WASHINGTON, DC, June 26, 2025 -- ATIS today announces the release of “Quantum Technologies and the Cryptographic Threat Timeline: A Strategic Overview,” a white paper that sheds light on how emerging quantum technologies may dramatically accelerate the timeline for breaking classical encryption, potentially reshaping the foundations of digital security within the next decade.

“Quantum computing is advancing faster than many in our industry anticipated, with profound implications for data protection and digital infrastructure,” said ATIS President and CEO Susan Miller. “This white paper is a wake-up call for organizations to proactively prepare for the post-quantum world.”

This report explores key breakthroughs that may bring forward the arrival of cryptographically relevant quantum computers (CRQCs), including surface codes, topological qubits, cat qubits, partial entanglement, and hybrid algorithms such as the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA). Each of these innovations targets specific limitations in quantum hardware or algorithms, and their combined effect may significantly compress the threat timeline.

“Quantum computing is no longer a theoretical threat on a distant horizon,” said Ian Deakin, ATIS Principal Technologist and leader of ATIS’ Quantum Initiative. “With significant advances across hardware, error correction, and quantum algorithms, the risk is dynamic; the time to begin migration to quantum-safe cryptography is now.”

The white paper urges organizations to prioritize preparation efforts immediately by inventorying cryptographic dependencies, adopting post-quantum cryptographic standards, and ensuring cryptographic agility across systems. Proactive migration is not optional. It is essential to preserve long-term data confidentiality, foster regulatory compliance, and protect national security in a world where quantum breakthroughs are imminent.