Will Quantum Cryptography Be Able to Eliminate Data Breaches in the Future?

Data breaches are becoming more frequent, costly, and harder to defend against. For CISOs and security teams, it can feel like no matter how advanced your defenses get, hackers keep finding new ways.  

But what if the rules of the game changed completely? What if there were new and fundamentally different approach to securing data—one not based on math, but on physics? 

That’s what’s coming with quantum cryptography. 

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at: 

• What quantum cryptography is and how it differs from traditional encryption 
• How quantum computing and quantum cryptography are evolving together 
• A real-world quantum cryptography example that shows this isn’t just theoretical 
• Why quantum cryptography is powerful, but not a magic fix 
• Steps businesses can take to future-proof their security stack 

Let’s break it down. 

What Is Quantum Cryptography and Why Should We Care? 

First, the basics: quantum cryptography is a type of cryptographic method that uses the laws of quantum mechanics—actual physics—to protect data. Unlike classical cryptography, which is based on solving difficult math problems (like factoring large prime numbers), quantum cryptography doesn’t rely on assumptions about computational limits. It relies on nature itself. 

The most well-known and promising application is Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). With QKD, encryption keys are transmitted using quantum particles like photons. The trick is in how these particles behave: when you try to observe or measure them, their state changes. That means if someone tries to intercept the key while it's in transit, both the sender and receiver will know immediately, because the key won’t match what was expected. 

In theory, this makes QKD unhackable. You can’t copy or observe the key without being caught, and that’s a true game-changer. 

But quantum cryptography isn’t just for the distant future. Governments and tech companies worldwide are already investing heavily in this space. According to one forecast, the quantum cryptography market is expected to grow at an average of 34% through at least 2034 [source], when it will balloon to $18.03 billion. 

The Undeniable Link Between Quantum Computing and Quantum Cryptography 

To understand the urgency around quantum cryptography, you also need to understand the latest in quantum computing—the two are deeply intertwined. 

Quantum computers use qubits instead of bits. Unlike classical bits that are either 0 or 1, qubits can exist in a superposition of states, which means they can be 0 and 1 at the same time. This allows quantum computers to solve certain problems much faster than even the most powerful supercomputers today. 

This, of course, is a big problem with current encryption methods. 

For example, RSA encryption relies on the difficulty of factoring large numbers, which could take classical computers thousands of years. But a quantum computer running Shor’s algorithm could do it in minutes. If (or when) large-scale quantum computers become viable, much of today’s cryptography could become obsolete overnight. 

But this is where quantum cryptography comes in. While quantum computing threatens our existing encryption, quantum cryptography is part of the defense strategy, designed specifically to withstand quantum attacks. 

To put it simply, quantum computers break, and quantum cryptography protects. 

[Learn more: Why Quantum Readiness is Urgent] 

For its part, the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has already selected several post-quantum algorithms as part of its long-running PQC project [source], illustrating how serious the threat is and how quickly organizations need to prepare. 

Quantum Cryptography in Real Life: The Micius Satellite 

This is no longer science fiction—in 2017, China launched the Micius satellite, the world’s first quantum communication satellite. And it was a massive technological leap forward. Using this satellite, scientists were able to perform quantum key distribution between ground stations thousands of miles apart, including a secure video call between Beijing and Vienna [source]. 

What does this mean, and why is it significant? 

It proved that Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) doesn’t work only in controlled laboratory environments—it can work on a global scale. The experiment used entangled photons to generate encryption keys that securely encoded and decoded messages. Intercepting. Trying to intercept the messages would have disrupted the entangled state of the photons, and the users would know instantly. 

In other words, it’s happening. Secure, long-distance communication using quantum tech is no longer theoretical. 

Quantum Cryptography Alone Can’t Stop Every Data Breach 

As promising as this sounds, there’s still a reality check in order: quantum cryptography won’t entirely eliminate data breaches. 

There are a handful of reasons why: 

• Hardware requirements: Today’s quantum cryptography systems, especially those using QKD, need specialized equipment like photon detectors, quantum repeaters, and either fiber-optic cables or satellites. Today, this is very expensive and hard to scale. 
• Focus on data in transit: Quantum cryptography is primarily useful for protecting data in motion, not data at rest. If an attacker breaches a server where sensitive data is stored (and not just intercepted in transit), quantum protections won’t be much help. 
• It’s a complement, not a cure-all: Quantum cryptography needs to work alongside other technologies like post-quantum cryptographic algorithms, which are software-based and can protect stored data and digital signatures. These tools are more practical for wide deployment in today’s cloud and enterprise environments. 

So, even though quantum cryptography will bring powerful new capabilities, it’s only one piece of a broader security strategy. 

Is a Quantum-Secure Future Possible? 

This all brings us back to the big question: Will quantum cryptography be able to eliminate data breaches in the future? 

The plain truth is that no single technology can eliminate all data breaches. But quantum cryptography has the potential to significantly reduce certain types of attacks, particularly those that target data in motion and key exchange systems. 

That’s a big deal in a world where man-in-the-middle attacks, session hijacking, and key theft are still common tactics. By adding quantum cryptography alongside next-gen key management, post-quantum algorithms, and hardware security modules, organizations can build a much more resilient foundation. 

So, where do you go from here? If you’re a security leader or architect, now’s the time to start asking some hard questions: 

• Is our key management infrastructure ready for a post-quantum future? 
• Are we tracking the progress of NIST-approved PQC algorithms? 
• How can we integrate quantum-safe solutions into our existing environment? 

Don’t wait until the quantum future arrives—by then, it may be too late. 

Are you ready to take the first step? 

• Talk to Fortanix about building a quantum-safe security strategy. 
• Request a demo of Fortanix Data Security Manager. 
• Learn how to prepare your business with post-quantum cryptography by downloading the whitepaper below.