Quantum-Safe Financial Security: An IBM Imperative

The emergence of cryptographically relevant quantum computers (CRQCs) poses a severe and imminent threat to current public-key encryption algorithms, which underpin the security of confidential data and communications globally. This threat is exacerbated by "harvest now, decrypt later" attacks, where adversaries steal encrypted data today, intending to decrypt it once CRQCs are powerful enough. Both the defense and financial services industries are at high risk due to their reliance on vulnerable legacy systems, complex IT landscapes, and the sensitive nature of the data they manage. Proactive and agile transitions to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) are essential to protect national security, economic stability, and public trust.