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Quantum computing is moving from research into real infrastructure — and that shift brings two truths at once: a major leap in what’s possible for discovery, and a cybersecurity deadline for the systems we rely on for trust.
In this episode of Disruptors, John Stackhouse visits Xanadu’s Toronto headquarters to meet Aurora, a networked quantum computer built to push scale in the right direction and to see what “quantum in the real world” looks like as photonic systems move toward practical deployment.
John is also joined by Dr. Stephanie Simmons, Founder and Chief Quantum Officer at Photonic, who lays out both the upside and the urgency: the opportunities quantum could unlock in areas like materials and chemistry, and the security reality behind “harvest now, decrypt later,” where adversaries can collect encrypted data today with the intent to decrypt it later once fault-tolerant quantum arrives.
The takeaway is practical: post-quantum cryptography (PQC) migration is a multi-year transition, and leaders should start now — by mapping cryptography dependencies, prioritizing high-risk systems, and pushing vendors to deliver PQC-ready roadmaps before the storm hits.
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