Quantum Risk Is Systemic — DFSA’s 2025 Call to Financial Institutions

The emergence of quantum computing is no longer theoretical, nor is it a distant concern.

Over the past few years, leading cybersecurity agencies and financial authorities — including NIST, ENISA, NSA, BIS, and now the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) — have issued consistent, urgent guidance: quantum threats demand action. Now.

The newly released DFSA Cyber and AI Resilience Report (June 2025) reinforces this global momentum, warning that the financial sector must prepare for a fundamental cryptographic overhaul.

Why This Matters?

Public-key cryptography — the backbone of secure digital banking, payments, identity, and data — will eventually become vulnerable to quantum computers.

The DFSA warns that a cryptographically-relevant quantum computer (CRQC) could emerge as early as 2030, with a growing risk of data harvested today being decrypted in the future. Inaction could lead to systemic consequences across global finance.

DFSA Report Highlights:

Quantum Risk in Financial Services

• Quantum Risk Recognition: RSA, ECC, and other public-key algorithms will be breakable by quantum computers — putting financial systems at systemic risk.

• Urgency of Transition: Delaying adoption of post-quantum cryptography (PQC) increases vulnerability. The time for proactive planning is now.

• Call for Resilience: Financial institutions must move beyond awareness and begin coordinated, phased preparation for a quantum-resilient future.

In addition, DFSA provides following key recommendations for Quantum Resilience.

• Raising awareness and alignment Educate board members, risk officers, and technology teams. This is not just an IT issue.

• Cryptographic Asset Inventories Map and classify all uses of public-key cryptography, especially legacy and third-party systems.

• Quantum Risk Assessments Evaluate exposure to “harvest now, decrypt later” attacks. Assess crypto-agility.

• Quantum Resilience Roadmap Create a phased plan that including hybrid crypto adoption and migration timelines.

• PQC Pilots Test and validate PQC implementations in high-risk infrastructure and systems to assess performance and integration.

• Enable Crypto-Agility Ensure cryptographic systems can be updated quickly without operational disruption.

• Industry Monitoring Monitor industry developments including standards, regulatory, and support for international interoperability.

The Clock Is Ticking

“Quantum computing poses a direct threat to current public-key cryptography, which underpins secure communications across the financial sector. Without a timely and coordinated transition to PQC, financial stability could face significant risks within the next decade.” — DFSA Cyber and AI Resilience Report, June 2025

Financial institutions are high-value targets. The longer organizations wait, the more difficult and disruptive the transition will become.

But getting started doesn’t require massive investment — it requires strategic first steps.

Kickstart Your Journey with AvinyaSQ

At AvinyaSQ, we’ve distilled global regulatory and technical guidance into practical, outcome-driven modules designed to help you move from awareness to action.

Our Quantum-Safe Migration (QSM) Ignite Starter Packs help financial institutions:

• Train cross-functional teams

• Launch cryptographic discovery and risk assessments

• Build and validate PQC transition roadmaps

• Pilot quantum-resilient architecture in critical systems

Whether you're a CISO looking for clarity, a CTO shaping architecture, or a board leader managing long-term risk — QSM Ignite Packs are your structured starting point.

Quantum-safe migration is no longer optional. It is central to operational resilience, regulatory compliance, and long-term digital trust.

Let’s move from awareness to readiness — with confidence.

🔗 Learn more: https://avinyasq.com/qsm-ignite-starter-packs