India has fast emerged as a global leader in digital payments and online public services. However, this digital leap also brings before us, both the society and the government, the critical responsibility of securing vast volumes of crucial data, financial transactions, and national digital infrastructure including that of civil & defence needs. With quantum computing poised to break conventional encryption methods, the need for quantum-resilient cybersecurity has become urgent. In a major step towards addressing this challenge, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), and cybersecurity firm SISA jointly launched a whitepaper titled “Transitioning to Quantum Cyber Readiness” in New Delhi.

Bringing forward the risk horizon for traditional encryption

The launch comes at a critical juncture, as quantum computing advances from theoretical promise to practical disruption. Governments and technology leaders worldwide are accelerating quantum research, bringing forward the risk horizon for traditional encryption. Encryption algorithms like RSA and ECC that are foundational to today’s digital security, are expected to be rendered obsolete within the next few years. For digital-first economies such as India, this shift presents significant implications for data protection, financial transactions, and national security infrastructure.

This whitepaper will be a valuable guide for organizations from across sectors to begin their quantum safe migration and preparing for quantum readiness. Recognizing this urgency, the whitepaper provides a comprehensive framework for organizations to prepare for the quantum threat landscape. It analyses the potential impact of quantum computing on existing cryptographic systems and India’s digital backbone and outlines strategic pathways to migrate towards quantum-resistant algorithms. It also recommends practical approaches for integrating new security protocols into existing frameworks while maintaining compliance and operational continuity.

India advances its leadership in digital innovation

Shri. S Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY while launching the whitepaper emphasised that “Quantum readiness is a strategic imperative as we prepare for the disruptive potential of quantum technologies especially in cybersecurity. As we go through the digital, AI and quantum transformations across sectors, the need is to start building resilience in the ICT infrastructures well in time with clarity and agility. This white paper provides the right ingredients for the same”.

Public Private collaboration

Highlighting the importance of this initiative, Dr. Sanjay Bahl, Director General of CERT-In, stated, “CERT-In recognizes that quantum computing will fundamentally change the threat landscape. We must evolve our security frameworks today to protect India's expanding digital infrastructure tomorrow. This partnership with SISA demonstrates the importance of public private collaboration between private-sector innovation and governments strategic initiatives. We welcome such partnerships to build national preparedness.”

Holistic strategy for safeguarding digital future

Dharshan Shanthamurthy, CEO & Founder of SISA, underscored the significance of the shift. “Quantum computing represents the single greatest shift in cybersecurity in over three decades. What we are dealing with is not just a faster computer but a complete redefinition of computational boundaries. The systems that we built our digital trust on are vulnerable by design in the quantum context. This is especially critical for countries like India that have leapfrogged into digital-first economies. Our skills combined with CERT-In’s strategic approach to proactive cybersecurity and incident response capabilities offers a holistic strategy for safeguarding the future of India’s digital ecosystem. At SISA, we are bringing forensic depth, real-world visibility, and future-proof cryptographic strategies to help enterprises build resilience where it matters most - at the data layer.”

As India advances its leadership in digital innovation, the whitepaper serves as a strategic learning guide to help organizations understand, anticipate, and respond to the emerging risks of quantum computing. Designed with the unique needs of regulated sectors such as BFSI, healthcare, and government in mind, it combines practical technical recommendations with a broader call to foster a culture of proactive security and resilience, equipping organizations to navigate the quantum horizon with confidence.

About CERT-In

CERT-In is the national agency for responding to cyber security incidents and has been designated to serve as the national agency to perform the following functions in the area of cyber security as per the Information Technology Amendment Act 2000:

· Collection, analysis and dissemination of information on cyber incidents.

· Forecast and alerts of cyber security incidents.

· Emergency measures for handling cyber security incidents.

· Coordination of cyber incident response activities.

· Issue guidelines, advisories, vulnerability notes and whitepapers relating to information security practices, procedures, prevention, response and reporting of cyber incidents.

· Such other functions relating to cyber security as may be prescribed

· Refer www.cert-in.org.in for more details

About SISA

SISA is a Leader in Cybersecurity Solutions for the Digital Payment Industry. As a Global Payment Forensic Investigator of the PCI Security Standards Council, SISA leverages forensics insights into preventive, detective, and corrective security solutions, protecting 1,000+ organizations across 40+ countries from evolving cyberthreats.

In a big push for #QuantumCybersecurity, MeitY, CERT-In & SISA launch whitepaper Transitioning to Quantum Cyber Readiness.

📌 “Quantum readiness is a strategic imperative,” says MeitY Secretary S Krishnan.
📌 SISA CEO Dharshan Shanthamurthy calls it a holistic strategy to secure… pic.twitter.com/fvP0p7o9LM
— DD News (@DDNewslive) July 11, 2025

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Dharmendra Tewari/ Navin Sreejith/ Aparajita Priyadarshini

Whitepaper Press Release