In the year 2024, the world witnessed a significant wave of cyber disruptions that wreaked havoc on major health systems, businesses, and government agencies. Ransomware attacks paralyzed operations, a faulty software update caused a global IT outage, and cyberespionage became more rampant. Additionally, the buzz around artificial intelligence (AI) reached new heights, causing widespread disruption across the tech landscape.
As we look ahead to 2025, the question on everyone’s mind is whether the coming year will bring even more chaos and disruption in the cybersecurity realm. Can cybersecurity professionals rise to the challenge and restore order in the face of escalating cyber threats? A panel of 10 cybersecurity experts, analysts, and educators weigh in on the top 10 trends to watch in 2025.
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Ransomware Evolution: Cybercriminals are expected to target high-value entities for larger ransom payouts. Some groups may shift their focus to data theft, particularly targeting third-party suppliers and software vendors.
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Deepfake Threat: There is a looming concern about cybercriminals using AI-driven deepfake technology to impersonate IT help desk personnel, administrators, and senior executives. This could lead to credential theft and fraudulent activities.
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Geopolitical Implications: As collaboration between nation-state actors and criminal organizations deepens, we may see a rise in disruptive cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure in response to geopolitical events.
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OT System Vulnerabilities: Investigators are predicted to uncover more instances of cyber adversaries infiltrating operational technology (OT) systems, edge devices, and smart technologies as part of their prepositioning tactics.
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EU AI Act Impact: The enforcement of fines under the EU AI Act and mixed results from generative AI projects could result in a slowdown of enterprise AI initiatives. This could spark greater demand for stringent security, privacy, and governance measures.
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SMB Security Challenges: Small to midsized businesses will face a surge in cyberattacks, driving the need for managed security services to bolster their defenses.
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Data Protection Prioritization: Boards of organizations will prioritize integrated data loss protection and data security posture management solutions to mitigate the risk of data breaches.
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Phishing Defense Strategies: Organizations will scale up the implementation of phishing-resistant multifactor authentication to combat MFA fatigue and social engineering scams.
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Globalized Cyber Education: Cybersecurity education will become more interconnected on a global scale, fostering cross-border partnerships for shared curricula, virtual exchange programs, and adherence to international standards and best practices.
- Legal Ramifications: Litigation surrounding data breaches and IT disruptions will intensify, with a focus on holding chief information security officers (CISOs) and top executives accountable for cyber incidents.
While cyber disruptions are likely to persist in 2025, the cybersecurity community remains optimistic about overcoming these challenges. With a collective effort from industry professionals and the continual enhancement of cyber defenses, there is hope for a more secure digital landscape in the year ahead.