email systems, customer databases, and third-party integrations.
2. Prioritize High-Risk Data: Data that needs to stay confidential for more than a few years is most vulnerable. Financial firms, healthcare providers, defense contractors, and legal organizations should pay special attention.
3. Engage with Quantum-Resistant Solutions: The cybersecurity community is already working on quantum-safe encryption standards. These alternatives are designed to withstand future quantum attacks, and early adopters will gain a significant resilience advantage.
4. Plan for a Long-Term Transition: Replacing core encryption systems isn’t like installing a software patch—it’s a multi-year transformation. Businesses should start now by building cryptographic agility into their systems so they can adapt as standards evolve.
5. Ask the Right Questions: Boardrooms and leadership teams should be asking:

• How exposed are we to the quantum threat?
• What data would we regret losing in 10 years?
• Are our vendors preparing for this shift?

Amplifying Cybersecurity Through Quantum-Based Encryption

Organizations can strengthen their cybersecurity posture by implementing quantum encryption technologies in several keyways. Deploy quantum key distribution (QKD) systems to create tamper-evident communication channels that guarantee secure key exchange. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a secure communication method that utilizes quantum mechanics principles to distribute encryption keys amongst parties. Additionally, deploying quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms helps future-proof systems against emerging quantum computing threats. By integrating quantum encryption technologies into existing security infrastructure, businesses can create multi-layered defense strategies that protect sensitive data both now and in the post-quantum era. This approach combines the immediate benefits of quantum-secured communications with long-term protection against quantum computer-based attacks on traditional encryption methods.

Infosys provides comprehensive data security solutions, including encryption key management and quantum key distribution capabilities. Through strategic partnerships with quantum key providers such as AppViewX and IBM, Infosys delivers high-entropy cryptographic keys that enable flexible encryption strategies across diverse applications and data repositories.

Who Needs to Act Now?

Quantum computing won’t impact everyone at the same time, but no industry is immune. Organizations in the following sectors need to act sooner rather than later:

• Finance: Protecting transactions, ledgers, and customer data.
• Healthcare: Safeguarding patient records and research IP.
• Government and Defense: Ensuring national security communications remain classified.
• Technology and Telecom: Securing platforms, apps, and cloud infrastructure.
• Legal and Insurance: Protecting long-retention case files and sensitive client data.

Moving From Awareness to Action

Quantum readiness should not be viewed as a pure IT issue—it’s a strategic priority that requires alignment across leadership, risk, compliance, and technical teams.

First Practical steps:

• Launch a quantum risk assessment
• Discuss quantum preparedness in board meetings
• Engage vendors on their post-quantum roadmaps
• Invest in workforce education and security agility

Those who prepare now will not only avoid future crises but will also position themselves as trusted, future-ready enterprises.

Industry Perspective

The quantum computing landscape is experiencing a fundamental transformation as the technology transitions from laboratory experimentation to practical enterprise implementation. For the first time, 2025 will see quantum computers leave labs and research institutions and deploy into the networks and data centers of real-world customers. The momentum is evident in the investment climate, where first-quarter funding more than doubled year-over-year to exceed $1.25 billion, reflecting investor confidence in the technology’s commercial viability.

Industry analysts view 2025 as a defining year for quantum advancement, driven by breakthrough developments in post-quantum cryptography, quantum error correction, and artificial intelligence integration that are reshaping cybersecurity and innovation paradigms. The financial services sector is emerging as a frontrunner in adoption, positioning itself to leverage quantum computing’s capabilities for complex optimization and risk analysis applications. Major technology companies are aligning their roadmaps accordingly, with leading players targeting commercial quantum application releases within the next five years, signaling the industry’s collective shift toward market-ready solutions rather than purely theoretical research.

Conclusion

Quantum computing will unlock incredible possibilities. But without proactive planning, it also risks unlocking your secrets. Infosys is making significant strides in quantum computing through several initiatives:

Quantum Living Labs: Infosys has launched Quantum Living Labs to help clients explore quantum computing’s potential and develop quantum readiness capabilities.

Collaboration with AWS: Infosys is partnering with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to develop and test quantum applications using Amazon Braket, focusing on use cases like vehicle route optimization and fraud detection.

Research and Partnerships: Infosys collaborates with top universities and startups to drive innovation and stay at the forefront of quantum computing advancements.

These efforts position Infosys as a leader in leveraging quantum computing to solve complex business challenges and drive future innovation.

Author’s Details:

Prassanna Rao Rajgopal, Industry Principal, Infosys

Prassanna has 20 years+ of experience specializing in cybersecurity. He heads the North America strategic alliance and partnership with Palo Alto Networks and manages joint go-to-market cybersecurity offerings. He has developed cybersecurity roadmaps with CISOs and collaborated on building a Cybersecurity Operations Center. His experience includes cybersecurity transformation, managed security services, and service delivery.

Douglas Concepcion, Principal Consultant, Infosys

Douglas has 25+ years of experience in cybersecurity and has played the roles of CISO, CTO, and Architect. He has managed large networking and security programs, implemented SOC for the largest non-profit healthcare provider in the US, and created GDPR guidelines for ALA. He has been a speaker at many international, national, and regional conferences. His areas of expertise include Enterprise Architecture & Governance, SOC/MSSP – design & implementation, Network Architecture, Cybersecurity Risks Assessments, Incident investigation, Threat & Vulnerability, and Compliance, Audit & Risk.