Cloudflare brings forward post-quantum encryption deadline to 2029
Updated
Updated · Radio World · May 7
Cloudflare brings forward post-quantum encryption deadline to 2029
7 articles · Updated · Radio World · May 7
The shift from 2035 follows papers by Google's Quantum AI team and startup Oratomic saying AI could cut the qubits needed to crack RSA-2048 to about 10,000.
Cloudflare, which handles about a quarter of internet traffic, accelerated plans as quantum advances raise risks for financial institutions, governments, internet companies and large businesses.
The report warns stolen encrypted data could be stockpiled for later decryption as quantum computing matures, increasing pressure to adopt stronger passwords, password managers and two-factor authentication.
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Preparing for Q-Day: Cloudflare’s 2029 Deadline to Secure Authentication Against Quantum Attacks
Overview
In response to rapid breakthroughs in quantum computing and AI accelerating the threat timeline, Cloudflare announced in May 2026 an accelerated plan to fully implement post-quantum cryptography by 2029, prioritizing the upgrade of authentication mechanisms and disabling vulnerable cryptography to prevent attacks. This move follows similar targets set by Google and IBM, who plan to demonstrate quantum advantage by late 2026 and deliver fault-tolerant quantum computers by 2029. The growing quantum threat, including ongoing data harvesting and signature forgery risks, has also driven regulatory bodies to set PQC adoption deadlines between 2030 and 2035. Industry partnerships are forming to meet the urgent demand for quantum-safe solutions, marking a critical shift toward securing digital infrastructure against imminent quantum risks.