Post-quantum authentication is no longer theoretical. It is becoming a practical requirement for organizations that rely on cryptography to protect digital services, customer identities, and long-lived data. Advances in quantum computing mean that the security assumptions behind today’s cryptographic systems may not hold for the full lifetime of systems being deployed now.
What makes this moment different is not a single breakthrough or announcement. It is the convergence of several independent signals across the market. Analysts, banks, regulators, and technology providers are all responding to the same underlying reality: cryptographic transitions take time, and the window for a smooth transition is already open.
The following five proof points show why organizations are acting now, and why those who aren’t need to catch up fast.
1. Analysts Are Aligning on the Same Message
In recent years, post-quantum security has moved beyond academic discussion and into mainstream analyst research. Leading analyst firms and standardization bodies now treat it as a near-term issue that affects real-world deployments.
Organizations such as Gartner, KuppingerCole, Celent, and NIST consistently highlight the same risk. Once quantum computers reach sufficient scale and stability, commonly used asymmetric cryptographic algorithms will no longer provide the expected level of protection. Analyst research increasingly places post-quantum authentication on a clear path toward broader adoption within the next few years.
“By 2029, advances in quantum computing will weaken and break the conventional asymmetric cryptography that underpins many authentication methods.”
- Gartner, Hype Cycle for Digital Identity, 2025, published on 14 July 2025, By Nayara Sangiorgio, Nathan Harris.
This alignment matters because analyst guidance plays a practical role in enterprise decision-making. When multiple independent firms point in the same direction, security leaders begin to reflect that guidance in roadmaps, budgets, and architectural decisions. Post-quantum authentication is now being discussed as part of standard security planning rather than as a speculative future concern.
2. Banks Are Requiring Quantum Readiness in New Projects
The shift toward post-quantum security is no longer limited to strategy documents. It is showing up directly in procurement processes.
Banks and fintech companies are increasingly requiring quantum readiness in authentication tenders and RFPs. This trend is driven by the long lifecycle of authentication systems. A solution selected today is expected to protect customers and transactions for many years. Deploying a system that cannot withstand the quantum transition creates future replacement risk, additional cost, and potential regulatory exposure.
Large European banking groups are already evaluating authentication technologies with this requirement in mind. In some cases, quantum readiness is no longer viewed as an advanced feature. It is becoming a baseline expectation for new deployments, especially in customer-facing systems where longevity and trust are critical.
3. Governments Are Defining Clear Transition Timelines
Public authorities are also accelerating the conversation. Governments and cybersecurity agencies across Europe, Asia, and North America have published guidance encouraging organizations to migrate toward quantum-resistant cryptography before the end of the decade.
These recommendations are closely tied to concerns about long-term data exposure, often described as “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later.” Encrypted communications and stored data frequently retain their sensitivity for many years. Data intercepted today can be stored and decrypted in the future once quantum computers become capable of breaking current cryptographic algorithms.
“All Member States should start transitioning to post-quantum cryptography by the end of 2026, and the protection of critical infrastructures should be transitioned to PQC as soon as possible, but no later than by the end of 2030.”
- European Commission, EU reinforces its cybersecurity through post-quantum cryptography, Digital Strategy, European Commission, published on 23 June 2025.
As a result, regulators increasingly frame post-quantum migration as a matter of resilience, continuity, and risk management. The focus is not on reacting to a future breakthrough, but on ensuring that systems deployed today remain trustworthy throughout their intended lifetime.
4. The Impact Spans the Entire Banking Technology Stack
The quantum transition does not affect a single component or isolated system. It touches a wide portion of the banking technology environment.
Authentication systems, payment flows, digital signatures, TLS connections, mobile secure storage, databases, internal services, and identity infrastructure all rely on cryptographic foundations. Many banks operate thousands of applications across different generations of technology. Reviewing, upgrading, or replacing cryptographic components across this landscape is a multi-year effort.
Because of this scope, institutions are beginning to treat post-quantum readiness as a structured program rather than a one-off project. Customer authentication often becomes a logical starting point. It protects a critical entry point, has clear ownership, and delivers visible progress while larger backend transitions are planned.
5. Quantum Computing Progress Continues to Accelerate
At the same time, progress in quantum computing continues at a steady pace. Physical qubit counts increase year over year. Error correction improves. Multiple hardware approaches are developed in parallel, reducing dependence on a single technological path.
Major technology companies, like Microsoft, IBM, and Google, regularly publish new architectures, roadmaps, and performance results. Some target fault-tolerant quantum systems within the next decade. Others demonstrate algorithms that already outperform classical systems in specific tasks.
This matters because cryptographic transitions cannot be executed overnight. Organizations are effectively one major breakthrough away from the arrival of a cryptographically relevant quantum computer. As recent experience with AI has shown, technological shifts can happen suddenly and without warning. Waiting for certainty increases the risk of compressed timelines, operational disruption, and forced trade-offs. Preparation now is what preserves choice and control later.
The Direction Is Clear
Post-quantum authentication is no longer driven by speculation or isolated predictions. It is driven by converging signals from analysts, customers, regulators, and technology providers. Organizations that begin preparing now gain flexibility. They can plan migrations, test approaches, and integrate post-quantum security gradually and deliberately. Those who wait may be forced into reactive decisions under time pressure.
This is exactly the challenge Wultra addresses. Its authentication solutions are post-quantum ready and cryptographically agile, designed to adapt as standards evolve. Built to meet the regulatory requirements of financial markets, they can be deployed on-premise or in the cloud and work reliably across a wide range of end-user devices.
Frequently asked questions
What is post-quantum authentication?
Post-quantum authentication refers to authentication methods that rely on cryptographic algorithms designed to resist attacks from quantum computers.https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/post-quantum-cryptography
Why does post-quantum authentication matter now?
Authentication systems have long lifetimes. Systems deployed today may still be in use when quantum computers are capable of breaking current cryptography.
Are quantum computers already a threat?
Large-scale quantum computers are not yet widely available, but data intercepted today may be decrypted in the future, which impacts some authentication systems. Preparation needs to happen before that point.https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/pqc-migration-timelines
Which industries are most affected?
Banking, fintech, government, critical infrastructure, and any sector that relies on long-term data protection and digital identity.
Where should organizations start?
Many organizations start with customer authentication, as it is a critical, visible system and a practical entry point into broader post-quantum readiness programs.
.webp)