Quantum Technologies and Security

Strategic importance for resilient systems, critical infrastructures and the state's ability to act

Quantum technologies mark a technological turning point. They open up new possibilities in communication, sensing, navigation and information processing – and in doing so, they are reshaping the very foundations of technical security.

What was long considered a theoretical domain of quantum mechanics is rapidly evolving into a strategic key technology. Governments are investing in programmes and infrastructure, companies are exploring industrial applications, and security-relevant organisations are assessing both opportunities and risks. Quantum technologies are therefore no longer confined to research – they have become a central element of technological competitiveness, sovereignty and security strategies.

When Physical Principles Become a Security Factor

Quantum technologies are based on fundamental properties of the quantum world – such as superposition, entanglement and the no-cloning theorem. Unlike classical technologies, which only exploit quantum effects indirectly, they enable the controlled manipulation of individual quantum states. This gives rise to new security-relevant applications:

• communication methods in which eavesdropping or tampering attempts become physically detectable
• sensors with unprecedented levels of precision
• navigation systems capable of operating independently of satellite signals
• computational approaches for highly complex or previously unsolvable problems

In this context, security is no longer defined solely in software terms but is grounded in physical principles. As a result, technological development is closely linked to questions of reliability, system integration and certification.

Digital Security in Transition: New Opportunities – New Vulnerabilities

The implications are particularly evident in the field of cryptography. Powerful quantum computers could, in the long term, compromise many of today’s asymmetric encryption methods. The “harvest now, decrypt later” scenario represents a tangible strategic risk – especially for government institutions, operators of critical infrastructure and organisations handling sensitive long-term data.

At the same time, quantum-resistant approaches and new concepts for secure communication architectures are emerging. The transition to a post-quantum era is not merely a technical migration but a long-term transformation challenge for organisations and infrastructures. Quantum technologies thus act both as drivers of innovation and as catalysts for a fundamental shift in security paradigms.

Security Beyond IT: Infrastructure, Navigation and Sensing

However, the security relevance of quantum technologies extends far beyond traditional IT. Satellite-based navigation systems are vulnerable to jamming and spoofing. In safety- and security-critical applications – such as aviation, energy supply or defence-related scenarios – such disruptions can have severe consequences. Quantum-based navigation methods offer the prospect of robust, satellite-independent alternatives.

New opportunities are also emerging in sensing: highly precise measurement techniques can detect even the smallest changes in physical parameters – for example in geodesy, in the monitoring of critical infrastructure, or in security and defence-related situational awareness.

Applications therefore span industry and energy, public security and civil protection, as well as defence contexts, for example in the environment of the German Armed Forces. The key issue is less a purely military focus than the broader question of resilience, availability and technological superiority in critical systems.

Between Research Momentum and Industrial Reality

Despite significant progress, many quantum technologies are still at an early stage of development. Questions of scalability, system integration, robustness and certification remain only partially resolved. Not every promising laboratory solution will translate into reliable infrastructure. A realistic assessment of technological maturity is therefore just as important as innovation capability and strategic foresight. Overly ambitious expectations can be as problematic as technological dependencies.

Technological Sovereignty as a Strategic Imperative

Quantum technologies touch on fundamental questions of technological sovereignty. Those who possess secure communication infrastructures, robust navigation capabilities or quantum-resistant encryption strengthen their strategic autonomy – in both civilian and security-related domains. At the same time, new dependencies, regulatory requirements and evaluation criteria are emerging.

Quantum technologies are reshaping the foundations of security – both digital and physical. They enable new protective mechanisms while simultaneously introducing new risks.

Security does not arise automatically from innovation. It is the result of technological excellence, systemic integration and strategic governance.