As the new year unfolds, cybersecurity experts emphasize the importance of addressing critical areas that warrant immediate attention. While the landscape of cybersecurity presents numerous challenges for organizations, three particular topics stand out as paramount for successful planning in 2025: mitigating risks from vendors, navigating the complexities of artificial intelligence (AI), and combating phishing attacks.
### Mitigating Risks from Vendors
The relationship between businesses and their vendors is constantly changing, and with this evolution comes an increase in potential threats. In the era before cloud computing and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), a clear line of separation existed between vendors and customers. Any updates made by vendors could be tested internally to ensure they functioned correctly prior to deployment. However, the proliferation of cloud services has blurred these lines, eliminating the buffer that once allowed customers to evaluate vendor updates before full implementation. Today, if a vendor experiences a security incident, the repercussions can immediately affect their customers.
This shift introduces an additional layer of risk where cybercriminals can target businesses indirectly by compromising their vendors. This evolving complexity, with third, fourth, and even fifth-party risks, compels organizations to rethink their risk management strategies. To effectively counter these new threats, fostering trust between organizations and their vendors becomes essential.
Building this trust necessitates a comprehensive evaluation of vendors’ security environments. Techniques such as questionnaires, audits, and security ratings can be utilized to gather insights into a vendor’s operational and security posture. Importantly, these evaluations should not be one-time assessments; they must be conducted periodically to ensure they remain relevant. Companies can also solidify trust through contractual agreements that delineate liability, thereby assigning responsibility in the event of a data breach or other security incident.
Nevertheless, even with established trust, organizations require a robust incident response plan and business continuity strategy that accounts for potential disruptions originating from vendor-related incidents. Such planning is crucial to ensure rapid recovery and minimal impact on operations.
### Navigating the Challenges of AI
The integration of AI into organizational processes presents a new set of risks. At the heart of these risks lies the data utilized to train AI systems. The effectiveness of AI as a tool largely hinges on the quality and security of the underlying data. When organizations deploy AI in a cloud environment, they face increased potential for unintended data exposure, making strict data agreements imperative. Any data fed into AI systems can inadvertently become part of a training set, putting sensitive information at risk.
Moreover, the misuse of AI poses significant threats. From generating deepfakes that spread misinformation to crafting more persuasive phishing emails, AI has the potential to undermine an organization’s security. As regulations governing AI are still in their infancy, organizations must stay vigilant and adaptable to meet evolving compliance requirements.
At Brown-Forman, there is a strong emphasis on data governance and bolstering data security. Understanding data ownership and minimizing exposure through a need-to-know basis has been crucial in developing AI systems that are constrained to accessing only the necessary data.
Education and employee awareness constitute another cornerstone of their strategy. By equipping staff with a thorough understanding of the opportunities and risks associated with AI, organizations can optimize the benefits of AI technology while mitigating its inherent dangers.
### Combating Phishing
The landscape of phishing attacks has transformed significantly over the years. Gone are the days of generic emails sent en masse; modern phishing tactics are increasingly sophisticated and targeted. Generative AI has introduced a new dimension to these threats, making it more challenging to distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent communications.
In response, awareness and continual training have become critical components of an effective cybersecurity strategy. While spotting phishing attempts may not be inherently difficult, organizations must foster a culture of vigilance through consistent training initiatives that instill muscle memory in employees. It is essential to recognize that, despite best efforts, employees may occasionally fall victim to phishing scams; therefore, establishing layers of protection to mitigate the impact of such incidents is crucial.
As organizations plan for 2025, a focus on “role-based training” for phishing awareness can enhance effectiveness. Different roles within an organization face varying levels of risk; for example, sales roles typically involve frequent external communications, while HR positions may have access to more sensitive information. Tailoring training to address the unique vulnerabilities of specific teams can significantly strengthen organizational defenses against phishing attacks.
As technology continues to advance, so too must organizational strategies for improving cybersecurity. Solutions may range from foundational approaches like trust-building and training to implementing sophisticated governance structures and innovative technologies. By prioritizing the most pressing security threats, organizations can position themselves for success in the evolving landscape of cybersecurity as they move forward into 2025.