Quantum technology is one such example. Step by step, it is becoming clear that this new way of computing is going to create enormous opportunities precisely for data specialists. Okay: exactly how and when that will happen is still somewhat unclear, but the risk that the technology is a bubble is shrinking by the day.
Make your move
Simulations clearly show that the technology will soon be able to perform unimaginable amounts of parallel computations very quickly in particular. Bigdata tasks in logistics, price calculation, risk management and forecasting will face a huge acceleration, but processes such as optimization, modeling and machine learning will also change dramatically. For example, it will become easier to analyze unstructured data. With real-time analytics, better predictions become possible and you can act more accurately, giving you a competitive advantage.
As with the advent of previous technologies, the companies that are the first to succeed in taking advantage of the new opportunities can benefit the most. Each new technology also requires a new skillset to take full advantage of it. As always, specialists are scarce the moment technology breaks through.
So now is the time to start preparing. Identify which activities fall into the opportunity category and what knowledge and skills are needed to hook into the development. Also consider whether in-house teams can be trained as quantum data scientists and quantum AI engineers. Is the data architecture actually in place to be able to test hybrid quantum workloads in the near future? Does it make sense to use pilots with quantum providers to get to grips with the technology and find out which applications are promising for a business case using first-generation quantum computers?
Protect your data
Even though that business case cannot be made yet, the arrival of quantum computing still deserves attention. Because quantum technology offers not only potential opportunities, but also threats. Criminals or state-backed hacker groups can also use the quantum properties to crack important data security technology. It is therefore essential to identify where vulnerable encryption methods are used within one's own organization and in communication with the supply chain, for example. What data should absolutely not fall into the wrong hands now and five or 10 years from now?Their security must be made quantum secure now.
So a nice dream about the opportunities of new technology can have a dark edge.Let it be a wake-up call to think seriously about the opportunities and threats of quantum technology.
