Trust at quantum scale: securing patient data before quantum breaks today’s encryption

Now add a new dimension: quantum computing. As quantum capabilities grow, widely used encryption methods that protect healthcare today could eventually become breakable. That’s not a future problem for “later”, because health records have long lifetimes. Data stolen today can be stored and decrypted later (“harvest now, decrypt later”), creating long-term privacy and compliance risk.

Two approaches are emerging to future-proof healthcare security:

Post-quantum cryptography (PQC): quantum-resistant algorithms that can be deployed largely through software update
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD): quantum communication that enables extremely secure key exchange for high-value links, though it requires dedicated infrastructure
Together, they provide a practical roadmap to protect patient trust in a quantum era.

Case: Secure patient data with PQC and quantum communication

Healthcare security must protect confidentiality, integrity, and availability across complex, interconnected systems: hospitals, labs, insurers, cloud providers, and medical devices. PQC and QKD can help secure:

Electronic health records (EHRs): long-term confidentiality and tamper resistance
Telemedicine communications: secure video, messaging, and remote monitoring
Medical device data: ensuring devices authenticate securely and transmit trusted readings
Critical data transfers: using QKD for especially sensitive links between major sites or national health infrastructure

The goal is not “perfect security”, it’s cryptographic resilience that keeps healthcare safe as the threat landscape changes.

Business value

Regulatory compliance, long-term
Future-proof security supports ongoing alignment with strict data protection requirements.
Patient trust
Protecting privacy reinforces confidence in digital health services and data-driven care.
Business continuity
Reducing breach risk means fewer disruptions, less ransomware exposure, and lower incident costs.
Safeguarding digital health investment
PQC and selective QKD protect connected care infrastructure as quantum threats mature.

Technology readiness

PQC is among the most deployment-ready quantum-era security measures because it does not require quantum hardware. Standardisation is underway (notably via NIST), and pilots are already testing PQC in real environments — including for constrained systems and mixed legacy architectures.

QKD is earlier in adoption but already seeing commercial deployments in some regions. Its challenge is practical: it’s infrastructure-intensive and best suited to high-value, high-security links where the investment makes sense.

For healthcare organisations, the most effective strategy is a phased migration plan: inventory cryptography, introduce cryptographic agility, pilot PQC in non-critical systems, then expand — while evaluating QKD for critical channels where appropriate.