AI has rapidly moved from research topic to mainstream technology. Could quantum computing be the next major shift? But what does it actually mean for software developers, architects, and IT professionals?

In this session, we'll take a practical introduction to quantum computing from a Microsoft perspective. We'll explore fundamental concepts such as qubits, superposition, entanglement, and quantum gates without diving too deeply into the underlying physics. Using Q#, we'll build simple quantum programs, run them on simulators, and see how Azure Quantum provides access to real quantum hardware.
We'll put this into the context of recent developments in quantum hardware, including Microsoft's progress toward significantly more stable qubits.

We'll also examine the impact of quantum computing on cybersecurity, including the threat to current cryptographic algorithms and the urgency of preparing for the post-quantum era.

The session will give you a practical understanding of what quantum computing can and cannot do, how to start experimenting with Q# and Azure Quantum, and why quantum technologies matter for software development and cybersecurity.