PQC Budgeting: How to Address the Costs of PQC Readiness
· 14:30 – 15:00 Amsterdam time · Room A (2)
As governments and regulatory bodies around the world accelerate guidance and migration timelines for Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), mid-to-large enterprises face an increasingly urgent question: how much should we budget, and where do we begin? While the timeline for a cryptographically relevant quantum computer remains uncertain, the need to prepare is becoming a board-level risk management priority.
This session presents a pragmatic approach to building a multi-year PQC budget that balances technical requirements, operational realities, and financial constraints. Attendees will explore the primary cost drivers of a successful migration, including cryptographic discovery and the creation of a Cryptographic Bill of Materials (CBOM), certificate lifecycle modernization, crypto-agility initiatives, HSM and key management upgrades, application remediation, testing, governance, and workforce enablement.
The presentation also discusses how organizations can prioritize investments based on business risk, regulatory obligations, and cryptographic exposure, enabling a phased migration rather than a costly rip-and-replace approach. Participants will leave with a practical budgeting framework, recommended milestones, and executive-level strategies for securing funding and building organizational consensus. The objective is to help enterprises transform PQC readiness from an abstract future concern into a measurable, achievable cybersecurity program with clear business value.
Speakers
- Director, Alliances - PKI & PQC Portfolio · Thales
Blair has over 35 years of experience in cybersecurity sales, marketing, and business development. His career began with Symantec, where he developed his expertise in cybersecurity and cryptography, followed by key roles at startups such as Chrysalis-ITS (Thales), Titus (Fortra), Black Duck (Synopsys), InfoSec Global (Keyfactor), and Crypto4A. In 2019, Blair was recruited back to Thales as part of the Global Technology Alliances team, where he leads the curation of the PKI and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) alliances portfolio. An avid presenter and startup consultant, Blair is a recognized contributor to the PQC industry and the founder of Thales’ PQC Palooza, held annually at the RSA Conference. He holds an Honours BA from the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
- Global Head of Cryptography and Quantum Threat Program · Santander Digital Services
Jaime Gómez García is a recognized expert in quantum security, with an extensive professional background within the financial sector. He is known for advancing strategic awareness, industry coordination, and practical adoption of quantum-safe cryptography, helping organizations and critical infrastructures prepare for the transition to the quantum era.
His influence in the field has been recognized through multiple distinctions, including inclusion in Quantum Security 25: The Top 25 Most Influential People in Quantum Security (2026), the 2025 Quantum Leap Award from Keyfactor, and recognition as LinkedIn Top Voice (2024-2025) and Quantum Top Voices (2022–2024).
Currently, Jaime serves as the Global Head of the Santander Quantum Threat Program, addressing the transition to a quantum-safe economy. Additionally, he holds the role of Chair of the Europol Quantum Safe Financial Forum, working to facilitate collaboration and coordinate the transition to quantum-safe cryptography within the financial sector.
Attendance
Open session · first come, first served
Saving interest does not reserve a seat. Admission remains first come, first served.
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