From generative AI and high-performance data centres to the rapid evolution of quantum computing, technology is advancing faster than most enterprises can follow. The temptation to scale quickly is understandable.

However, growing too fast or going in the wrong direction can leave organisations overextended, unprotected, or both. Instead of chasing scale for its own sake, the smarter approach is right-sizing: aligning technology adoption with business needs, operational maturity, and long-term risk.

Right-sizing is how we bridge that gap, scaling defences to match the timeline and the stakes.

As Dr. Lee Hui Mien, Head of Group Environmental Sustainability at Singtel, puts it:

“When we talk about large language models and generative AI, there are actually many types of natural language models. Depending on the usage and application, you won’t necessarily need to run large language models for smaller tasks. It’s really about rightsizing technology you choose for the specific purpose.”

Whether it’s generative AI or quantum-safe infrastructure, not everything needs to be “big”, it just needs to be built for what matters.

Right-sizing is less about limiting ambition and more about scaling with intention. That includes preparing for technologies still on the horizon — like quantum computing — that could fundamentally shift how we think about security and value. In this context, right-sizing means identifying the opportunities that matter most, such as those tied to critical data, essential infrastructure, and long-term value.

This opportunity has two sides:

• Protection: Securing high-value data and operations from future decryption risks
  
  
• Preparation: Building systems today that can adapt and remain secure as quantum capabilities mature

While we may be years away from widespread commercial quantum computers, their potential to break today’s encryption is not theoretical.

• "Harvest now, decrypt later" attacks are already a concern. Threat actors stockpile high-value encrypted data with long lifespans to decrypt it when quantum machines become powerful enough.
• Quantum computers capable of breaking RSA-2048 encryption could arrive as early as the 2030s, well within the planning horizon of financial services, government systems, and critical infrastructure.¹
• The quantum computing industry is projected to reach USD 1.3 trillion by 2035,² with tech giants like IBM, Google, Microsoft and Amazon pouring resources into development.
• According to Gartner, by 2029, quantum advances will begin compromising traditional asymmetric cryptography. By 2034, they’ll be able to fully break it.³

Right-sizing means accounting for risk that scales with time. Quantum risk is one of them.

Financial transactions, medical records, government communications — these types of data need to stay secure not just for years, but for decades. The longevity is precisely what makes them a target

The challenge is that there’s a big gap between awareness and action.

• Only 38% of organisations feel “very prepared” for quantum threats.⁴
• Just 5% have implemented quantum-safe encryption, even though 69% understand the risks quantum computing poses to today’s encryption.⁴
• Only 4% of organisations have a clear quantum computing strategy.⁵
• 52% haven’t included quantum computing in any formal roadmap or strategy.⁵
   

Becoming quantum-ready doesn’t mean overhauling everything. It means securing what’s most critical starting today. That’s where Singtel’s Quantum Safe Network (QSN) comes in. Designed to protect against the future risks of quantum computing, QSN helps businesses safeguard their data without disrupting existing operations.

• Post-quantum protection
  Singtel QSN uses quantum key distribution (QKD) based on the laws of physics, making it resistant to quantum attacks. 
• Seamless integration with domestic network
  QSN works with your existing setup, allowing quantum-safe encryption to be deployed over networks. 
• Island-wide reach
  Built on Singtel’s nationwide fibre network, QSN delivers secure, quantum-safe connectivity between offices and data centres across Singapore.
• Flexible delivery models
  With Quantum-Safe Domestic Networks, quantum protection is as easy as ticking a box when ordering bandwidth, we handle the rest. On the other hand, Quantum Key-as-a-Service (QK-aaS) lets you manage your own encryptors while we deliver secure keys through our QKD and key management systems.
• Building a quantum-safe Singapore with Singtel
  Singtel was appointed by IMDA to develop Singapore's National Quantum-Safe Network Plus (NQSN+) to fortify Singapore’s resilience against quantum threats in the next decade.
   

This is right-sizing in action, delivering quantum-safe capabilities where the stakes are highest, without burdening the business with what it doesn’t yet need.

Right-size your future. Start with Singtel QSN.