A tool known as the Quantum Readiness Toolkit has been introduced to help organisations securely navigate the era of quantum computing. This toolkit provides guiding principles that cover crucial areas such as planning for future-proof technology, incorporating quantum risk into governance structures and risk management procedures, and recruiting the necessary talent. By taking a proactive stance on security and risk management, organisations can gain a better understanding of the risks associated with quantum computing and take steps to mitigate them.
Quantum computing advancements pose cybersecurity threats, potentially compromising current cryptographic systems. The Quantum Readiness Toolkit provides guiding principles for organisations to securely navigate the quantum computing era. It stresses the need for a global approach to cybersecurity and quantum risk governance and offers a framework for assessing quantum readiness. The toolkit also suggests steps to enhance quantum security measures and integrate quantum risk into governance structures and risk management processes.
Quantum computing is rapidly advancing, and this progress presents new challenges for cybersecurity. The emergence of quantum computers could potentially undermine current cryptographic systems, thereby jeopardising secure communications and data protection. As a result, organisations need to modify their security protocols and governance to counteract the quantum threat.
Prioritising Quantum Risk
The toolkit underscores the need to give quantum risk the same level of attention as existing risks. It also promotes a global, cross-border approach to cybersecurity and the governance of quantum risk. This approach provides organisations with a structure to evaluate their readiness for quantum computing and identifies steps to prioritise and improve their quantum security measures.
The Quantum Readiness Toolkit provides a framework for organisations to assess their readiness for the quantum computing era. It identifies steps to prioritise and enhance their quantum security measures. The toolkit is designed to be a starting point for developing a tailored strategy for quantum readiness.
Quantum Readiness Across Different Organisations
Regardless of an organisation’s size, industry, or maturity, the Quantum Readiness Toolkit can be a starting point for developing a customised strategy for quantum readiness. This flexibility makes it a valuable resource for a wide range of organisations as they prepare for the challenges and opportunities presented by quantum computing.
Quantum Computing and Cybersecurity
Quantum computing is a rapidly developing field that is set to bring new challenges to the cybersecurity landscape. Quantum computers have the potential to break many of the cryptographic systems that we rely on today for secure communications and data protection. Even though the quantum threat has not materialized yet, it is crucial for organizations to start planning a secure and timely quantum transition to avoid a more significant impact in the future.
The World Economic Forum, in collaboration with Deloitte, published a white paper last year titled “Transitioning to a Quantum-Secure Economy”. This paper outlines the risks of quantum computers and provides initial guidance for organizations to transform their governance and security practices for the quantum era.
To help organizations prepare for this new reality, the white paper presents a set of principles that organizations can use to help ensure they are ready to enter the quantum computing era securely. These principles cover a range of areas, from strategizing about future-proof technology, embedding quantum risk in governance structures and existing risk management processes, to finding the right talent to head this new challenge.
Risk Management and Quantum Computing
At the heart of these principles is a focus on risk management and the need to take a proactive approach to security using technical and soft skills. Organizations must better understand the risk they are exposed to, so they can take the right steps to mitigate them. This requires a willingness to invest today in the necessary tools and experience to become quantum cyber-ready.
As we look to the future, quantum computing will undoubtedly bring new challenges and opportunities. With the right approach, however, organizations can prepare so they are ready to navigate this new landscape and protect their critical assets and information.
Although the timescale for a fully mature commercially-viable quantum computer being available is still under much debate, there is consensus that there is an actual (non-zero) probability that one will exist in the future. The real question is: how long will it take you to upgrade your infrastructure, and what is the expected lifetime of your data?
Quantum Threat and Enterprise Security
Quantum computers promise transformative powers for businesses and organizations across the globe and through a diverse range of industries. However, they also introduce significant risks to the current digital economy. Shortly, sufficiently robust and commercially available quantum computers will undermine current cryptographic standards protecting most digital communications and vast amounts of sensitive data.
Mitigating this security risk requires organizations to implement quantum-security technologies that quantum computers cannot break. Organizations must embark on a complex transition to become resilient to quantum computer attacks.
Global Approach to Quantum Cybersecurity
There is a need for a cohesive, global, cross-border approach to cybersecurity and governing quantum risk. The Quantum Readiness Toolkit provides a framework of five principles to guide organizations to prepare for the quantum-secure economy by providing steps for assessing their quantum readiness and identifying and prioritizing future actions.
The input arises from in-depth conversations during the World Economic Forum’s quantum security working group. This global multistakeholder effort brings together a community of senior cyber and quantum executives and experts from business, government, regulators and academic institutions.
Quantum Risk Management and Organizational Preparedness
Organizations need to prioritize quantum risk alongside existing risks through the definition of a clear roadmap and clear roles and responsibilities. To face quantum risks, organizations need to raise awareness, invest in education and technology adoption, and collaborate with the ecosystem.
This toolkit and the accompanying knowledge base aim to provide leaders with guidance necessary to achieve an organization-wide understanding of quantum risk and its governance – in order to thrive in a quantum-secure economy. Since organizations vary in size, industry and maturity, the toolkit is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The guidance laid out in the toolkit is suggestive and not exhaustive since all organizations will have to complete their quantum security transition. The toolkit serves as a starting point to explore what an organization’s unique strategy for quantum readiness can look like.
Executive Summary
Quantum computing advancements pose a cybersecurity threat and could compromise existing cryptographic systems, necessitating changes in security practices. The Quantum Readiness Toolkit provides guiding principles for organisations to securely navigate the quantum computing era, emphasising the need for a proactive approach to risk management and a global, cross-border approach to cybersecurity.
- Quantum computing advancements pose significant cybersecurity threats, potentially compromising current cryptographic systems and jeopardising secure communications and data protection.
- Organisations need to modify their security practices and governance to tackle the quantum threat.
- The Quantum Readiness Toolkit guides organisations to securely navigate the quantum computing era. These principles include strategising for future-proof technology, incorporating quantum risk into governance structures and risk management processes, and acquiring necessary talent.
- The toolkit stresses the need to prioritise quantum risk alongside existing risks and promotes a global, cross-border approach to cybersecurity and quantum risk governance.
- It offers a framework for organisations to evaluate their quantum readiness and outlines steps to prioritise and improve their quantum security measures.
- The toolkit serves as a starting point for organisations, regardless of their size, industry, or maturity, to develop a customised strategy for quantum readiness.
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