By Vasanthi Ramesh, VP – Engineering and India Site Lead, NetApp India
Quantum computing is no longer a distant frontier—it is fast becoming a transformative force in India’s technology landscape. With the market projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 22.9% between 2025 and 2030, reaching an estimated USD 231.8 million by 2030, the momentum is undeniable. Fuelled by government support, pioneering academic research, and rising private-sector collaboration, India now stands at the cusp of positioning itself as a global hub for quantum innovation.
Yet with this promise comes a significant challenge. Quantum computers threaten to render our current encryption standards obsolete. Protocols like RSA and ECC—the backbone of our digital security—rely on mathematical problems beyond the reach of classical computers. Quantum computing changes that calculus. Peter Shor’s quantum algorithm, developed in 1994, demonstrated that even RSA-2048 could be broken in hours. The stakes are high: critical infrastructure, financial systems, and sensitive government data are all at risk.
The threat is not only future-facing. Malicious actors are already exploiting a strategy known as “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” (HNDL), siphoning encrypted data from governments, technology firms, and financial institutions with the expectation that quantum computers will eventually decrypt it. For organisations safeguarding long-term data—intellectual property, financial records, or national security intelligence—this represents a ticking time bomb. The concern is not whether the data will retain its relevance once decrypted, but whether institutions can withstand the fallout—compliance breaches, reputational damage, and loss of trust.
Conventional cybersecurity approaches, focused primarily on breach prevention, are no longer sufficient. The standard must shift toward resilience. True quantum resilience requires more than adopting new algorithms; it demands a fundamental transformation in how organisations secure their data.
India’s roadmap to quantum resilience
India is strategically advancing quantum technology while managing its risks. The National Quantum Mission (NQM), a ₹6,003.65 crore initiative running from 2023–24 to 2030–31, focuses on secure quantum communication, computing, and precision sensing. By fostering innovation, enhancing national security, and transforming key sectors like telecom, defence, finance, and healthcare, NQM aims to establish India as a global quantum leader.
Launched in April 2023, the NQM reflects India’s recognition of the global quantum race and the strategic imperative to strengthen its domestic capabilities.
Key objectives of the mission include:
Leveraging India’s theoretical expertise in quantum physics and information science through leading research institutions and universities.
Supporting the start-up ecosystem with funding and resources for promising quantum ventures.
Establishing clear timelines and goals to drive tangible progress across quantum computing, communication, sensing, materials, and workforce development.
An Action Plan for Indian Leaders to Achieve Quantum Resilience
To translate the vision of NQM into practical outcomes, Indian organisations must adopt a proactive approach to data resilience.
Preparing for the emerging quantum era requires not only technological investment but also strategic frameworks that safeguard critical information, ensure operational continuity, and enable India to fully capitalize on its quantum capabilities.
Key action areas include:
Assess Your Data and Infrastructure: Map critical data and cryptographic dependencies, prioritizing long-lived and high-risk assets such as R&D, financial archives, and patient records. Additionally protect archives and backups using immutable storage and quantum-resistant encryption.
Build a Resilient Security Framework: Utilize AI-driven anomaly detection and snapshot-based recovery to safeguard data proactively. Align with CERT-In guidelines and best practices to prepare for the evolving quantum threat landscape, while integrating new security protocols seamlessly into existing systems without compromising compliance or operational continuity.
Strengthen Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate closely with technology partners to understand their roadmap for Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and crypto agility. Choose partners with clear, transparent plans that can guide the organisation through a seamless transition to quantum-resilient systems while supporting long-term operational and security objectives.
Quantum computing represents both a transformative opportunity and a significant security challenge for India. While the technology promises to drive innovation across sectors, it simultaneously threatens to undermine existing encryption standards, making proactive resilience imperative.
By adopting a strategic, resilience-first approach focusing on agile, AI-enabled defenses, immutable backups, and strong partnerships, Indian organisations can safeguard critical data, maintain operational continuity, and position themselves to thrive in the post-quantum era.