GAO quantum report shows DC is taking quantum seriously

A recent federal report on the need for government agencies to prepare for a post-quantum future is the latest indication that the technology must be taken seriously.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, “Quantum Computing: Federal Actions Needed to Prepare for Emerging Cyber Threat,” was initially filed in September 2025. A public, less sensitive version was released on October 6.

Andrew Hoog, co-founder of mobile app security company NowSecure, told IT Brew that the report’s recommendations for agencies are a strong case for preparing for (and securing) commercial quantum computing.

“Very large prime numbers are what literally underpin encryption today, and if you can bring a new type of computing that allows you to factor those large prime numbers, you crack the encryption,” Hoog said.

Accessibility. Now that commercial quantum is close to an accessible reality for many attackers, even bedroom hackers, post-quantum encryption is fast becoming a critical need for IT pros focused on securing valuable data. As attackers focus on the “harvest now, decrypt later” tactic—downloading vast tranches of information today for quantum-assisted decryption at some future date—it is a priority to proactively address the issue.