Abstract
Cybersecurity leaders frequently stall post-quantum migration projects by demanding complete visibility across thousands of systems before taking action. Drawing clear parallels to early cloud migration hurdles, this episode highlights how inventory paralysis creates unnecessary delays. Experts Antti Ropponen (IBM), Aisling Dawson (ABI Research), Itan Barmes (QIZ Security), and Sarah McCarthy (Citi) outline how to shift focus toward risk-based prioritization, cryptographic posture management (CPM), and actionable operational steps.
What you’ll learn
- Why aiming for a 100% complete cryptographic inventory causes analysis paralysis
- Lessons from cloud migrations that apply directly to post-quantum readiness
- The difference between simple discovery lists and cryptographic posture management (CPM)
- How to categorize threats like harvest-now-decrypt-later versus authentication risks
- Practical steps to build corporate governance and reach cryptographic base camp
- Why upgrading baseline algorithms like AES 256 for data at rest serves as an immediate low-hanging-fruit victory
Guest biographies
Antti Ropponen is Executive Partner, EMEA CyberDefend and Global Quantum Safe Transformation Leader at IBM Consulting. With extensive experience in cybersecurity, cryptography and quantum-safe transformation, Antti works with organizations to navigate cryptographic risk and prepare for the transition to post-quantum security.
Aisling Dawson is a Senior Analyst at ABI Research, where she focuses on cybersecurity and emerging security technologies, including quantum-safe technologies and cryptographic services. Her research explores the evolving security landscape and the practical challenges organisations and technology providers face as new technologies emerge.
Itan Barmes is Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at QIZ Security, where he focuses on cryptography posture management and helping organizations prepare for the transition to a quantum-safe future. He holds a PhD in experimental physics and has extensive expertise across cryptography, quantum security and cybersecurity.
Sarah McCarthy is the Quantum Readiness Program Lead at Citi with a strong background in quantum-safe solutions, in particular for the financial sector. Prior to this, she worked as Cryptographic Strategist at evolutionQ. Throughout her career, she has endeavored to keep the focus on secure designs with real-world practicality, which continues to be a key influence in her current role.