With the increasing adoption of flexible work and digitalisation, the risk of a cyberattack is growing for everyone, business and consumers.
Quantum computing is an emerging technology that could break today’s encryption, leaving current cybersecurity defences ineffective almost overnight. And without solid preparation, this would be a disaster for the cybersecurity industry because they could break widely used encryption standards such as Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) in a fraction of the time. However, quantum computing also holds the key for new ways to secure data, including quantum key distribution (QKD) to post-quantum cryptography.
So, the question isn’t if quantum technology will reshape cybersecurity, but how soon.
Quantum threats to current encryption
RSA and ECC are the main encryption methods currently used in Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which secure online communications by using a public key to lock messages and a private key to unlock them. The only strength of modern cybersecurity, therefore, is that breaking these keys relies on the difficulty of factoring large integers or solving discrete logarithms, something which is nearly impossible for today’s technology to solve.
But, a computer powered by quantum technology could crack these codes in hours or even minutes, and it effects would be, potentially, catastrophic. Sensitive information such as financial transactions, medical records, and classified government communications all depend on RSA and ECC for protection, and if these systems were broken, this would significantly increase the risk of a cyber-attack for everyone.
However, the timeline for quantum computing becoming mainstream is always changing. While some experts warn of a “Q-Day”, the point when quantum machines can break public-key encryption, within the next two decades, others believe advances could come sooner, leaving little time to prepare.
Quantum-safe solutions
Europe is leading the way with two main cybersecurity defences against quantum technology: Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC).
Quantum Key Distribution
QKD uses quantum properties of light so that any interception attempt is immediately detectable. In Europe, projects like the partnership between Toshiba Europe and Single Quantum have pushed QKD over fibre links longer than 300 km, while the Exail-led QKISS project is developing high-performance, certifiable QKD systems for uses like e-health, banking and government communication.
Additionally, the EAGLE-1 satellite mission is the first space-based quantum key distribution system to be developed under a partnership between the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission (EC) and space companies in Europe. It will pave the way towards an ultra-secure network that uses quantum key distribution, which uses the unbreakable laws of physics to distribute encryption keys in such a way that any attempt to eavesdrop is immediately detected, to keep information safe, significantly boosting European autonomy in cybersecurity and communications
Post-Quantum Cryptography
PQC replaces vulnerable public-key algorithms with ones believed to be safe even against quantum attacks. In April 2024, the EC published a Recommendation that calls for a co-ordinated transition to PQC, and in August 2024, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the U.S. released its first set of finalised post-quantum encryption standards.
EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative Pledger, Decent Cybersecurity, is a leader in quantum-resistant cybersecurity solutions, safeguarding critical data and infrastructures in sectors such as space operations and unmanned aerial systems. With national, EU and NATO security clearances, they drive innovations in blockchain security, space traffic management, and more, as well as offering specialised training programs to ensure global digital security and competence.
Challenges of a Quantum Cyber future
The real hurdles of moving toward a quantum-safe cyber-world isn’t just about tech breakthroughs.
Firstly, the cost and technical complexity are steep as QKD systems require specialised hardware, such as ultra-precise photon detectors, low-loss optical fibres, and synchronisation equipment. A 2025 article on “Why Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is redefining the future of cybersecurity in Europe” noted that in Europe current QKD modules cost several hundred thousands of euros per link, making QKD out of reach for SMEs, public services, and mass-market users.
Then there’s the geopolitical risk as the quantum arms race could potentially widen gaps between states, both in capability and trust. Because of these barriers, hybrid models, that mix classical security with quantum-safe elements, appear to be the most practical near-term path, as they allow gradual transition, offer redundancy if one approach fails, and can help spread costs and risk while standards mature.
Preparing for the quantum shift
As quantum computing advances, organisations should act now to safeguard their digital infrastructure. Following the EC’s Recommendation, the EU has issued a roadmap and timeline to start using PQC, with the protection of critical infrastructures transitioned to PQC by the end of 2030 at the latest.
A 2022 report by Ernst & Young suggests three steps business leaders can take now, so they and their business can become ‘quantum ready:
- Monitor the broader societal, technological, economic, environmental, and political landscape for signals of progress and disruption in quantum computing
- Track developments in quantum computing to help plan for how the future may unfold
- Target quantum computing’s intersection with strategic activities such as trust and ethics, climate change and sustainability, and skills gaps
The EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative’s Pledgers’ Share & Connect in February 2025 focused on quantum skills for the next generation and the work some of our Pledgers are carrying out in this arena. And our catalogue of over 220 courses and training programmes (as of September 2025), includes 53 courses in Advanced and Quantum Computing, which offers a great opportunity for European talent to skill, upskill, or reskill in this emerging sector.
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