Steps to Achieve Quantum Readiness

Trying to enter QML in 2026? This is the path I’d take, step by step. A Quantum Machine Learning roadmap should build three pillars in parallel: 1)Mathematics & Classical ML foundations 2)Quantum Computing foundations 3)Hybrid Quantum-Classical ML implementation → Advance QML Models Think of QML as ML + Linear Algebra + Quantum Mechanics + Optimization Step 1: Mathematics, Python, ML Stack, & ML Basics Linear Algebra - vectors, matrices, eigenvalues, tensor products Probability & Statistics - distributions, expectation, variance Optimization - gradient descent, loss functions Python - NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib PyTorch or TensorFlow, Scikit-learn Supervised, Unsupervised Learning Regression, Classification, Overfitting, Regularization Neural Networks, CNN basics Goal: You should be comfortable building classical ML pipelines Step 2: Quantum Computing Foundations Qubits, superposition, measurement, Bloch sphere Quantum gates, Entanglement and Bell states Quantum circuits, Interference Quantum Algorithms - Deutsch-Jozsa, Grover’s Algorithm, Quantum Fourier Transform, Variational Quantum Algorithms Qiskit, Cirq, Q#(1 of them) Goal: You must think in circuits before doing QML Step 3: Bridge to QML Parameterized Quantum Circuits Variational circuits Classical-quantum feedback loop Cost functions Barren plateaus Expressibility & trainability Difference between: Quantum data → quantum model Classical data → quantum embedding PennyLane, TensorFlow Quantum, Qiskit ML Goal: Understand QML is optimization on quantum parameters Step 4: Core QML Models Quantum Data Encoding Angle embedding Amplitude encoding Basis encoding Quantum Models Variational Quantum Classifier Quantum Neural Networks Quantum Kernel Methods Quantum Support Vector Machines Data re-uploading circuits Compare: Classical NN vs VQC Classical SVM vs Quantum Kernel Goal: Show measurable learning, not just circuit execution Step 5: Advanced QML Concepts Barren Plateaus Noise-aware training Hardware-efficient ansatz Quantum Convolutional Neural Networks Quantum Autoencoders QGANs QML for anomaly detection NISQ Constraints - Noise, Shot statistics, Error mitigation Goal: You understand real-world limitations and research gaps Step 6: Research Grade QML Read Papers Schuld & Killoran (Quantum ML theory) Havlíček et al. (Quantum kernel methods) McClean et al. (Barren plateaus) Cerezo et al. (Variational algorithms) Hybrid classical-quantum architectures Quantum kernels vs classical kernels Data-efficient QML Noise-resilient QML QML benchmarking 5–8 serious QML projects Implement: One paper reproduction One modification or improvement Happy Learning! Save this post for later. Repost ♻️ for Quantum & AI Learners! Check my profile for more resources on Quantum & AI Tech Follow Kiran Kaur Raina here: 📌LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/gEpKMQ7z 📌YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gTTv2ewB 📌Topmate: https://lnkd.in/gDj-kmYW 📌Medium: https://lnkd.in/gWBppT7G 📌Instagram: https://lnkd.in/g8qZKHe7

🔐Word o’ the Day | Year | Decade: Crypto-agility, Baby! Yesterday morning, I did a fun fireside chat with Bethany Gadfield - Netzel at the FIA, Inc. Expo in Chicago. We talked about cyber resilience, artificial intelligence, Rubik’s cubes, and that thing called quantum! A question came up at the end, “What can firms actually do today to begin transitioning to post-quantum cryptography?” So thought I would take the opportunity to share my thoughts more broadly on this important, but not super well understood, topic: 1. Don’t wait. The clock for quantum-safe cryptography is already ticking. NIST released its first set of post-quantum standards last year (https://lnkd.in/esTm8uPw) and CISA put out a “Strategy for Migrating to Automated Post-Quantum Discovery and Inventory Tools” last year as part of its broader Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Initiative (https://lnkd.in/evpF4umv). h/t Garfield Jones, D.Eng.! 2. Inventory & prioritize. Map all cryptographic usage: what keys, certificates, protocols, and data streams exist today? Which assets hold long-lived value and are at risk of “harvest-now, decrypt-later”? Build a migration roadmap that prioritizes highest-risk systems (e.g., financial settlement platforms, inter-bank links, legacy encryption). 3. Establish crypto-agility. Ensure your architecture supports swapping algorithms, updating certificates, & layering classical + post-quantum primitives without a full system rebuild. This kind of flexibility is key for resilience. 4. Pilot and migrate. Use the new NIST-approved algorithms; experiment first on less time-sensitive systems, validate performance and interoperability, then scale to mission-critical applications. NIST’s IR 8547 report provides a framework for this transition. 5. Vendor & supply-chain alignment. Ask your vendors & service providers: “What’s your PQC transition plan? When will you support NIST-approved post-quantum algorithms? Are your update paths crypto-agile?” If the answer isn’t clear or (as a former boss of mine used to say) they look at you like a “pig at a wristwatch,” you’ve got a potentially serious third-party risk. 6. Board and Exec engagement. Position this not as an IT problem but a fiduciary risk and resilience imperative. The transition to quantum-safe cryptography is multi-year and multi-layered—waiting until it’s urgent means it will be too late.

NIST – Migration to Post-Quantum Cryptography Quantum Readiness outlines a comprehensive framework for transitioning cryptographic systems to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) in response to the emerging threat of quantum computers. Quantum technology is advancing rapidly and poses a significant risk to current public-key cryptographic methods like RSA, ECC, and DSA. This guide aims to assist organizations in preparing for and implementing PQC to safeguard sensitive data and critical systems. Key Points  The Quantum Threat Quantum computers are expected to disrupt cryptography by efficiently solving mathematical problems that underpin widely used encryption and key exchange methods. This would render current public-key systems ineffective in protecting sensitive data, emphasizing the need for cryptographic agility.  NIST PQC Standards NIST is spearheading efforts to standardize quantum-resistant algorithms through an open competition and evaluation process. These algorithms, designed to withstand quantum attacks, focus on two primary areas: 1. Key Establishment: Protecting methods like Diffie-Hellman and RSA key exchange. 2. Digital Signatures: Securing authentication processes.  Migration Framework The document provides a phased approach to migrating cryptographic systems to PQC: 1. Assessment Phase:    - Inventory cryptographic dependencies in current systems.    - Evaluate systems at risk from quantum threats based on sensitivity and lifespan. 2. Preparation Phase:    - Conduct pilot testing of candidate PQC algorithms in existing infrastructure.    - Develop a hybrid approach that combines classical and post-quantum algorithms to ensure interoperability during transition. 3. Implementation Phase:    - Replace vulnerable cryptographic methods with PQC in a phased manner.    - Ensure scalability, performance, and compatibility with existing systems. 4. Monitoring and Updates:    - Continuously monitor the effectiveness of implemented solutions.  Challenges in PQC Migration - Performance Impact: PQC algorithms often have larger key sizes, increased latency, and greater computational demands compared to classical algorithms. - Interoperability: Ensuring smooth integration with legacy systems poses significant technical challenges.  Best Practices - Use hybrid encryption to maintain compatibility while testing PQC algorithms. - Engage in collaboration with vendors, industry groups, and government initiatives to align with best practices and standards. Conclusion The transition to post-quantum cryptography is a proactive measure to secure data and communications against future threats. NIST emphasizes the importance of starting preparations immediately to mitigate risks and ensure a smooth, efficient migration process. Organizations should focus on inventorying dependencies, piloting PQC solutions, and developing cryptographic agility to adapt to this transformative technological shift.

🗞️ Needed report By CyberArk on a burning issue : identity security. A decisive element that will determine our ability to restore digital trust. 🔹 « Identity is now the primary attack surface. » Defenders must secure every identity — human and machine 🔹 with dynamic privilege controls, automation, and AI-enhanced monitoring 🔹and prepare now for LLM abuse and quantum disruption. Machine identities are the fastest-growing attack surface 🔹Growth outpaces human identities 45:1. 🔹Nearly half of machine identities access sensitive data, yet 2/3of organizations don’t treat them as privileged. Quantum readiness is urgent 🔹Quantum computing will break today’s cryptography (RSA, TLS, identity tokens). 🔹Transition planning to quantum-safe algorithms must start now, even before standards are finalized. Large Language Models include prompt injection, data leakage, and misuse of AI agents. So organizations must treat them as a new class of machine identity requiring monitoring, access controls, and secrets management. 🧰 What can we do? ⚒️ 1/ Implement Zero Standing Privileges (ZSP) • Remove always-on entitlements; grant access dynamically and just-in-time. • Minimize lateral movement by revoking privileges once tasks are complete 👥2/ Secure the full spectrum of identities • Differentiate controls for workforce, IT, developers, and machines. • Prioritize machine identities: vault credentials, rotate secrets, and eliminate hard-coded keys. 🛡️ 3/ Embed intelligent privilege controls • Apply session protection, isolation, and monitoring to high-risk access. • Enforce least privilege on endpoints; block or sandbox unknown apps. • Deploy Identity Threat Detection & Response (ITDR) for continuous monitoring. ♻️ 4/ Automate identity lifecycle management • Use orchestration to onboard, provision, rotate, and deprovision identities at scale. • Relieve staff from manual tasks, counter skill shortages, and improve compliance readiness. 5/ Align security with business and regulatory drivers • Build an “identity fabric” across IAM, PAM, cloud, SaaS, and compliance. • Tie metrics (KPIs, ROI, cyber insurance conditions) to board-level priorities. 6/ Prepare for next-generation threats • Establish AI/LLM security policies: control access, monitor usage, audit logs. • Begin phased adoption of post-quantum cryptography to protect long-lived sensitive data. Enjoy the read

🛡️ The Quantum Clock is Ticking quietly: Is Your Financial Infrastructure Ready? The financial industry is built on a foundation of digital trust, currently secured by #cryptographic standards like RSA and ECC. However, the rise of Cryptographically Relevant Quantum Computers (CRQC) poses an existential threat to this foundation. As we navigate this transition, here are 3 key pillars from the latest Mastercard R&D white paper that every financial leader must prioritize: 1. Addressing the 'Harvest Now, Decrypt Later' (HNDL) Threat 📥 Malicious actors are already intercepting and storing sensitive #encrypted data today, intending to decrypt it once powerful quantum computers are available. Financial Use Case: Protecting long-term assets such as credit histories, investment records, and loan documents. Unlike transient transaction data (which uses dynamic cryptograms), this "shelf-life" data requires immediate risk analysis and the adoption of quantum-safe encryption for back-end systems. 2. Quantum Resource Estimation & The 10-Year Horizon ⏳ While a CRQC capable of breaking RSA-2048 in hours might be 10 to 20 years away, the migration process itself will take years. Financial Use Case: Developing Agile Cryptography Plans. Financial institutions should set "action alarms" for instance, once a quantum computer reaches 10,000 qubits, a pre-prepared 10-year migration plan must be triggered to ensure infrastructure is updated before the "meteor strike" occurs. 3. Hybrid Implementations: The Bridge to Security 🌉 The transition won't happen overnight. The paper highlights the importance of Hybrid Key Encapsulation Mechanisms (KEM), which combine classical security with PQC. Financial Use Case: Enhancing TLS 1.3 and OpenSSL 3.5 protocols. By implementing hybrid models now, banks can protect against current quantum threats (like HNDL) while maintaining compatibility with existing classical systems, ensuring a smooth and safe transition. The Bottom Line: A reactive approach is no longer an option. Early adopters who evaluate their data's "time value" and begin the migration today will be the ones to maintain resilience and protect global financial assets tomorrow. #QuantumComputing #PostQuantumCryptography #FinTech #CyberSecurity #DigitalTrust #MastercardResearch

Every telecom quantum-readiness discussion I’ve had recently starts the same way: "We didn’t realize how much cryptography we actually have." Over the last few months, I’ve been getting into more of these chats with telecom CISOs and security leaders about quantum readiness. That’s a good sign. Not because the topic is “trendy” - but because for telecom operators, this is one of those rare security problems that is both inevitable and slow to fix. I used to run global telecom cyber practices, and served as an interim CISO inside large operators. So I know how this plays out in real life: - nothing is “one vendor” - nothing is “one platform” - nothing is “one upgrade window” - and cryptography is everywhere (RAN, core, transport, OSS/BSS, roaming, APIs, identity, lawful intercept, devices…) Which means: post-quantum migration is not a crypto-library swap. It’s a multi‑year, multi‑vendor program that starts with visibility (yes, inventories and CBOMs… the part nobody wants to fund). So I compiled this post that’s meant to be a single starting point for telecom security leaders - a curated resource that links out to my deeper telecom + PQC posts over the last few years (from 5G security & privacy fundamentals all the way to a full telco quantum‑readiness program blueprint). I might be biased, but if you are starting a quantum readiness program in a telco, I think this can help you. You’ll find links (and context) on: - telco‑specific PQC migration challenges - CBOM / supply‑chain realities (including Open RAN) - what “discovery” really means at operator scale - whole quantum readiness program outline - quantum readiness for MCC (if you are also accountable for that) - 5G security building blocks that matter for PQC (SBA, slicing, privacy, etc.) - plus a generic “quantum readiness getting started” hub #QuantumReadiness #PostQuantum #PQC #Telecom #5GSecurity #OpenRAN #Cybersecurity #CriticalInfrastructure

🧭 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲—𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗣𝗵𝗗? 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻. The reality as pointed out from Quantum Jobs List: this field needs builders, not just researchers. If you gave yourself 12 months, here’s a realistic path to get job-ready: 📚 **Months 1–3: Lay the foundation** Understand qubits, superposition, and entanglement. Get comfortable with linear algebra—it unlocks everything. 🛠️ **Months 4–6: Build real skills** Learn key algorithms (Grover’s, Shor’s, QAOA). Choose a focus: ML, chemistry, or cryptography. Create your first project and publish it (done > perfect). 🌱 **Months 7–9: Grow your credibility** Work with tools like Qiskit or PennyLane. Contribute to open source. Share your learning journey online. 🎯 **Months 10–12: Go for opportunities** Identify companies hiring quantum talent. Practice problem-solving. Apply, refine, repeat. ⚡ Quantum isn’t some distant future—it’s already unfolding. Are you getting ready, or watching from the sidelines? #QuantumComputing #CareerGrowth #TechJobs #LearnInPublic #FutureSkills

The era of quantum computing is closer than we think, and it’s going to change the foundations of digital security. NIST’s recent draft publication, NIST IR 8547 (link in 1st comment), outlines critical steps organizations must take to transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). Why This Matters Now ⏩ Quantum computers will eventually break traditional encryption algorithms like RSA and ECC. While secure today, these systems won’t be once quantum systems mature. NIST’s Post-Quantum Standards ⏩ NIST has selected algorithms like CRYSTALS-Kyber (for key establishment) and CRYSTALS-Dilithium (for digital signatures) to lead the transition. What Organizations Should Do ⏩ Inventory Cryptography: Assess where and how cryptographic algorithms are used. ⏩ Test PQC Algorithms: Experiment with hybrid solutions combining classical and quantum-safe algorithms. ⏩ Engage with Vendors: Ensure tech partners are preparing for PQC compatibility. Challenges Ahead ⏩ Performance trade-offs: Some PQC algorithms require more computational resources. ⏩ Interoperability: Integrating new cryptographic methods into legacy systems isn’t trivial. ⏩ Timeline pressure: The longer you delay, the harder it will be to catch up. The message is clear: preparation can’t wait. The organizations that start now will be in a much better position when the quantum era fully arrives.

Quantum computing will shred RSA and ECC like tissue paper, yet many are still treating the migration to Post-Quantum Cryptography as a "later" problem. ⬇️ On August 13, 2024, NIST finalized the first three PQC standards, signaling that the era of "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" has met its match. Whether you are managing service account sprawl or securing cloud ecosystems, these standards are ready for immediate use to prevent your digital keys from shattering. The New Standards Framework NIST has provided three primary tools to secure our infrastructure against quantum threats: ➡️ FIPS 203 (ML-KEM): Derived from CRYSTALS-Kyber, this is the primary standard for general encryption. It is built for speed and uses small encryption keys that are easy to exchange. ➡️ FIPS 204 (ML-DSA): Based on CRYSTALS-Dilithium, this serves as the primary standard for digital signatures. ➡️ FIPS 205 (SLH-DSA): Utilizing the Sphincs+ algorithm, this acts as a stateless hash-based backup for digital signatures in case lattice-based methods prove vulnerable. A Practical Migration Path Migrating isn't just a technical swap; it's a strategic shift toward "antifragile" identity. You can begin strengthening your enterprise posture today by following these steps: ✔️ Inventory Your Endpoints: Identify where legacy RSA and ECC are buried in your stack. ✔️ Test in Hybrid Mode: Use a combination of classical and PQC algorithms to ensure stability. ✔️ Update Your Stack: Leverage tools like liboqs or OpenQuantumSafe to update your TLS 1.3 implementations. We often delay security updates because we fear downtime or "friction," but quantum doesn't negotiate. Adopting these standards now is how we stay one step ahead of state actors and safeguard the future of our data.

Deloitte’s Global Quantum Cyber Readiness News & Insights hub consolidates thought #leadership, frameworks, and practical guidance to help organizations prepare for the disruptive #cybersecurity implications of quantum computing. At its core, the content emphasizes that while #quantum technologies unlock transformative capabilities, they also pose a systemic threat to current cryptographic systems, making proactive preparation imperative. A central theme is “quantum #risk”—the likelihood that future quantum computers could break widely used encryption, exposing sensitive #data. Deloitte highlights that this risk is not theoretical; adversaries may already be harvesting encrypted data today for future decryption (“harvest now, decrypt later”). The hub outlines a structured approach to readiness. Organizations are encouraged to begin with cryptographic discovery and inventory, identifying where #encryption is used and assessing vulnerabilities. This is followed by developing a migration roadmap toward post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and embedding crypto-agility, enabling systems to adapt quickly as standards evolve. Deloitte also stresses the importance of #governance and enterprise-wide #transformation. Quantum readiness is not solely a technical issue; it requires leadership awareness, cross-functional coordination, regulatory alignment, and continuous monitoring of emerging standards (e.g., National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) A key contribution is the Quantum Readiness Toolkit, developed with the World Economic Forum, which provides guiding principles and actionable steps. These include integrating quantum risk into enterprise risk management, educating stakeholders, prioritizing investments, and collaborating across ecosystems to address systemic vulnerabilities. Deloitte frames quantum cyber readiness as a strategic imperative. Early adopters can enhance #trust, #resilience, and market positioning, while delayed action increases exposure to significant operational, financial, and reputational risks in the emerging quantum era.