Quantum Computing in Industrial Internet of Things (<scp>IIoT</scp>) Forensics: Framework, Implications, Opportunities, and Future Directions

ABSTRACT The continuous evolution of quantum computing has shown novel and transformative possibilities and critical implications for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) forensic processes. With the potential to break traditional encryption algorithms and process diverse datasets at unprecedented speeds, quantum computing could disrupt current approaches to digital forensic evidence (DFE) collection, preservation, and hybrid quantum‐classical data analysis methods across IIoT environments, an emerging topic in digital forensics. This paper proposes a generic quantum safe IIoT forensic (QS‐IIoT‐F) framework, explores the implications of quantum computing for IIoT forensics, mentions the opportunities of quantum computing in IIoT forensics, and future research directions. By addressing these issues, this paper aims to pave the way for future‐proof IIoT forensic methodologies, ensuring the integrity, efficiency, and reliability of digital forensic investigations in IIoT in a quantum‐powered era. This article is categorized under: Digital and Multimedia Science &gt; Cyber Threat Intelligence Digital and Multimedia Science &gt; IoT Forensics Digital and Multimedia Science &gt; Cybercrime Investigation