Building quantum readiness in connected economies

By Frank Bignone, FPT Software SVP and Head of Corporate Strategy & Growth, FPT Corporation

While the region is progressing on quantum, with initiatives such as Singapore’s National Quantum-Safe Network, recent data suggests a gap in readiness. A Ponemon study finds that only around a third of Singaporean organisations are actively preparing for post-quantum cryptography, a concerning downward trend from three years ago. This is despite the fact that half of security leaders expect a cryptographically-relevant quantum computer within five years.

As a regional hub for finance, trade and digital services, Singapore's digital ecosystem increasingly spans regional and global networks. Its cryptographic perimeter extends beyond domestic systems into multi-jurisdiction supply chains, cross-border payment rails and third-party platforms operating under different regulatory timelines. This complexity makes it harder to map cryptographic dependencies and plan future migration efforts. Building adaptability into these interconnected environments will be easier than retrofitting it later.

This isn't specific to quantum but how the region tends to engage with frontier technology generally. Research from FPT and Forrester found that while 54% of organisations have adopted AI within business units and departments, only 23% have achieved enterprise-wide AI adoption under a unified strategy. The gap describes the same maturity divide now surfacing in quantum: the difference between organisations experimenting with a frontier technology and those that embed them into strategy, governance and operations. Quantum readiness is likely to present a similar organisational challenge.

The lesson from AI is clear. Awareness and experimentation alone do not create lasting advantage. Organisations that establish the right governance, skills and infrastructure early will be better positioned to scale new technologies securely and responsibly. A governance gap in AI costs competitive ground but a governance gap in cryptography exposes data that can never be re-secured.

At FPT, we view quantum readiness as part of a broader technology modernisation journey. Across the Asia Pacific region (APAC), many organisations still operate a mix of legacy systems, cloud platforms and emerging AI environments. 

For organisational leaders, now is the time to gradually incorporate quantum readiness into technology governance and long-term resilience planning. Organisations further along this journey are beginning to map cryptographic dependencies and assess future migration requirements. Understanding where cryptography is embedded across the enterprise is often a practical first step, as it provides the visibility needed to adapt as standards and technologies evolve.

By most credible estimates, quantum computers capable of breaking RSA remain years away. But migration and legacy replacement in large enterprises move slower than technology does. While the timing remains uncertain, organisations that plan early will be better prepared when the transition arrives.

Editor's note: FPT's AI-enabled modernisation solution helps enterprises reduce complexity and build more adaptable digital foundations. In December 2025, FPT made a US$100 million investment in its Quantum AI & Cyber Security Institute.