If you’re feeling overwhelmed trying to keep up with new developments in cybersecurity, you aren’t alone. Thanks to factors like the rapid evolution of new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), rising geopolitical tensions, and increasing regulatory requirements, IT security is currently “entering an era of unprecedented complexity,” according to the Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025 report from the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Seventy-two percent of WEF survey respondents say cybersecurity risks are on the rise. Hacking attempts are becoming more complex and sophisticated; as a result, thinking proactively and continually adjusting your cybersecurity strategy is essential to protect your infrastructure and data from evolving threats.
For IT and business leaders considering the rest of 2025, here are some of the top cybersecurity trends to watch this year, according to industry experts.
1. Attackers will ramp up AI usage.
Generative AI (genAI) has allowed bad actors to launch more complex and scalable campaigns; subsequently, almost 47 percent of organizations surveyed say genAI-powered adversarial actions are their No. 1 cause for concern, according to the WEF.
In 2025, bad actors will continue to utilize AI to supercharge their attacks, according to the Google Cloud Cybersecurity Forecast 2025. In addition to leveraging AI to create deepfakes for fraud and identity theft, we can expect to see cybercriminals using genAI for other use cases, such as code development, vulnerability research and reconnaissance.
“As AI capabilities become more widely available throughout 2025, enterprises will increasingly struggle to defend themselves against these more frequent and effective compromises,” the forecast states.
2. Relentless ransomware attacks show no signs of slowing down.
Ransomware leads the global list of IT security worries, with 45 percent of survey respondents identifying it as the organizational cyber risk that concerns them the most, according to the WEF. IBM reported that ransom payments reached record highs last year, with the median amount climbing from under $199 thousand in early 2023 to $1.5 million by June 2024. On top of that, in 2024, the number of active ransomware groups increased by 30 percent year-over-year.
This year, the availability of phishing kits, ransomware-as-a-service and genAI will make it easier than ever for anyone to carry out a ransomware campaign – no tech skills needed. The Google Cloud forecast warns that “organizations will continue to be challenged by a landscape in which an increasing number of barriers to entry will be eroded for cyber criminals and state actors with less sophistication.”
3. Enterprises will focus more intently on disinformation security.
Gartner named disinformation security – which involves ensuring the accuracy and authenticity of information while combating fraud and impersonation – as one of its Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2025. That report notes that the portion of enterprises that have adopted solutions, services or features to address disinformation security use cases is expected to rise from 5 percent in 2024 to 50 percent by 2028.
Disinformation tactics include deepfakes, phishing messages, and other tools that hackers use to steal sensitive information and carry out cyberattacks, according to Gartner and Splunk. As a result, the ongoing rise in disinformation campaigns targeting enterprises is a notable trend to watch in the cybersecurity space.
4. The cybersecurity talent shortfall will persist, especially as demand grows for expertise in emerging tech.
Combating increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks is easier with security experts on your side. However, businesses that want to shore up their defenses face a persistent and worsening talent shortage.
The ongoing global cybersecurity workforce shortfall grew to 4.8 million in 2024, according to ISC2. Only 14 percent of organizations express confidence that they have adequate cybersecurity resources in terms of people and skills, according to the WEF survey.
5. Smaller companies will turn to managed security service providers (MSSPs) to keep up with rapidly evolving cybersecurity solutions and threats.
At the Annual Meeting on Cybersecurity 2024, 71 percent of cyber leaders agreed that small organizations can no longer effectively secure themselves against increasingly complex risks, according to the WEF. The Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025 states that 35 percent of smaller organizations agree that their cyber resilience is inadequate.
To compensate for limited internal resources, a growing number of small and midsize businesses will likely outsource to third-party managed cybersecurity service providers in 2025 and beyond.
Many of the IT and business leaders we talk to have trouble finding the time to evaluate cybersecurity solutions. We streamline the process with access to the latest market data, partnerships with best-in-class suppliers and an advanced decision-making tool that rapidly generates detailed comparison matrices.
On top of that, we have firsthand IT security experience due to our background as a former managed security service provider (MSSP). Why stress about choosing the right tech when we’ve already done the homework for you?
Start by calling 877-599-3999 or emailing sales@stratospherenetworks.com to connect with our advisors. You can also check out our free security assessment to jumpstart your search for the best solutions.
