Quantum Security to Account for Over 5% of IT Budgets by 2026

As the quantum era approaches, enterprises are accelerating investments in post-quantum cybersecurity. According to Forrester’s Predictions 2026: Cybersecurity, Risk, and Privacy report, quantum security spending will surpass 5% of total IT security budgets as organizations prepare for a future where quantum computers could break existing encryption within a decade.
  
The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has already set the roadmap — RSA and ECC cryptography will be deprecated by 2030 and completely disallowed by 2035. 
 
In anticipation, security teams are rapidly re-evaluating cryptographic systems and vendor dependencies.
 
Organizations will increasingly hire consultants to guide post-quantum migration strategies, while product and developer teams will work to replace outdated cryptographic libraries. 
 
 
Simultaneously, risk and procurement leaders will track partners’ quantum-readiness and ensure alignment with evolving compliance standards.

 
Investment in cryptographic discovery tools and agility solutions is expected to surge, helping prioritize high-impact systems for timely transition.
 
 
Quantum security, once limited to banks and defense, has now become a mainstream enterprise imperative. 
 
 
CISOs across industries must act proactively to safeguard data, assets, and digital trust — ensuring resilience in a world where quantum computing may soon outpace traditional encryption.