Quantum Technologies Key Strategies and Opportunities for Financial Services Leaders 2025

How to approach integration Strategic and timely preparation Develop a quantum security roadmap, beginning with a comprehensive assessment of current cryptographic systems and their exposure to quantum threats. Prioritize PQC adoption, as it is immediately actionable and scalable across most forms of infrastructure. Begin to test quantum-native technologies to prepare for potential future risks. Agility and leadership Adopt a crypto-agile defence-in-depth approach to be best equipped to adapt to regulatory shifts, mitigate operational risk and ensure stability in a post-quantum world. Stay informed on advancements to remain at the forefront of secure innovation and industry- wide resilience.CASE STUDY 6 Quantum-safe infrastructure initiative Banco Sabadell, in collaboration with Accenture and QuSecure, recently completed a four- month project exploring the adoption of PQC technologies. This initiative represents a significant step towards quantum resilience in the financial sector, addressing emerging risks associated with advances in quantum computing. The project harnessed QuSecure’s software and open-source libraries to modernize encryption protocols, focusing on cryptographic agility. Through this process, Banco Sabadell identified the key steps required to transition to quantum- safe technologies, with an emphasis on protecting sensitive information and critical banking operations (including payments and communications with market infrastructure).According to Joan Puig, Group Chief Information Security Officer of Banco Sabadell, “This collaboration has allowed us to explore the impact of PQC adoption on the bank’s infrastructure.” Accenture’s quantum security expertise and test labs provided a roadmap for implementing NIST PQC standards, while QuSecure demonstrated how encryption agility in the network layer can protect enterprises without disrupting existing systems. This initiative underscores the urgency of proactively addressing quantum computing risks. As highlighted by the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS- ISAC), developing crypto agility is a long-term strategy essential for safeguarding digital communications in the quantum era. Banco Sabadell’s experience offers practical insights for financial institutions and stakeholders worldwide, demonstrating the feasibility and importance of adopting quantum- safe technologies in anticipation of future cryptographic vulnerabilities.31 L H L H L H L H L HMaturity level ScalabilityLevel of expertise requiredImplementation time and cost Risk level*Indicators Low to high – high is desirable Low to high – Low is desirable *Level is “high” primarily due to risk of inaction. See the Appendices (A2) for other notable case studies. Multi-phase integration action plan Phase 1 Awareness and assessment –Formulate a quantum security strategy aligned with enterprise risk posture. –Inventory current cryptographic assets, assess quantum exposure and apply the latest PQC algorithms. –Benchmark against industry frameworks – e.g. NIST, the World Economic Forum and the European Telecommunications Standards Institutes (ETSI). –Draft strategic roadmap prioritizing PQC and entropy strengthening.Phase 2 Implementation and integration –Deploy PQC in production systems where feasible, e.g. VPNs, transport layer security (TLS) and application programming interfaces (APIs). –Pilot QRNG for key generation in hardware security modules (HSMs) or secure enclaves. –Collaborate with telecommunication providers to explore QKD use cases (e.g. secure inter-bank links). –Conduct system-wide testing and crypto agility validation. –Train teams on post-quantum and hybrid cryptography operations.Phase 3 Optimization and quantum readiness leadership –Expand PQC deployment across broader systems. –Monitor the cryptographic ecosystem for new BQP-class breakthroughs and adjust strategy. –Integrate QKD into high-sensitivity communication pathways where feasible. –Engage in standards development and quantum internet pilot programmes. –Continuously revise policy and technical controls to maintain readiness. Quantum Technologies: Key Strategies and Opportunities for Financial Services Leaders 17