Google set a 2029 deadline to migrate its internal systems to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). This accelerated timeline responds to rapid advancements in quantum hardware and error correction.
The company aims to mitigate Q-Day, the point when quantum computers can break current encryption standards. Google specifically targets harvest now, decrypt later attacks where adversaries store encrypted data for future decryption.
The 2029 goal provides a framework for the technology industry to adopt quantum-resistant algorithms. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) began standardizing these protocols in 2024.