IT in Manufacturing


Quantum computing power: four steps to protecting your business

March 2025 IT in Manufacturing

Are you ready for Q-day? Post-quantum cryptography isn’t just an IT issue, it’s a business continuity concern. Quantum computing is fast becoming a reality. The United Nations has declared 2025 as the ‘International Year of Quantum Science and Technology’. While this evolution of computing keeps the world at the forefront of innovation, businesses across the globe are being warned to bolster protection protocols to avoid losses through decryption.

According to Forbes magazine, 2025 could mark the arrival of Q-Day. This is a theoretical point in time when quantum computers become powerful enough to render many methods of encryption redundant, with severe consequences for privacy and security.

As this sector transforms, there are four essential steps to protecting businesses now, and well into the future:

Step 1: Create an encryption inventory

Think of this as a digital safety audit. As part of the audit, the IT team or provider creates and supplies a comprehensive list of all the places where the business uses encryption. Here, it is essential that organisations review and revise how they store their customer data, their email systems, how financial transactions are processed, the management of cloud services, access to remote work tools and website security certificates.

Step 2: Secure unencrypted data

For smaller business that don’t encrypt their data, the duty of protection remains their responsibility. Here, organisations can take cost-effective yet highly practical and impactful steps to securing their datasets.

To protect customer data stored on computers, free tools like VeraCrypt empower users to create encrypted containers for sensitive files, saving them in a digital safe. To secure email communication, services like ProtonMail offer free encrypted email accounts. For password management tools like Bitwarden store passwords in an encrypted vault and can generate strong unique passwords. Lastly, to assist in encrypting mobile devices it is essential that businesses make use of the built-in encryption freely available on both Android and iPhone devices − just turn it on in settings.

These are just some examples of how small enterprises can protect their data without a large capital outlay.

Step 3: Identify the business’ crown jewels

Focus on what needs protection in the medium to long term. Pay close attention to customer data that must be protected for years. Examples are secrets and intellectual property, financial records that need long-term storage, legal documents and contracts, healthcare records, and research and development information.

Which data would harm our business if exposed in five to 10 years? What information are we legally required to protect? Which systems contain our most sensitive customer data? These are key questions to ask.

Step 4: Stay informed about security standards

Quantum computing adoption will follow standards. Now post-quantum cryptography (PQC) becomes imperative. As a strategic operational objective, effective PQC requires assigning an employee to monitoring National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) updates. Key objectives here would be to subscribe to NIST’s post-quantum cryptography mailing list, schedule quarterly reviews with the business’ IT team or provider to consider the quantum progress and the relevant response, and include PQC updates in regular security meetings.

This goes further than IT

By taking these steps now, organisations can be bolstered with a view to protecting the business’ future − all while potentially gaining a competitive advantage in security-conscious markets too.

For more information visit www.impression-signatures.com




Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Optimising the product design process
Siemens South Africa IT in Manufacturing
OPmobility is partnering with Siemens to adopt its Teamcenter X Product Lifecycle Management software. OPmobility’s increasingly complex products now include electronics and software, to create energy storage systems, which include battery and hydrogen electrification solutions and fuel tanks.

Read more...
Smart milling for resilient, sustainable food production
IT in Manufacturing
As the global demand for food continues to rise due to increasing urbanisation, the milling industry faces the challenge of balancing efficiency with sustainability. Bühler is committed to making milling more energy-efficient while maintaining high operational performance. Its solutions allow mills to reduce energy costs and ensure long-term sustainability.

Read more...
The evolving landscape of data centres in the age of AI
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
The data centre industry is undergoing a period of rapid transformation, driven primarily by the explosive growth of AI. It’s clear that the demands of AI are reshaping the very foundations of data infrastructure. This isn’t merely about incremental upgrades; it’s a fundamental shift in how we design, power and operate these critical facilities.

Read more...
SA Food Review
IT in Manufacturing
Food Review is a monthly trade journal for South Africa’s food and beverage manufacturing industry, for industry professionals seeking detailed information on trends, technologies, best practices and innovations.

Read more...
Keeping an eye on oil consumption with moneo
ifm - South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Manufacturing companies in the metal industry need oils and other fluids that are consumed by their machines. To make this consumption transparent and to establish a link to the ERP system, Arnold Umformtechnik relies on the IIoT platform, moneo, in combination with the SAP-based software solution Shop Floor Integration (SFI) – both from ifm.

Read more...
AI accelerates energy transformation
RJ Connect IT in Manufacturing
With the rapid expansion of generative AI applications, data centre power demand is reaching unprecedented levels.

Read more...
Revolutionising mining operations with MineOptimize
IT in Manufacturing
Now more than ever, mining and mineral processing companies need to boost productivity, ensure safety, and protect the environment. ABB’s comprehensive electrification, automation and digital solutions portfolio is ideally positioned to meet these challenges across all mining processes, from mine to port, transforming performance in a digital world.

Read more...
Buildings in Africa’s urban evolution
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing
Africa is now an urban continent. How does the continent mobilise to accommodate urban dwellers and maintain and implement critical infrastructure that allows for this expansion? Building management systems provide a tangible solution to optimise resource use, lower operations costs and ultimately contribute to a growing continent that also employs green practices.

Read more...
TwinCAT Vision functionality extended
Beckhoff Automation IT in Manufacturing
The image processing and camera integration capabilities of Beckhoff’s TwinCAT 3 Vision software have been expanded.

Read more...
Automation software to future-proof your operations
Adroit Technologies IT in Manufacturing
As the official partner of Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation, Adroit Technologies empowers businesses with cutting-edge solutions that reduce costs, improve quality and increase productivity.

Read more...