Blog January 8, 2025

The Future of Cybersecurity: Insights and Predictions for 2025

Notis Iliopoulos, VP of MRC

2024 marked a transformative shift in cybersecurity with AI and data driven cyber security leading the change. As the threat landscape evolves, the stage is set for further advancements in continuous risk management, threat monitoring, resilience, and governance in 2025, shaping a more secure and dynamic digital landscape where cybersecurity is becoming a catalyst for business success and compliance.

Notis Iliopoulos, VP of MRC, Obrela, describes the continuing evolution of the sector in 2025

During 2024, the cybersecurity industry was affected by the rise of AI-driven solutions. This evolution also gave hackers more tools to advance their sophistication in attacks. On the defence side, AI supports security teams with tools to analyse faster and detect cyber attacks, while the type of response and proposed action still remain under the realm of the experts team. AI has automated routine operations and even proactive search for potential risks. This move toward predictive and preemptive approaches is effectively adding to the cybersecurity proactive approaches.

As mentioned earlier, adversaries also became more sophisticated. AI-driven cyberattacks emerged as a critical threat, with malicious actors using the same tools to create highly adaptive, automated attacks. This escalation has pushed organisations to not only invest in advanced technologies but also rethink their strategies for managing an expanding attack surface created by emerging technologies. We can anticipate the continued evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and maturity in this domain as adversaries integrate this capability into sophisticated attack strategies, while defenders and vendors enhance their defensive capabilities by incorporating more advanced models.

Analyzing the readiness of businesses to face sophisticated threats, it becomes apparent that not all businesses are adequately prepared to address the escalating cybersecurity challenges. The primary impediment lies in the (often unrealistic) perception held by organizations that they possess sufficient safeguards and an adequate governance framework for cybersecurity. Concurrently, there exists a deficiency in general knowledge and comprehension of the intricacies of cyberspace, particularly regarding the threats to IT and digital infrastructure. This means that businesses need to increase the level of expertise in order to efficiently cope with the evolving threat landscape.

As we look ahead to 2025, cybersecurity is poised to evolve even further. One of the most anticipated developments is the rise of hyper-automation in security operations. This approach integrates advanced technologies like AI, machine learning, and robotic process automation to create seamless workflows, however, one should keep in mind that the power of human intelligence is incomparable to detecting, preventing, and managing cyber threats.

By reducing reliance on manual intervention, hyper-automation enhances operational efficiency, allowing security teams to focus on more strategic priorities. AI and machine learning will also play an increasingly central role, offering advanced behavioural analytics, real-time threat intelligence, and autonomous response mechanisms that adapt to ever-changing risks.

The Impact of NIS2 in 2025

Cyber security risk management is currently undergoing a shift to become an integral part of a broader governance function, driven by regulatory pressures, financial risks, and stakeholder demands. As a result, we anticipate that cybersecurity risk management will revolutionize the risk management practices of organizations in the coming year under the Cybersecurity domain.

In 2025, NIS2, will significantly transform cybersecurity practices across the EU Market. This directive introduces stricter security requirements and expands its scope to encompass a broader range of sectors and organizations, including essential and important entities. Consequently, a greater number of businesses will be compelled to implement robust security measures, conduct risk assessments, and promptly report incidents.

Trends Shaping the Future

Key trends expected to gain momentum in 2025 include:

  • Cybersecurity Automation: Streamlining operations beyond detection and response to include tasks like compliance reporting.
  • Cyber Resilience: Shifting focus to rapid recovery to minimize operational and reputational impacts.
  • Managed Security Services: Growing reliance on expert providers for scalable, 24/7 monitoring and protection.
  • Dynamic Incident Response: Replacing static response plans with AI-driven, adaptive strategies.
  • Defense as a Service: A comprehensive model encompassing prevention, governance, and strategy, reducing the burden on internal teams while ensuring compliance. By leveraging third-party expertise, organisations can enhance their overall security posture while reducing the burden on internal teams and ensuring better compliance.

Emerging Trends

Deepfakes will also prevail in 2025. As technology advances, deepfakes are becoming increasingly difficult to discern. This presents a significant challenge for businesses, which are already being targeted in customized phishing attacks that leverage this technology.

As Deepfakes tend to attack the human element, similar Cyber threats, such as phishing, ransomware, and malware, will continue to exploit human vulnerabilities, rendering employees as the primary line of defence. The requirement to effectively train the non-technical staff is becoming a necessity for 2025.

Sustainability and Supply chain risk

Sustainability is another area where cybersecurity is evolving. The integration of sustainability metrics into cyber risk assessments is becoming more prominent, with organisations increasingly considering the environmental impact of their security practices. As governance frameworks mature, sustainability will likely become a key pillar in how organisations evaluate and implement cybersecurity solutions.

Supply chain risk management will also be in the spotlight in 2025. An enhanced emphasis on assessment methodologies for vendor due diligence, also imposed by regulatory requirements, will push vendors to align with more stringent security compliance frameworks.

Building a more secure and sustainable future

The cybersecurity industry has evolved exponentially over the past few years as digital communication is increasing. With the rising cybersecurity service offerings using automation, AI, and service delivery models, organisations are better equipped than ever to safeguard their business and search for the partner that has the holistic knowledge and proven record to support in this demanding journey of threat landscape. At the same time, the focus on resilience, governance, and sustainability ensures that these advancements are not just about responding to immediate risks but building a more secure and sustainable future.

The challenge for 2025 lies in balancing technological innovation with ethical and strategic considerations. Integrating cybersecurity into business processes and roles—transforming confidentiality, integrity, and availability into business objectives—will be key. This includes:

  • Protecting critical assets and privacy.
  • Minimizing operational risks.
  • Ensuring compliance with regulations.
  • Strengthening trust in business identity.
  • Enhancing productivity.

By aligning cybersecurity with these objectives, the industry can thrive while safeguarding the digital ecosystems driving global progress.

In conclusion, to navigate the challenges of evolving cyber threats and upcoming regulations, Obrela offers a holistic and adaptable approach tailored to your specific needs. Contact us today to learn how we can ensure these challenges are managed effectively, allowing you to stay secure and ahead of the curve.