.jpg)
Bain & Company has announced a strategic collaboration with IBM to provide private equity and corporate clients with expert assessments and mitigation strategies for post-quantum cryptography risks. Combining Bain's diligence expertise with IBM Consulting's quantum-safe transformation services, the partnership delivers comprehensive evaluations of cryptographic resilience in the emerging post-quantum era.
Quick Intel
Bain & Company and IBM have formed a strategic collaboration to help private equity firms and corporate clients navigate the cybersecurity implications of advancing quantum computing. The partnership combines IBM Consulting's specialized quantum-safe transformation offerings with Bain's proven capabilities in due diligence and strategic advisory. Together, they provide clients with advanced assessments of their cryptographic resilience against post-quantum threats, enabling proactive mitigation and seamless integration of post-quantum cryptography into business and investment planning.
Quantum computing is progressing from experimental stages toward practical, real-world applications, creating a credible risk to existing encryption protocols that safeguard sensitive corporate data, proprietary knowledge, and intellectual property. This evolution introduces material business and investment vulnerabilities, particularly for private equity buyers evaluating targets and corporate leaders managing long-term security postures.
Post-quantum cryptography offers effective defenses against these emerging threats by developing encryption methods resistant to quantum attacks. Despite growing awareness, Bain's recent research indicates that while technology executives view PQC as an increasingly urgent priority, most organizations have yet to establish concrete strategies for addressing its complex technical and operational demands.
The Bain-IBM collaboration equips clients with a structured approach to quantum readiness. This includes identifying cryptography-dependent assets at risk, prioritizing remediation efforts, and executing phased transition plans to minimize exposure ahead of the post-quantum timeline.
"Quantum computing is moving from theory to reality. It also brings a hard deadline: many of today's encryption standards won't hold forever. Companies that start upgrading now will protect customers, protect value, and stay ahead of the risk," said Chuck Whitten, global head of Bain's digital practices and capabilities.
Whitten added: "Our collaboration with IBM strengthens our ability to help acquirers spot cryptography risk early and take action. Post-quantum readiness should be treated like any other critical technology risk in a deal, and we're excited to bring leading-edge capabilities to protecting client's businesses and investments."
Andy Baldwin, Senior Vice President of Offerings and Growth for IBM Consulting, said: "The move towards quantum‑ready security is becoming a near‑term priority for every organization that relies on cryptography to operate. Our collaboration with Bain provides clients with a clear quantum-safe roadmap, from identifying vulnerable assets to prioritizing remediation and executing a transition strategy, to help reduce risk ahead of the post-quantum era."
Looking ahead, Bain and IBM anticipate deeper joint efforts on priority post-quantum applications in fields such as metallurgy, pharmaceuticals, and materials science, where quantum capabilities could accelerate innovation while necessitating robust security frameworks.
About Bain & Company
Bain & Company is a global consultancy that helps the world's most ambitious change makers define the future. Across 65 cities in 40 countries, we work alongside our clients as one team with a shared ambition to achieve extraordinary results, outperform the competition, and redefine industries. We complement our tailored, integrated expertise with a vibrant ecosystem of digital innovators to deliver better, faster, and more enduring outcomes. Our 10-year commitment to invest more than $1 billion in pro bono services brings our talent, expertise, and insight to organizations tackling today's urgent challenges in education, racial equity, social justice, economic development, and the environment. We earned a gold rating from EcoVadis, the leading platform for environmental, social, and ethical performance ratings for global supply chains, putting us in the top 2% of all companies. Since our founding in 1973, we have measured our success by the success of our clients, and we proudly maintain the highest level of client advocacy in the industry.
TechIntelPro empowers B2B technology decision-makers with the latest industry trends, deep insights, leadership perspectives and actionable intelligence to drive both organizational and professional milestones—and thrive on the tech pulse.