As governments accelerate post-quantum security planning, new research from apexanalytix warns that while quantum computing may still be emerging, the decisions organizations make today will determine their exposure to future threats.
The report finds that procurement leaders are accountable for quantum risk when they select and implement the new generation of AI-assisted sourcing and supplier management solutions.
“The risk is not that quantum computers arrive tomorrow. The risk is that supplier data exchanged today cannot be secured retroactively, leaving procurement with avoidable cost, effort, and executive exposure,” says Akhilesh Agarwal, president, P2P solutions and technology at apexanalytix. “Quantum-enabled optimization and probabilistic modeling could eventually help organizations tackle some of the most complex supply chain management problems, but leaders must plan for post-quantum security now, otherwise they’ll accumulate risk that can’t be undone later.”
Key takeaways:
· Many organizations rely on current encryption standards to protect supplier invoices and payment information, commercial contracts and pricing terms, banking and account details, and compliance and regulatory records.
· Yet, according to security agencies such as the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), CISA, and the NSA, adversaries are already harvesting encrypted data now with the intent to decrypt it later, once quantum computing becomes powerful enough.
· Data protected today with RSA or ECC could be retroactively exposed years from now, putting historical communications, financial records, and proprietary information at risk.
· The report cautions that quantum computing will not compensate for poor data quality or weak supplier visibility. Organizations that invest now in clean data, strong governance, and resilient platforms will be best positioned to benefit as the technology matures.
