Cloudflare Connect 2026 to Feature Dedicated Sessions on Q-Day and Post-Quantum Cryptography​

Cloudflare Connect 2026 will include multiple sessions focused on the quantum threat to classical cryptography and the industry’s migration to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). The three-day event runs October 19 to 21 at Moscone West in San Francisco.While the conference centers on connectivity, AI agents, SASE, and developer tools, the agenda contains a clear quantum security thread that reflects Cloudflare’s years-long push to make post-quantum protections the default at internet scale.SessionSpeakersTimeTrackQ-Day is coming: Here’s how to prepare for the threat of a quantum computerSharon Goldberg & Wesley Evans (Cloudflare)Tue, Oct 20 · 11:00–11:45 AM PDTSecurity & ComplianceSecuring Internet traffic for the quantum computing eraSpeakers TBAWed, Oct 21 · 12:50–1:10 PM PDTWeb Performance & FrameworksMerkle Tree Certificates and the next phase of the WebPKIChristopher Patton (Cloudflare)Tue, Oct 20 · 12:50–1:10 PM PDTSecure AIThe Merkle Tree Certificates session is particularly relevant. Cloudflare has been advancing the approach as a practical path toward efficient post-quantum authentication and signatures.2017 – Continuous research and public writing on post-quantum cryptography begins2022 Early production hybrid key-agreement experiments on the edge2023 – 2025 Hybrid TLS scales; WARP client gains PQC supportFeb 2026 Cloudflare One becomes first SASE platform with full modern PQC encryptionApr 2026 Roadmap accelerated; full post-quantum security (encryption + authentication) targeted for 2029Apr 30, 2026 Post-quantum IPsec generally available (hybrid ML-KEM)Jul 2026 Post-quantum authentication (ML-DSA) enabled to originsCurrent >65% of human traffic protected by hybrid X25519MLKEM768Cloudflare has consistently emphasized deploying PQC without specialized hardware and at no extra cost to customers.The appearance of dedicated Q-Day and quantum-era traffic sessions at a major infrastructure conference reflects the growing urgency around the cryptographic transition. Recent research has shortened many estimates for when cryptographically relevant quantum computers could arrive, prompting Cloudflare, Google, and others to pull their migration targets forward to 2029.Sharon Goldberg, a senior product director at Cloudflare and a frequent public voice on the company’s PQC work, is scheduled to speak on the practical implications of an earlier-than-expected Q-Day. Her session, paired with the technical discussion of Merkle Tree Certificates, gives attendees both context and a look at the mechanisms being developed for post-quantum authentication.For organizations still treating post-quantum cryptography as a distant concern, the presence of these sessions at Cloudflare Connect demonstrates the topic has moved firmly into operational planning.Dates: October 19–21, 2026Venue: Moscone West, San FranciscoOfficial site: cloudflare.com/connectSessions: cloudflare.com/connect/sessionsRegistration: events.www.cloudflare.com/connect2026/beginThe full detailed schedule continues to be refined, but the quantum-related sessions are already listed. Attendees interested in the intersection of quantum computing and large-scale internet security will find these talks among the more substantive technical offerings on the agenda.Find out more here.Further articles, reports, and the latest quantum computing news may be found at The Qubit Report.The EuroHPC Joint Undertaking has opened six new Horizon Europe calls totaling €119 million ($139 million USD) for next-generation quantum platforms, QKD systems, testing infrastructure Yale University has completed an optical facility in New Haven forming the third facility in a free-space optical quantum link with Stony Brook University and Week Ending 21 | 8 | 2026. What a blockbuster week for quantum tech—hubs opening in Colorado and Austin, D-Wave production apps cutting real network Sign up to receive our newsletter and other reports.We keep your data private and share your data only with third parties that make this service possible. Read our privacy policy for more info.Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Our MissionContact UsPrivacy PolicyWebsite Terms of UseCopyright 2017-2026 | The Qubit Report | All Rights Reserved