Hybrid and Post-Quantum Computing
Facing the Quantum Shift
When it comes to cybersecurity, most companies are playing catch-up, reacting to threats that already happened. But what if the real danger is one that hasn’t happened yet?
That’s the reality with post-quantum computing: a future in which quantum machines become powerful enough to break today’s encryption methods in minutes. The risk may feel distant, but the need to act is immediate.
At Asygma, we’re helping businesses embrace hybrid models of cryptography, combining classical and quantum-resistant algorithms to stay ahead of the curve, all while keeping performance, cost and practicality in check.
What is Post-Quantum Computing, and Why Should You Care?
Quantum computers don’t just crunch numbers faster they work in fundamentally different ways. Using qubits, they can explore countless possibilities at once, enabling breakthroughs in science, medicine, and, yes: codebreaking.
The problem? Most of today’s encryption relies on mathematical problems that classical computers struggle with, but quantum computers could solve in seconds. That means everything from your email server to your cloud backups could, one day, be vulnerable to “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks.
In other words, attackers could steal your encrypted data today and wait for quantum power to catch up.
What is Hybrid Cryptography?
Hybrid cryptography blends traditional encryption algorithms (like RSA or ECC) with post-quantum algorithms in a single system. The goal is resilience: if one layer fails in the future, the other holds the line.
It’s a smart move, especially as we transition towards quantum-capable hardware. Microsoft and other tech leaders have already begun integrating hybrid models into platforms like Azure, and it’s only a matter of time before they become the standard. At Asygma, we’re staying one step ahead helping SMEs deploy hybrid-ready solutions today that won’t become obsolete tomorrow.
The Role of Microsoft + Asygma
Microsoft is investing heavily in quantum-safe cryptography, with tools like:
- Quantum Safe VPN and TLS: Integrating quantum-resilient algorithms into existing protocols
- Cryptographic Agility in Azure: Making it easy to switch encryption methods as standards evolve
- Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) libraries: Already being embedded into Microsoft 365 and security tools
Asygma brings these innovations to the real-world needs of SMEs deploying them efficiently, securely and with the right level of technical guidance. Our mission isn’t just to future-proof your tech it’s to do it in a way that doesn’t interrupt business today.
It’s Not Just a Tech Problem. It’s a Timing Problem.
The quantum threat feels distant, but security professionals know: migrations take time. Waiting until quantum computers are commercially viable is a gamble.
The real risk is that the attackers won’t wait. By the time the threat is “real”, the damage may already be done.
That’s why the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is already pushing for “crypto-agility” and post-quantum awareness, especially for businesses handling sensitive, long-lived data (finance, healthcare, education, legal, government… sound familiar?).
READ MORE about Cybersecurity here
What Can You Do Today?
You don’t need a quantum physicist on payroll you just need a roadmap.
Here’s what we recommend:
- Start the conversation: with IT, leadership and partners
- Inventory your cryptography: understand where and how encryption is used
- Adopt hybrid approaches: especially in cloud, email, and identity systems
- Work with partners who understand both today and tomorrow
(Spoiler alert: that’s where we come in)
Final Thoughts: The Future Moves Fast. We Move Faster.
Quantum computing may not break your encryption tomorrow. But if you start preparing tomorrow, you may already be too late. At Asygma, we don’t believe in panic. We believe in planning. That’s why we’re building systems that are secure now and stay secure later
Want to know if your business is ready for what’s next?
Let’s talk. The future is coming, but you don’t have to face it alone.
Bibliography
- EE Times Europe, ‘Why 2025 Will Be Pivotal in Our Defense Against Quantum Threat’, 19 December 2024. Available at: https://www.eetimes.eu/why-2025-will-be-pivotal-in-our-defense-against-quantum-threat/ (Accessed: 23 July 2025).
- CyberScoop, ‘Preparing for the post-quantum era: a CIO’s guide to quantum computing and PQC preparation’, 16 May 2025. Available at: https://cyberscoop.com/quantum-computing-cio-pqc-preparation-2025/ (Accessed: 23 July 2025).
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), ‘Post-Quantum Cryptography | CSRC’, 13 August 2024. Available at: https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/post-quantum-cryptography (Accessed: 23 July 2025).
- ISACA, ‘Post-Quantum Cryptography: A Call to Action’, 28 April 2025. Available at: https://www.isaca.org/resources/news-and-trends/industry-news/2025/post-quantum-cryptography-a-call-to-action (Accessed: 23 July 2025).
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), ‘What Is Post-Quantum Cryptography?’, 13 August 2024. Available at: https://www.nist.gov/cybersecurity/what-post-quantum-cryptography (Accessed: 23 July 2025).
Glossary
Crypto-Agility: The ability of a system to quickly switch between cryptographic algorithms as standards and threats evolve, a key requirement for future-proofing security in the quantum era.
Harvest Now, Decrypt Later: A threat scenario where attackers collect encrypted data today with the intention of decrypting it in the future when quantum computers become powerful enough to break current encryption.
Hybrid Cryptography: A cryptographic approach that combines traditional (classical) algorithms with post-quantum algorithms in a single system, aiming for resilience if one layer is compromised.
Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC): Cryptographic algorithms designed to be secure against attacks from both classical and quantum computers. Also referred to as quantum-resistant or quantum-safe cryptography.
Q-Day: The anticipated future date when quantum computers will be capable of breaking widely used public-key cryptography, rendering much of today’s encrypted data vulnerable. This term is widely used in cybersecurity planning but is not yet tied to a specific calendar date.
Quantum Advantage: The point at which a quantum computer can solve a real-world problem faster than any classical computer, demonstrating practical superiority.
Quantum Computer: A computer that uses quantum-mechanical phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, to perform operations on data, enabling it to solve certain problems much faster than classical computers.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD): A method for secure communication that uses quantum mechanics to distribute cryptographic keys, providing security against both classical and quantum attacks.
Quantum-Resistant / Quantum-Safe: Alternative terms for post-quantum cryptography, emphasising resistance to quantum attacks.
Qubit: The fundamental unit of quantum information, analogous to a bit in classical computing, but able to exist in multiple states simultaneously due to superposition.
Shor’s Algorithm: A quantum algorithm that efficiently solves the integer factorisation and discrete logarithm problems, threatening the security of many traditional cryptographic systems.
Traditional Cryptographic Algorithms: Algorithms such as RSA or ECC, which are widely used today but are vulnerable to quantum attacks due to their reliance on mathematical problems that quantum computers can solve efficiently.
