New Delhi
The world is getting ready to move from a digital economy to a quantum economy, according to a new report by India’s cyber agency CERT-In. The report, called Transitioning to Quantum Cyber Readiness, was released on Friday. It explains that quantum computing is no longer just a future idea but is becoming real very quickly, with big impacts on cybersecurity and technology systems.
Many big tech companies are already working on quantum technology. Google’s Willow chip, launched in December 2024, made big progress with 105 qubits. Microsoft introduced its Majorana-1 processor this year and hopes to reach a million qubits soon. IBM plans to build strong quantum systems by 2029, and Quantinuum has created a 56-qubit quantum computer. Even Nokia is moving ahead with quantum networking.
The report arrives as the UN declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, showing global focus on this change. The new quantum technology will help solve difficult problems faster than today’s computers. However, it also brings big security risks.
Quantum computers could easily break current security methods like RSA encryption, which protects online banking, messages, digital signatures, and cryptocurrencies. Hackers could collect encrypted data now and crack it later when quantum computers become stronger, risking important data like financial records and health information.
Many organisations don’t fully understand their current encryption systems. This lack of awareness could lead to serious problems in a future that needs new, stronger “post-quantum” security methods. The report warns that action is needed quickly to protect data and stay safe in the coming quantum era.
