Why trust is now a board-level risk

Why trust is now a board-level risk   

Across the technology sector, innovation is moving fast. Quantum computing, AI and autonomous systems are no longer distant possibilities or exploratory projects led by the CTO. But as these technologies advance, the systems designed to keep them secure are not advancing at the same pace. The resulting pressure is no longer confined to IT – it now sits firmly with leadership.

For years, it was easy to assume the systems protecting data were solid and largely invisible, but that has changed. Data now moves freely across borders, systems are assembled from multiple providers and much of the infrastructure organisations rely on is operated by others. In this landscape, control becomes harder to define and trust can no longer be treated as a technical detail. It has become a strategic question that affects an organisation’s credibility, resilience and ability to operate with confidence.

While these global frameworks deliver speed, flexibility and scale, they also create exposure that is difficult to see and even harder to manage. Boards are increasingly expected to explain how sensitive data is safeguarded, who has access to it and how resilience will be sustained as threats evolve – issues that now sit at the centre of governance.

The changing nature of data protection 

Quantum computing is accelerating this shift, and you don’t need to be a technologist to see why. The encryption protecting data today is expected to weaken as quantum capabilities advance. Whether that moment arrives in five years or ten isn’t the point. What matters is that the risk is already growing and the assumptions underpinning long-term confidentiality are starting to shift.

Some adversaries are even storing encrypted data now with the intention of decrypting it later once quantum technology allows. This is an increasingly common tactic known as Harvest Now Decrypt Later (HNDL). In reality, this means information that feels secure today could be exposed as soon as quantum capabilities mature – and for organisations holding long-lived data, that becomes a quiet risk that gets a little larger every year.

The organisations responding most effectively to this challenge aren’t waiting for certainty. They’re mapping where long-term protection matters most and getting a clearer view of how their sensitive data actually moves across internal systems, cloud platforms and external providers. With that understanding, they can strengthen protection without slowing the organisation down.

This isn’t about a full overhaul. It’s about staying ahead, making early decisions and avoiding avoidable surprises. And it isn’t just a technical issue. It’s a leadership one. You don’t need to understand the mathematics of quantum computing to guide an organisation through this shift, but you do need clarity on what’s at stake and a plan to address it. Four questions will help shape that plan:

• What data or systems must remain secure for the long term?
• How are they currently protected
• Will that protection hold under new threat conditions?
• What practical steps can we take now to put ourselves in a stronger position later?

Forward-thinking leaders are steering their organisations in this direction because they know that long-term confidence depends on acting before risks turn into problems.

Sovereignty as a strategic priority 

One of the less discussed, but increasingly important, parts of this conversation is sovereignty. As data moves freely across borders and between cloud providers, organisations are facing questions that extend well beyond IT. Control, legal jurisdiction and long-term confidentiality all become far more complex when the infrastructure an organisation depends on is no longer its own.

For organisations operating across jurisdictions or in tightly regulated sectors, these questions can influence supply chains, customer assurance and even M&A decisions.

Organisations need control. Control over encryption keys, over infrastructure and over the conditions under which data is accessed. Quantum-safe encryption and the architectures that support it offer a way to regain that control. They protect data against future threats while giving organisations greater sovereignty over how their data is secured in the first place. In the current geopolitical environment, that is fast becoming a strategic advantage.

Why preparation beats prediction 

No one can predict with certainty when quantum computers will be capable of breaking traditional encryption and that uncertainty is what makes planning ahead so important. The systems being built today will still be in use five, ten or fifteen years from now. Waiting for ‘Q-Day’ – the point at which quantum delivers real-world decryption power – or any other definitive signal is a high-risk strategy.

Rather than betting on timelines, forward-looking business leaders are encouraging their organisations to build readiness into their infrastructure now. They’re aligning teams, identifying critical assets and bringing suppliers into the conversation. It’s the same discipline used when planning for climate risk, geopolitical shifts or supply chain pressure. You don’t need precision to recognise that preparation is the responsible choice.

Leading with trust in uncertain times 

Amid rapid technological change, the role of leadership is to stay clear-headed and set the direction. That means turning complex risks into firm, actionable priorities. It is no longer enough to ask what quantum computing or advanced AI might enable. Leaders must determine what these shifts mean for operational integrity, digital autonomy, regulatory exposure and the confidence of stakeholders.

Technology will continue to accelerate, and expectations will move with it. The responsibility of leadership is to ensure the organisation can advance with confidence – that its systems are resilient, its decisions are grounded and its growth rests on foundations strong enough to withstand whatever comes next.

Written by Andy Leaver.