Preparing for the Post-Quantum Era: The Hidden Cyber Threat Organizations Must Address Today

While organizations continue to strengthen their defenses against today's cyber threats, a much larger challenge is quietly approaching: the quantum era. This session will explain why the quantum threat does not begin when large-scale quantum computers become available it begins today through the "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" strategy, where attackers can collect encrypted data now and decrypt it in the future. The presentation will explore how quantum computing will impact current public-key cryptography, why organizations must start planning their transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), and what practical steps security teams can take today. It will also introduce the latest NIST-standardized PQC algorithms and discuss the new skills that Cloud and Cyber professionals should develop by 2028, including cryptographic agility, crypto asset inventory, and post-quantum migration planning. The objective is to help organizations move from awareness to action, ensuring they are prepared for one of the most significant cybersecurity transformations of the coming decade. Key Takeaways - Understanding the "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" threat. - Why quantum computing is a cybersecurity challenge, not just a research topic. - How quantum computing affects RSA, ECC, and current public-key cryptography. - Introduction to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and the latest NIST standards. - Building quantum-ready organizations through cryptographic agility and migration planning. - The key Cloud & Cyber skills professionals will need by 2028 to lead the post-quantum transition.