In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, industry experts and analysts have once again delved into the top trends, predictions, and challenges for the upcoming year. As 2024 comes to a close, it’s time to look ahead to what 2025 may bring in terms of cybersecurity.
One of the key insights for the coming year is the expected shift in adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs). While AI was a major focus in 2024, Forrester Research predicts a 10% reduction in the adoption of Generative AI (GenAI) for security use cases in 2025. One of the reasons cited for this decrease in adoption is the inadequate budget allocated for AI initiatives. Additionally, CISOs are finding that the current AI models are not providing significant benefits in terms of security, particularly in incident response.
Another trend to watch out for in 2025 is the increased pressure to establish guardrails around GenAI and AI models. As AI continues to be integrated across various enterprise functions, there is a growing need for regulations to govern the safe use of AI technologies. Security teams are keen to be proactive in setting guidelines and boundaries around the development and deployment of AI models to ensure the protection of applications and sensitive data.
Furthermore, the rise of Initial Access Brokers (IABs) is expected to continue in 2025, according to the Deloitte Cyber Threat Intelligence team. These threat actors specialize in selling access to victim organizations’ networks to malicious third-party customers, making it easier for adversaries to launch attacks without the need for technical expertise. With a significant increase in IAB listings on underground forums, organizations should be prepared for more attack campaigns utilizing these offerings in the future.
In response to the evolving threat landscape, organizations are projected to increase their reliance on Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) to enhance their security resilience in 2025. The expansion of nonhuman identities, such as servers, mobile devices, and IoT devices, has outpaced human identities, making it essential for organizations to seek external expertise in managing and securing these assets.
Tech rationalization is also expected to gain traction in 2025 as security teams grapple with tool overload. The process of evaluating and optimizing an organization’s security stack can help streamline operations, reduce redundancies, and cut costs. Security leaders are advised to assess the relevance of their existing tools, examine product roadmaps, and align their security technologies with the organization’s evolving needs.
Additionally, attackers are anticipated to demonstrate more patience before launching their attacks in 2025, following the trend of advanced persistent threats (APTs) observed in recent years. Organizations are urged to focus on cyber resilience and implement strategies like microsegmentation to thwart adversaries aiming for lateral movement and data exfiltration.
The rise in open source software attacks is another area of concern for 2025, with the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF) predicting a continued surge in such attacks. Developers and organizations are advised to prioritize software security, conduct thorough assessments, and share potential security issues to bolster the security posture of open source software.
Having migrated to the cloud, organizations are facing visibility challenges across multi-cloud environments, posing a potential threat to data security in 2025. Cloud security posture management is recommended to monitor and secure sensitive data across multiple cloud platforms, ensuring proactive measures are in place to mitigate risks.
Furthermore, the rise of virtual CISOs (vCISOs) and CSO consultants is expected in 2025, as CISOs seek alternative roles that offer flexibility and support. The trend towards on-demand security leadership reflects the changing dynamics of cybersecurity roles within organizations.
Lastly, the targeting of AI agents by threat actors is foreseen as a growing concern in 2025. As organizations increasingly deploy AI-enabled software for autonomous decision-making, they must adopt conventional security principles and governance frameworks to safeguard AI agents from potential exploitation by malicious actors.
In conclusion, as we approach the new year, cybersecurity professionals and organizations must stay vigilant, adapt to emerging trends, and prioritize proactive security measures to combat evolving threats in the digital landscape. With foresight and strategic planning, they can navigate the challenges of 2025 and safeguard their digital assets against malicious actors.