Cybersecurity Crisis: How Quantum Computers Could Ruin Encryption – A Conversation with Ashish Sukhadeve

In a world where technology evolves faster than most people can comprehend, Ashish Sukhadeve has carved out a rare space for himself — one where data, storytelling and innovation intersect with purpose. As the Founder & CEO of Analytics Insight, he has become a defining voice in the global discourse on artificial intelligence, big data and emerging technologies. What began as a curiosity-driven journey into the world of analytics has transformed into a mission: making the complex world of disruptive technology both accessible and actionable for businesses, innovators and everyday readers.

But Ashish’s story is not just about building a media and research powerhouse — it is about decoding the human side of data. Guided by the belief that every dataset tells a story waiting to be uncovered, he has championed a unique blend of analytical rigour and creative insight. His leadership reflects this balance: fostering psychological safety, encouraging experimentation and inspiring teams to think beyond metrics and deadlines. Through this philosophy, Ashish continues to redefine how technology narratives are shaped, understood and shared across the global innovation ecosystem.

Can the digital world withstand the rise of quantum computing, or will it shatter the encryption that protects our data and privacy forever?

Cybersecurity is facing both a potential revolution and a looming crisis. Quantum computing, which promises to solve problems significantly faster than today’s supercomputers, has the potential to render our most robust digital security measures obsolete. From digital banking to national security, the rise of quantum computers may jeopardise the encryption systems that protect our digital world.

Here is the interview with Ashish Sukhadeve explaining further.

Quantum computing is often described as both a breakthrough and a threat. Why is that?

Ashish Sukhadeve: Quantum computing represents a massive leap in processing power. It can solve highly complex problems far faster than classical computers. But this very strength creates a cybersecurity concern. Our current encryption systems — used in banking, communication, government networks and cloud platforms — were designed to be secure against classical computers, not quantum ones. So quantum computing becomes a double-edged sword: groundbreaking for innovation, yet potentially catastrophic for digital security.

Before we get into the risks, can you explain how quantum computing actually works?

Ashish Sukhadeve: Traditional computers use bits — either 0 or 1. Quantum computers use qubits, which can be 0 and 1 at the same time because of superposition. When combined with entanglement, qubits can process massive amounts of information simultaneously.
This allows quantum machines to handle calculations that would take classical systems thousands of years, compressing them into seconds. It’s this enormous computational edge that endangers today’s encryption systems.

So which encryption systems are at risk from quantum computers?

Ashish Sukhadeve: The major ones are:

• RSA (Rivest–Shamir–Adleman) – used in online banking, secure emails and digital signatures.
• ECC (Elliptic Curve Cryptography) – used in mobile devices, secure messaging and blockchain networks.
• AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) – used globally by governments and corporations.

Quantum computers running Shor’s algorithm could break RSA and ECC by quickly factoring large numbers or calculating discrete logarithms. This means encrypted data — both future and historical — could become readable as soon as quantum machines reach a certain scale.

We often hear the phrase “harvest now, decrypt later”. What does that mean?

Ashish Sukhadeve: It is one of the biggest emerging threats.
Right now, adversaries are collecting large volumes of encrypted data, even if they cannot crack it yet. They are assuming that in the future, when quantum computers are powerful enough, this data can be decrypted easily.
This affects government secrets, corporate archives and personal conversations — essentially anything stored today with classical encryption. The danger is not just future breaches; it is retroactive exposure.

How close are we to quantum computers that can actually break encryption?

Ashish Sukhadeve: We are not there yet, but progress is accelerating. Companies such as IBM, Google, Rigetti and IonQ are scaling quantum hardware quickly. Google’s 2019 quantum supremacy announcement was a major milestone.
Most experts believe we may see quantum systems capable of breaking RSA-2048 within 10–15 years.
Because of this timeline, governments and industries are acting now — transitioning early is the only safe approach.

What steps are being taken to prepare for this shift?

Ashish Sukhadeve: There are three major areas of development:

1. Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC)

These are new algorithms designed to resist attacks from both classical and quantum computers. NIST is already standardising them, particularly lattice-based and hash-based algorithms.

2. Hybrid Encryption Models

Organisations — especially in finance, defence and cloud infrastructure — are using systems that combine traditional encryption with quantum-resistant methods during the transition period.

3. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)

This uses quantum physics to distribute encryption keys.
If someone attempts to intercept the key, the system immediately detects it because observing quantum data alters its state.
Countries including the US, China and several EU nations are building QKD networks as part of their future communication infrastructure.

This sounds like a race. What’s really at stake here?

Ashish Sukhadeve: Everything we rely on for secure digital interactions:

• Online banking
• Secure messaging
• National intelligence
• Healthcare records
• E-commerce
• Cloud storage
• Cryptocurrencies
• Corporate IP and trade secrets

If we do not transition in time, quantum computers could break the very foundation of digital trust.
The danger is not hypothetical — it is inevitable unless we modernise our security.

Finally, what does the future look like? Is the digital world ready?

Ashish Sukhadeve: The future depends on preparation.
Quantum computing will reshape industries, drive scientific breakthroughs and open new horizons in AI. But if cybersecurity does not evolve fast enough, we risk facing the largest digital security crisis in history.

The race is no longer about building the first powerful quantum computer.
It is about upgrading our encryption before quantum machines arrive.
Those who act early will secure the next era of the internet. Those who do not may lose control of their data forever.