Where Does Cybersecurity Go Next?

As regular as clockwork, we see a sizeable increase in the number and sophistication of cyber threats year after year. Crooked, ‘evil technology’ continues to evolve, and if digital security experts fail to evolve with it, businesses worldwide are doomed to catastrophe.

As we near the end of Q1 of 2025, organizations need to be aware of current and future cyber threats. Businesses of all sizes and sectors should plan accordingly. Many predictions from January still hold, but many have become much more nuanced.

Of primary importance is the ability to stay ahead of the threat curve by safeguarding your digital assets. As always, significant changes are coming to the cybersecurity landscape. Driving these changes are emerging technologies and evolving threats. As well as shifting global dynamics.

The current threat landscape:

Let’s have a look at the key threats and how to protect yourself with some current predictions:

1: AI Is a Double-edged Sword

When it comes to all aspects of digital security, Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a game-changer.

What are the two edges of the sword?
1) The good: AI has enabled faster and more accurate threat detection, response, and prevention.

2) The bad: AI also poses new risks such as adversarial AI, exploited vulnerabilities, and misinformation.

Bad actors use chatbots and other LLMs (Large Language Models) to generate these threats:

More convincing phishing emails

Fake news articles

Deepfake videos

Users can easily be manipulated and deceived by this type of malicious content. You need to initiate robust security protocols, including keeping a ‘human-in-the-loop’ approach, as well as regularly tracking and reviewing your AI systems. These steps will help mitigate these risks and harness the power of AI for a more secure future.

2: Quantum Computing Empowers a Growing Threat

While Quantum computing is still a few years away from reaching its full potential, it exponentially gains steam and is already a serious threat to the security of current encryption standards.

It can be used to potentially break asymmetric encryption algorithms. These wily algorithms are widely used to protect data in transit and at rest, but quantum-enabled hackers could compromise sensitive data, like financial transactions.

You need to prepare for this scenario by first assessing your potential risks, then adopt quantum-resistant technologies and deploy quantum-safe architectures.

3: Hacktivism is on the Rise

Hacktivism is exactly what it sounds like: the use of hacking techniques to promote a political or social cause. Such as exposing corruption, protesting injustice, or supporting a movement.

Hacktivism is nothing new – it’s been around for decades, increased in 2024 and is expected to grow faster in 2025. Another key arena is the palette of major global events we see unfold every day, considering the geopolitical conflicts we are seeing.

Governments, corporations, critical U.S. infrastructures, media outlets, and sections of the supply chain are high on the list of preferred hacktivists targets. They will go after any entity that they perceive as an adversary or opponent, and those that support them. These attacks can disrupt their operations as well as leak their data or deface their websites.

No matter the type of your organization, you need to maintain vigilance against potential hacktivist attacks by being proactive in defending their networks, systems, and reputation.

4: Ransomware is Growing Faster Than Ever

For anyone who still doesn’t know, ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts the victim's data and demands a ransom for its decryption. Ransomware has been one of the fastest growing and most damaging types of cyberattacks in recent years.

Ransomware attacks continue to rise in 2025

Ransomware attacks are continuing to increase in 2025 just as they did in the second half of 2024. New variants, tactics, and targets will continue to emerge, and we are betting ‘dollars to donuts’ that crooks will adopt more widespread use of AI to enhance their encryption algorithms, evade detection, and customize their ransom demands.

It is expected that hackers will up the ante on targeting cloud services, IoT devices, and industrial control systems. This would cause more disruption and damage. You need to put in place comprehensive ransomware prevention and response strategies. Including:

Securely backing up your data regularly

Updating and patching your systems promptly

Using reliable email and DNS filtering solutions

Educating your users on how to avoid phishing emails

5: Cyber Insurance is More Important Than Ever

Cyber insurance has continued to become more popular and important as cyberattacks have become more frequent and costly in recent years. This critical insurance covers the losses and liabilities resulting from cyberattacks.

Comprehensive cyber insurance not only helps you recover from cyber incidents faster and more effectively, but it effectively caps the financial damage by providing monetary compensation, legal help, or technical support.

The protection requirements that cyber insurers impose influence the security practices of organizations. More insurers may impose certain requirements or standards on their customers, such as implementing specific security controls or frameworks.

You will need to balance the benefits and costs of cyber insurance as well as ensure that you are compliant with cyber insurers' expectations.