Harvest Now, Decrypt Later: The Quantum Era's Encryption Challenge

Harvest Now, Decrypt Later: The Quantum Era's Encryption Challenge

From Disruptors by RBC Thought Leadership, John Stackhouse

February 24, 2026 · 22 min · Season 10 · Episode 4

About this episode

The episode explores the challenges and opportunities presented by quantum computing in relation to encryption and post-quantum cryptography.

Quantum computing is accelerating — and putting today’s encryption on a clock. John Stackhouse goes inside Xanadu’s Toronto lab with Christian Weedbrook to meet Aurora, a networked quantum computer built to push scale in the right direction and speaks with Photonic’s Dr. Stephanie Simmons about “harvest now, decrypt later,” fault-tolerant quantum, and why every organization needs a post-quantum cryptography (PQC) transition plan. It’s not all doom and gloom. Simmons also lays out what quantum could unlock as it scales: new possibilities in materials, chemistry, and discovery that are moving from theory toward real-world impact.

People in this episode

Host: John Stackhouse

Guests: Christian Weedbrook, Dr. Stephanie Simmons

Topics covered

  • quantum computing
  • encryption
  • post-quantum cryptography
  • technology
  • innovation

Keywords

  • quantum computing
  • encryption
  • post-quantum cryptography
  • Aurora
  • Xanadu
  • technology
  • innovation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Xanadu, Photonic

Products: Aurora

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