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A CTO'S Primer on Q-Day: Part 3 - Building the Business Case for PQC

Quantum computing threatens current encryption, urging immediate action. Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is essential for safeguarding data and maintaining trust. CTOs and CISOs must lead strategic transitions, aligning with regulatory timelines and leveraging external pressures. Early adoption ensures market leadership and resilience, transforming PQC from a technical task to a business-critical investment.

In today's boardrooms and security operation centers, quantum computing may still sound like a distant concern, but the implications are already knocking at the door. Behind the hype lies a very real risk; the foundational encryption standards that protect our most sensitive digital assets are nearing obsolescence. For CTOs, CISOs and other IT leaders, the real challenge isn't whether quantum computing will arrive. It's whether we'll be ready when it does.

Consider this scenario: encrypted customer data, financial records and intellectual property — safe today under RSA or ECC — is intercepted and stored by a nation-state. Five years from now, a quantum computer cracks it. Suddenly, secrets once thought secure are publicly exposed or privately leveraged. This isn't fiction. This is the Harvest Now, Decrypt Later (HNDL) model, and it's already happening.

This is why building a business case for post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is not just a technical task. It's a leadership moment. It's about framing the stakes in language that resonates with executives, aligning risk mitigation with business goals, and taking meaningful, measurable action before Q-Day arrives.

Telling the story: Why now is the time to act

Quantify the risk: Make the threat real

Start with what leadership understands: impact. Don't talk in bits and pieces; talk in business terms.

What would be the cost if a government agency, a healthcare provider or a financial institution lost trust because attackers decrypted their archived encrypted data? What is the reputational impact if private conversations, internal documents or customer records are suddenly in the public domain — not because of today's failure, but because of yesterday's encryption?

Ask executives plainly: Are we comfortable accepting the risk that all encrypted data we hold today could be exposed tomorrow?

Framing the threat this way shifts the discussion from abstract to actionable. It moves PQC out of the "research project" category and into the realm of business-critical investment.

Demonstrate ROI: Lead with value, not fear

Yes, PQC involves cost. But waiting is more expensive. Delaying action means accepting:

  • Higher complexity during emergency upgrades
  • Possible non-compliance with upcoming regulatory standards
  • Downtime during unplanned transitions
  • Loss of customer and investor confidence

Position PQC migration as a cost-avoidance and resilience strategy. The earlier an organization begins the process, the smoother and more controlled the transition will be. And those who move early gain something rare: the chance to lead the market, rather than scramble to catch up.

External pressures are mounting: Use them to your advantage

There's a growing consensus in government and industry that classical cryptography is on borrowed time. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has already announced PQC standards. Mandates from agencies like CISA and NSA require action by 2030 for deprecation and 2035 for full prohibition of vulnerable algorithms.

IT leaders should not view this as a compliance checkbox, but rather strategic leverage. Executives understand deadlines and regulatory exposure. Show them that aligning with these timelines isn't just good governance — it's critical to preserving competitive relevance in heavily regulated sectors like finance, defense, and healthcare.

Additionally, reference trusted frameworks like MITRE's PQCC Migration Roadmap to add credibility and a blueprint to your pitch.

Preparing for the post-quantum era

PQC migration is not a single decision, it's a phased journey. Here's how to structure it:

Next 6 months: Lay the foundation

  • Secure executive sponsorship and funding. Ensure leadership understands the stakes and commits to supporting proactive change.
  • Initiate a cryptographic inventory. Know what algorithms, libraries and key lengths are used — and where.
  • Engage with vendors. Ask your technology and SaaS providers about their PQC roadmaps and integration plans.

Next 6–24 months: Build strategy

  • Develop a detailed migration roadmap. Identify and prioritize high-risk systems and long-lived data.
  • Pilot hybrid cryptographic solutions. Combine classical and PQC algorithms to test compatibility and minimize disruption.
  • Install PQC-enabled components. Include PKI upgrades, Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNG) and, where applicable, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD).
  • Train internal teams. Prepare your people to implement and manage quantum-safe practices. Upskilling now avoids panic later.

2–10 years: Complete the transition

  • Prioritize long-life data. Focus first on systems protecting records that must remain secure beyond 2030.
  • Establish cryptographic agility. Build flexibility into your systems to allow future crypto updates without rewrites.
  • Achieve full quantum-safe readiness by 2035. Make this a milestone on your enterprise roadmap.

The quantum future is already here

Post-quantum cryptography isn't just an IT responsibility — it's an enterprise-wide strategic shift. The decisions made today will determine whether an organization enters the quantum era from a position of preparedness or vulnerability.

The organizations that thrive in a quantum future will be those that took action before the crisis, not during it. By building a business case grounded in risk awareness, regulatory alignment and strategic value, CISOs and CTOs can lead their organizations into this next era of cybersecurity with foresight and confidence.

Quantum resilience starts not in 2030 — but now.