Sudipta Paul Choudhury, Chief Marketing Officer at QNu Labs, described quantum cybersecurity as one of the most in-demand specializations of the next decade in a column for The Quantum Insider. She believes the transition of the US and the European Union to PQC will be a key driver.
In August 2024, the NIST approved the first post-quantum cryptography standards, moving the field from academia to practical application. According to an executive order by US President Donald Trump, federal systems must adopt the new standards by the end of 2030. The European Union has set a similar deadline for the migration of critical infrastructure.
Regulatory pressure is driven by the threat of HNDL, where attackers collect encrypted data today to decrypt it once powerful quantum computers become available.
According to a report by McKinsey, the economic impact of quantum computing could reach $2.7 trillion by 2035. The market is already experiencing a talent shortage, with three open positions for every qualified candidate.
By 2035, the global economy will require about 840,000 specialized employees, while the current industry workforce is less than 17,000. This shortage makes quantum security specialists among the highest-paid in the job market. The personnel deficit is occurring amid a broader cybersecurity talent crisis, with a global shortfall of 4.7 million professionals.
Choudhury noted that demand in this field will grow not only for cryptographers but also for migration engineers, system architects, and compliance specialists.
India is highlighted as a major hub for talent development. The country’s national quantum mission, with a budget of over $700 million, brings together dozens of research institutes and aims to create intercity quantum key distribution networks.
In June, IBM stated that business readiness is a condition for quantum advantage.
