JAKARTA — post-quantum cryptography is no longer a niche security term; it is now the frontline defense as global cybersecurity faces an old sci-fi fear made real by quantum computers paired with artificial intelligence. A report cited from Danviet.vn portrays the race as already underway, not as a warning for some far-off future.
The stakes are huge. Not just corporate data. Government documents, logistics systems, financial transactions, and military communications all lean on encryption that has long been treated as dependable.
Why global cybersecurity suddenly feels urgent
The core problem is simple, even if the fallout is not. Quantum machines calculate in ways normal computers do not. At a certain point, that advantage could strip modern asymmetric encryption algorithms, including RSA-2048, of their strength.
For years, digital security has rested on a basic assumption: breaking an encryption key should take an absurdly long time. Very long. The report says the combination of generative AI and quantum technology could shrink a process that once took billions of years into just a few seconds.
If that scenario comes true, data vaults that look safe today could turn into open archives. All at once. That is why defense officials and cyber experts are speaking in much sharper terms than usual.
Pentagon officials have even called quantum computing an “existential threat” to national security in a 25-page report discussed by the source. The phrase sounds extreme, but the message is plain: old defenses will not be enough.
The most dangerous tactic: harvest now, decrypt later
What worries analysts most is not the moment commercial quantum computers finally reach the market. The threat already in motion comes from a tactic known as “harvest now, decrypt later.”
It works quietly. Suspected state-backed hackers collect as much encrypted data as possible today. Petabytes are pulled from government agencies, banks, large companies, and digital service providers. The data is stored. Stacked away. Waiting.
Once quantum computing matures enough, that stored material can be opened one by one. So the issue is not only protecting data today. Organizations also have to think about the value of that data five, 10, or even 20 years from now.
The danger of this model is how little warning it gives. No server-room breach. No dramatic blackout. It happens more silently, but the damage can run much deeper.
Post-quantum cryptography becomes the new line of defense
This is where post-quantum cryptography enters the picture. It refers to a new family of algorithms designed to stay secure even when quantum computers become extremely powerful. They do not rely on the same protection assumptions that quantum machines are expected to break. Instead, they lean on mathematical problems that are far harder and more multidimensional.
Kristen Davies, Pentagon Chief Information Officer, stressed that everything from nuclear launch systems to conventional logistics networks could grind down without a transition to post-quantum cryptography. Her warning was blunt: move now, or pay far more later.
The report also says the U.S. government had to issue two emergency executive orders to speed funding for sensors and new defense algorithms before 2028. SandboxAQ was named among the players pushing faster research in the field.
That means the competition has already moved into operations. Not theory. Not conference talk. Major states are lining up legal tools, budgets, and research at the same time.
What this means for businesses and countries like Indonesia
For companies, the practical takeaway is straightforward: data that feels harmless today may become highly valuable tomorrow. Contracts, customer records, health files, legal documents, and research data can all become targets in long-term storage attacks.
For governments, the risk is broader. Public infrastructure, civil registry systems, tax administration, energy networks, and digital banking services all need a security strategy that no longer relies on old algorithms alone.
In countries pushing digital transformation, including Indonesia, time is the real pressure point. The more services move online, the larger the attack surface becomes. If cryptographic upgrades are delayed, the cost of migration later can be much heavier than starting now.
Experts have warned that delaying investment in quantum security is like opening the door to an attack that has not arrived yet, but is already being prepared. That is the harsh irony of this era: data can be stolen today and opened later.
Global cybersecurity is changing direction
The shift is not only about tools. It is also about mindset. For years, many organizations were satisfied with one strong encryption layer and periodic audits. That is no longer enough. Security systems now need to stay flexible, update regularly, and patch gaps automatically.
According to the report cited by Danviet.vn, Pentagon planners understand that no fixed algorithm stays safe forever in a quantum future that remains hard to predict. So the goal is not just building a higher wall, but creating a system that keeps moving.
The lesson for readers is close to home. Digital security is no longer just a job for engineers. It affects business, public policy, and the trust people place in the online services they use every day. When systems are weak, the effects spread everywhere.
And the next chapter is already visible. Countries and companies that move fastest toward post-quantum cryptography are likely to be better prepared when the quantum era fully arrives.
Quick summary: First, the quantum threat is not a distant future problem, because data can be stolen now and opened later. Second, post-quantum cryptography is becoming the new defense layer. Third, agencies and businesses that delay upgrades face the biggest risk as quantum technology matures.
Quick FAQ:
What is “harvest now, decrypt later”? It is the practice of stealing encrypted data today so it can be decrypted later, once quantum computers are powerful enough.
Why does post-quantum cryptography matter? Because these algorithms are designed to remain secure as quantum computers advance.
Who is most exposed? Governments, banks, large companies, digital service providers, and any organization storing long-term data.
If this trend continues, the key question will no longer be who has the most data, but who can change the lock before a new era forces the door open.
