Asia Pacific firms to prioritise post-quantum security by 2026
Forrester has forecast that over 90% of Asia Pacific enterprises will prioritise post-quantum security technologies in 2026, in response to escalating cyber threats and regional government initiatives.
The 2026 Asia Pacific predictions, published by Forrester, highlight quantum security as a top enterprise focus for the region. Firms are anticipated to accelerate investments in post-quantum technologies amidst concerns over "harvest now, decrypt later" cyberattack tactics. Government programmes such as Singapore's National Quantum-Safe Network Plus and India's National Quantum Mission are cited as contributing significant momentum to corporate adoption of quantum-safe infrastructure, with particular emphasis on migration planning and cryptographic inventory management.
Shifts in technology strategy
The report notes that economic, cultural, and regulatory factors unique to the Asia Pacific will shape technology strategies. Enterprises are predicted to shift away from prioritising market hype, focusing instead on resilience, utility, and cost-effectiveness. This pragmatic approach is increasingly being adopted as firms navigate an evolving threat landscape and a spectrum of regulatory requirements across the region's various markets.
Sovereignty is identified as a major influence on AI infrastructure decisions, with half of Asia Pacific firms projected to favour "diverse cloud" strategies. These strategies involve a blend of US hyperscalers, Chinese cloud companies, and domestic providers. Forrester says that this approach acknowledges ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and is viewed as a measure to ensure national control over critical digital infrastructure.
Cloud adoption and sovereignty
According to the forecasts, concerns related to data sovereignty and infrastructure reliability are pushing firms to diversify their cloud providers, balancing the benefits of international technology with local regulatory compliance. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is singled out as a region where these diverse strategies are particularly prominent.
IT transformation challenges
The report also anticipates that one-third of Asia Pacific organisations may lose efficiency and resources by focusing on superficial or "performative" tech shifts. Many are expected to rebrand existing delivery teams as product teams in an attempt to align with AI transformation goals, without making substantial cultural or operational changes. Such efforts, according to Forrester, may fail to produce meaningful outcomes or return on investment.
Impact of the EV sector
Forrester's analysis points to the growing dominance of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) across Asia Pacific as a catalyst for increased adoption of Chinese cloud and technology platforms. As EVs become more prevalent, APAC enterprises appear to be following consumer trends that favour utility, competitive pricing, and platform innovation-even in cases where sovereignty concerns persist. The result is a forecast that Chinese hyperscale cloud providers will double their regional growth rates through 2026.
Forrester's perspective
"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 2026 predictions report draws on trends in areas including artificial intelligence, robotics, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and smart manufacturing. It offers guidance for technology and security leaders as well as marketing, sales, and digital transformation teams. The research also presents analysis meant to help enterprises stay adaptable amid technology shifts and to respond effectively to both global economic pressures and regional regulatory changes.
Among other recommendations, the report advises firms to prioritise planning for quantum-safe infrastructure and to conduct thorough cryptographic inventories as part of ongoing security initiatives. It also encourages enterprises to assess both cloud provider diversity and the culture of IT transformation initiatives to maximise value and reduce waste.
