Analyst(s): Bob Sutor
Publication Date: June 2, 2025
Quantum technologies span many areas, including computing, sensing, networking, and communications. Today, they are used in various forms, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in healthcare, which is a form of sensing. When quantum vendors and users mention the term “quantum ready,” they are typically referring to quantum computing. Furthermore, there are two sides to this: are you ready to leverage the computational power of quantum, and are you prepared for the cryptographic threat that quantum may someday pose? These principles also apply to the products and services you offer and your internal operations and development.
Key Points:
- While we cannot accurately predict when we will have large and powerful enough quantum computers to solve problems currently intractable with classical systems, it is becoming clear that technological momentum is likely to get us there within a decade or so.
- Vendors must be aware of and prepared for the upcoming computational advantages of quantum and security concerns in the products and services they offer.
- Quantum readiness means you have a clear understanding of the real capabilities and rate of development of quantum computers, enabling you to align your research & development (R&D) programs and planned offerings.
- Quantum readiness also means you immediately begin your transition to cybersecurity protocols and practices that should be impervious to attack by quantum computers. This is true for your products as well as your corporate operations.
Overview:
This report discusses the importance of becoming “quantum ready” for both computing and cybersecurity. It explains that while the timeline for powerful quantum computers is uncertain, significant progress suggests they will become a reality within the next decade. Businesses need to prepare for both the potential computational advantages and the security threats that quantum computing will bring.
Quantum readiness entails understanding the actual capabilities and development pace of quantum computing to align R&D programs with product offerings. It also necessitates transitioning to cybersecurity measures resistant to attacks from future quantum computers. This is crucial for both product offerings and internal operations.
Vendors must educate themselves on the current state of the quantum computing industry through third-party experts rather than relying solely on vendors. Organizations should identify use cases where quantum computing can benefit their operations and products, ensuring their workforce is prepared to develop and integrate quantum applications, particularly with high-performance computing systems. Initiating collaboration with security vendors and in-house teams to transition to Post-Quantum Cryptographic standards is also recommended.
Current quantum computers are prone to errors and decoherence, limiting their reliability. Quantum error correction is crucial for producing accurate results, and the evolving maturity of quantum computing systems must align with potential use cases. Vendors must decide whether they can provide value with today’s noisy qubits or wait for error correction to become available.
Achieving Practical Quantum Advantage requires a large number of qubits, estimated to be around 100,000. While various companies are developing systems with increasing qubit counts, the path to a large-scale, error-corrected quantum computer remains long. Understanding the distinction between physical and logical qubits is also essential, as logical qubits combine multiple physical qubits to reduce errors and are necessary for practical applications.
Finally, the report emphasizes the importance of addressing cybersecurity concerns, particularly the potential of quantum computers to compromise current encryption protocols. Transitioning to Post-Quantum Security is crucial and should begin immediately for corporate infrastructure and customer offerings.
Read the full report, Are You “Quantum Ready,” Whatever That Means?, available to subscribers on the Futurum Intelligence Platform.
About the Futurum Quantum Computing Practice
The Futurum Quantum Computing Practice offers actionable, objective insights for market leaders and their teams, enabling them to respond to emerging opportunities and drive innovation. Public access to our coverage can be seen here. Follow news and updates from the Futurum Practice on LinkedIn and X. Visit the Futurum Newsroom for more information and insights.
Author Information
Dr. Bob Sutor is a Consulting Analyst for Futurum and an expert in quantum technologies with 40+ years of experience. He is an accomplished author of the quantum computing book Dancing with Qubits, Second Edition. Bob is dedicated to evolving quantum to help solve society's critical computational problems. For Futurum, he helps clients understand sophisticated technologies and how to make the best use of them for success in their organizations and industries.
He’s the author of a book about quantum computing called Dancing with Qubits, which was published in 2019, with the Second Edition released in March 2024. He is also the author of the 2021 book Dancing with Python, an introduction to Python coding for classical and quantum computing. Areas in which he’s worked: quantum computing, AI, blockchain, mathematics and mathematical software, Linux, open source, standards management, product management and marketing, computer algebra, and web standards.
