Quantum security to become top priority for Asia Pacific firms

Forrester has released its 2026 Asia Pacific Predictions Report, forecasting that quantum security will become a strategic priority for more than 90% of enterprises in the region.

The report indicates that organisations across Asia Pacific (APAC) are expected to accelerate their investment in post-quantum technologies over the next two years. This move is being driven largely by intensifying cyber threats, specifically those involving "harvest now, decrypt later" strategies, where data is collected today with the intention of decrypting it in the future as computational power improves.

According to Forrester, this growing emphasis on quantum security is also being supported by new government-backed initiatives. Notable examples include Singapore's National Quantum-Safe Network Plus and India's National Quantum Mission, both of which place a strong focus on migration planning and cryptographic inventory solutions.

Quantum security focus

In addition to quantum security, the report highlights other factors set to shape enterprise technology strategies in APAC through to 2026.

Among the key predictions, Forrester analysts state that economic, cultural, and regulatory differences across the APAC region will drive businesses to develop technology approaches that emphasise resilience, utility, and cost-effectiveness. This is described as a move away from following technological hype, towards more practical and regionally tailored solutions.

Data sovereignty and AI infrastructure

The report anticipates that data sovereignty concerns will play a significant role in shaping artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure decisions. Forrester expects that nearly half of firms in the region will make AI infrastructure choices that are influenced by requirements for national control and data protection.

"In 2026, leaders in the Asia Pacific region will need to recalibrate their tech strategies to factor in local realities while staying globally competitive," said Dane Anderson, SVP of international research and product at Forrester. "From managing sovereignty concerns and addressing quantum threats to operating in a rapidly evolving cloud landscape, regional business and technology leaders are shifting from proving the value of digital transformation to amplifying its ROI. Our insights are designed to guide leaders in making grounded, high-impact decisions that deliver resilience, utility, and long-term growth."

The growing trend towards "diverse cloud" strategies is highlighted as an example of this shift. APAC organisations are increasingly blending US hyperscalers, Chinese cloud giants, and domestic service providers in order to address geopolitical uncertainty and retain national sovereignty over their foundational infrastructure.

Organisational transformation challenges

Forrester's analysis also identifies challenges in the region's transition to product-centric IT operations. The predictions suggest that one-third of APAC firms will expend resources on "performative" IT product shifts, wherein delivery teams will be rebranded as product teams. However, these changes are anticipated to fall short of meaningful organisational and operational transformation, resulting in inefficiencies and missed business outcomes.

Electric vehicle market influence

The report predicts that the electric vehicle (EV) boom will have significant knock-on effects within the region's technology sector. As Chinese electric vehicles increase their market share in APAC, it is anticipated that technology adoption patterns among regional enterprises will mirror consumer behaviour, prioritising utility, price, and perceived innovation. This trend is likely to drive growth for Chinese technology platforms in APAC, although data sovereignty concerns will remain relevant for some organisations.

Broader technology and security trends

Forrester's 2026 predictions extend beyond quantum security and sovereignty, covering anticipated developments in artificial intelligence, automation and robotics, tech leadership, cloud computing, enterprise software, smart manufacturing, and mobility. The firm believes these insights are geared towards helping business and technology leaders move from simply demonstrating the value of digital transformation to achieving higher returns on their investments.

The 2026 Asia Pacific Predictions Report underscores the increasing requirement for enterprises to balance regional realities with global competitiveness as technology landscapes continue to evolve.