Remember when we used to keep important documents in physical safes? This seems distant now that most of our valuable data lives in the cloud.
Many of us have grown comfortable with the idea that our sensitive information—stored in services like Microsoft Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud—is protected by strong encryption. But this sense of security has an expiration date, and it might be closer than you might expect.
The Quantum Revolution Is Already Here
While many were focused on conversational AI advancements, quantum computing has been making significant progress in the background. Last month, Microsoft unveiled the Majorana 1 chip —the first quantum processor powered by topological qubits. This represents a fundamentally different approach that could potentially scale to one million qubits on a single chip.
Google announced the “Willow” processor featuring 105 qubits with error correction capabilities. Their researchers demonstrated something unthinkable a few months prior: they solved a problem in 5 minutes that would take a classical supercomputer approximately 10 septillion years—longer than the age of the universe.
This has direct implications for your company’s cloud storage security.
Your Encrypted Data Is Already Vulnerable
The scenario keeping security experts vigilant is this: Someone accesses your encrypted cloud data today. They cannot read it because it is protected by strong encryption. So they simply download it and wait.
When practical quantum computers become available in a few years, the encryption that was considered unbreakable becomes possible to crack. All those trade secrets, customer records, strategic plans, and intellectual property previously thought secure become exposed.
This is not science fiction. The security community called this the “harvest now, decrypt later” threat, and it is already occurring. Even if your encryption is secure today, sensitive data with a long shelf life is at risk.
Why Traditional Encryption Will Fail
Most cloud security depends on public-key encryption systems like RSA and ECC (Elliptic Curve Cryptography). These systems work because certain mathematical problems are extremely difficult for classical computers to solve. For example, factoring a 2048-bit number would take current supercomputers thousands of years.
A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could break these systems in hours or days using algorithms like Shor’s algorithm. Quantum computing will fundamentally change cybersecurity because these systems form the foundation of all digital trust.
The European Perspective: A Double Challenge
For European businesses, this creates a double sovereignty challenge. European organizations are already dependent on predominantly American cloud providers for infrastructure, and they will need new encryption technologies to protect data. The choices made now will determine whether Europe maintains digital sovereignty or becomes more dependent on external providers.
Since returning to Luxembourg after a decade in Silicon Valley, I have argued that European companies should not have to choose between innovation and sovereignty. Your data is your most valuable asset—it should not be exposed to external providers or tech giants.
What Can You Do Today?
While quantum computers capable of breaking encryption are not yet available, the time to act is now. Here are practical steps to consider:
- Bring critical systems and data back on-premises: This should be your first line of defense. If you physically control access to your data, the encryption becomes a secondary layer of protection. On-premise solutions where only authorized people can access your systems reduce your risk profile—quantum computers cannot break into what they cannot reach.
- Start transitioning to post-quantum cryptography (PQC): For data that must remain in the cloud, the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has finalized new cryptographic standards designed to withstand quantum attacks.
- Add your own encryption layer: Do not rely solely on your cloud provider’s encryption. Consider encrypting sensitive data before uploading it to the cloud.
- Categorize your data by sensitivity and shelf-life: Not all data needs the same level of protection. Prioritize moving your most sensitive, long-lived data to on-premise systems first, followed by implementing quantum-safe protection for what must remain in the cloud.
- Consider data disaggregation: Breaking data into pieces and distributing it across multiple secure locations means a breach of one repository yields only fragments—not your complete data set.
- Create an exit strategy from cloud dependencies: Develop a roadmap for gradually reducing reliance on public cloud services for your most critical applications and data. Having this strategy ready means you will not be caught unprepared when quantum threats materialize.
The Luxembourg Advantage
Luxembourg is uniquely positioned to lead in secure cloud adoption. With the strong financial sector, robust regulatory framework, and commitment to data sovereignty, Luxembourg has both the expertise and motivation to address these challenges effectively.
At The Artificial Business, the belief is that European companies need secure, sovereign AI and data solutions that respect European values and regulations while driving innovation. That means focusing not just on the AI revolution but preparing for the quantum revolution as well.
The Clock Is Ticking
Some estimates suggest quantum computers capable of breaking current encryption might emerge within the next decade. Even if it takes longer, remember that data harvested today can be decrypted when the technology arrives.
As seen with Microsoft’s Majorana chip and Google’s Willow processor, progress is accelerating. The question is not if quantum computers will break current encryption, but when—and whether your organization will be prepared when it happens.
In a world where data is the most valuable asset, protecting it for the quantum future is not just good security practice—it is business survival. The positive aspect is that by starting preparations now, your data can remain secure even when quantum computing transforms today’s “unbreakable” encryption into obsolete protection.
Leo Benkel is the founder of The Artificial Business, a Luxembourg-based company specializing in secure, on-premises Artificial Assistants. After a decade developing AI solutions in Silicon Valley, he returned to Luxembourg to help European businesses embrace AI while maintaining data sovereignty.
