Businesses must embrace forward-thinking cybersecurity solutions in 2025
As 2024 draws to a close, it's clear that the ever-evolving cybersecurity space is set to experience transformative shifts in the coming year. Changes in the threat landscape will continue, as will advances in the tools and techniques security teams can use to protect their IT infrastructures.
Some key trends to watch during the next 12 months are:
1.The AI hype bubble will deflate:
The much-lauded promise of artificial intelligence (AI) is due for a reality check. In 2024, AI was touted as a disruptive technology poised to revolutionise industries, however many AI-based applications have failed to deliver the expected returns.
As a result, businesses are likely to pull back from overpromising AI's capabilities and focus instead on targeted use cases. This shift will see a deceleration in AI investments across various sectors as organisations prioritise specific, practical applications over speculative AI advancements.
During 2025, AI's role is likely to stabilise around specialised applications, including workflow automation and supply chain optimisation. While AI has lowered entry barriers for low-level cyberattacks, its influence on sophisticated threats may be limited. Companies will need to align their security efforts with these realistic applications rather than relying solely on AI as a security panacea.
2. The theoretical and emerging risks around quantum computing:
Quantum computing poses a unique threat that is both real and theoretical. While quantum capabilities to break traditional encryption are not yet mainstream, large organisations are already taking preventive measures. The release of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) post-quantum encryption standards has prompted institutions, particularly in finance, to begin adopting these protective algorithms.
Quantum encryption adoption will likely be a drawn-out process due to the complexity and expense of integration. With broader adoption expected by 2027, organisations must start transitioning now to secure their data against potential future risks.
3. The sunset of Microsoft's Windows 10:
Microsoft's planned end-of-life (EoL) for Windows 10 in October 2025 will lead to a mass migration as millions of devices, incompatible with Windows 11, become vulnerable. Without Secure Boot and TPM hardware support, these systems cannot upgrade to Windows 11, rendering them obsolete and increasingly susceptible to cyber threats.
This event is expected to drive an uptick in hardware sales, recycling, and adoption of alternative operating systems like Linux. However, it also creates a security concern as unpatched systems could become easy targets for cybercriminals.
4. The rise of digital doppelgängers through reverse identity theft:
Identity theft is well known, but in 2025 reverse identity theft - creating false digital personas - will emerge as a significant issue. With the influx of breach data and identity information, malicious actors may misuse data to create false identities, potentially damaging reputations or entangling victims in fraudulent activities.
5. Nation-state cyber warfare targets critical infrastructure:
Critical infrastructure, such as utilities and healthcare systems, will be a growing focus for nation-state actors in 2025. The recent joint announcement from the Australian Cyber Security Centre and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, among others, on threats to communication infrastructure highlights the high-stakes geopolitical risks that make these targets especially vulnerable. Increased tensions worldwide are likely to exacerbate this risk, making infrastructure security a national priority.
6. The outsourcing of job responsibilities to AI:
The rise of remote work has led to an uptick in 'moonlighting', where employees take on multiple jobs simultaneously. In 2025, the trend will intensify as remote workers increasingly rely on AI tools to fulfill their responsibilities. Personal AI assistants will perform tasks such as content creation and data management, potentially even creating virtual 'employees' to manage workloads.
Employers will need to adapt to this trend by implementing policies that define acceptable AI usage and establish accountability measures to prevent misuse.
7. Paths to Privilege becomes the new frontier in cybersecurity:
In 2025, so-called 'Paths to Privilege' attacks - where minor identity vulnerabilities are exploited to gain significant control - will become more frequent. Threat actors can use hidden trust relationships, misconfigurations, and obscure entitlements to escalate privileges and compromise systems.
8. Increasing use of stand-alone security tools:
As cybersecurity budgets grow, businesses are increasingly turning to standalone tools to address emerging threats. However, these tools often operate in silos, leading to integration challenges, visibility issues, and potential security gaps. The inability of these tools to work seamlessly can leave organisations vulnerable despite their high-security investments.
9. Cyber insurance will adapt to emerging AI and quantum risks:
As AI and quantum computing reshape the cybersecurity landscape, cyber insurance providers will need to update their risk assessments and policy structures. While many insurers have adjusted for ransomware risks, they have yet to fully address the potential liabilities associated with AI and quantum technology.
As 2025 unfolds, these cybersecurity trends underscore the importance of organisations taking a proactive, adaptive approach. Businesses must move beyond traditional defences and embrace forward-thinking solutions to mitigate both present and future risks.
By staying informed of these shifts, companies can better safeguard their operations in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
