Session Abstract

Quantum computing is poised to unlock breakthrough innovations across industries—but it also introduces new risks to today’s cryptographic foundations. While practical quantum threats are not yet imminent, organizations are already exposed to long-term risks such as “harvest now, decrypt later,” where sensitive data intercepted today may be decrypted in the future. In this Level 100 session, we provide a clear and balanced introduction to the quantum era, separating hype from reality. We will explore how quantum computing fits into the broader evolution of technology and why it represents both a transformational opportunity and a foundational shift in cybersecurity. Attendees will learn key concepts such as the difference between quantum ready and quantum safe, and why cryptography is uniquely impacted by advances in quantum computing. The session will then introduce the Microsoft Quantum Safe Program (QSP)—a company-wide initiative to help Microsoft, its customers, and partners transition securely to a post-quantum world. We will cover Microsoft’s strategy, priorities, and timeline, including how core platforms and services are evolving to support quantum-safe cryptography and crypto-agility. Finally, we will focus on what organizations should do today to prepare. This includes understanding cryptographic risk, building an inventory of cryptographic assets, adopting crypto-agility principles, and starting a phased transition toward post-quantum cryptography. The session emphasizes that becoming quantum-safe is a multi-year transformation that delivers immediate security benefits beyond quantum threats.

Note to event organizers

This session is designed for a broad audience with no prior quantum expertise and provides a strong foundation for deeper technical discussions and next steps.

Albert Hoitingh

My name is Albert Hoitingh and I'm from The Hague in The Netherlands. I love working in IT and have been doing so for quite some time. From on-premises environments, including Lotus Notes and SharePoint Server, via BPOS to Microsoft 365 - I've worked with them all. Right now, I'm a Technical Architect for the Microsoft Innovation Hub. I've been a Microsoft MVP for Microsoft 365 and Security for more than eight years and (international) speaker on Microsoft 365, compliance, security and risk. I love to have discussions on compliance, security and risk in the cloud security officers, business users, architects and management. Besides my work and (former) MVP endeavors, I love to ride my bike and be with my family. I also love to read, delve into history, and much more. I also blog at https://alberthoitingh.com.

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