At Quantum World Congress 2024, Dr. Donna Dodson, a distinguished leader in quantum cybersecurity from EvolutionQ, delivered an insightful keynote titled "From Standards to Action: Crafting a Quantum-Ready Roadmap." Her talk focused on the essential steps organizations must take to prepare for a world where both classical and quantum computing co-exist, highlighting the vital importance of post-quantum cryptography (PQC) in securing our digital future.

From Standards to Action: Implementing the Quantum-Ready Roadmap

Quantum computing, once a distant theory, is now a tangible engineering challenge with real-world implications. Dr. Dodson emphasized that, while standards for post-quantum cryptography have been established by organizations like NIST, the hard part is just beginning: turning those standards into action. "Now that we have these foundational standards, the crucial question is, what comes next?" she asked.

Dodson urged organizations to go beyond merely adopting PQC algorithms. Instead, they must craft a comprehensive, quantum-ready roadmap that ensures their systems are resilient, agile, and able to protect data in a world where quantum and classical computers will operate side by side.

Expanding the Attack Surface: The New Quantum Reality

As quantum computing becomes a reality, the threat landscape expands. Dr. Dodson highlighted that organizations now face dual challenges: defending against both classical and quantum-based attacks. “Quantum computing expands our attack surface exponentially,” she said. This new reality requires a forward-thinking approach to cybersecurity, one that accounts for the complexity of both quantum and classical systems.

Building Resilient Cryptographic Infrastructure

A key focus of Dr. Dodson’s keynote was the need for cryptographic resilience. She explained that while PQC provides a foundation, the real challenge lies in creating an infrastructure that can adapt and recover from attacks. Resiliency, she noted, involves cryptographic agility and defense-in-depth, ensuring that organizations can respond to both known and emerging threats.

Dr. Dodson stressed that the journey to quantum readiness is not just technical but also business-driven. “This is not just a technology journey; it is a business journey,” she said, emphasizing the need for organizational leadership and investment to make this transition successful.

The Role of Leadership and Agility

Dr. Dodson called on leaders to educate their teams, create awareness, and establish the necessary governance models to support a quantum-ready infrastructure. “Quantum risk assessment is critical,” she noted, underscoring the importance of understanding what is at stake and how to protect it.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Dodson issued a clear call to action: "Get started now. Seize the moment." The quantum future is approaching rapidly, and organizations that act today will be best positioned to maintain trust, protect data, and thrive in the quantum age.