The Top 25 Security Predictions for 2025 (Part 2)

Last week, in part one of "The Top 25 Security Predictions for 2025," I covered the top 15 cyber industry company reports and offered a summary of industrywide security prediction trends. In part two, we will cover:

• Reports 16 to 25
• Five bonus reports worth a second look
• Honorable mention reports and prediction lists
• Awards for the best reports and predictions in various categories
• My final thoughts on what may be missing from these 2025 security predictions

Reminder: This ranking covers organizational reports and not just individual predictions. Most reports offer six to 10 predictions or more, and the top reports group their predictions and themes into categories. Also, the research and details behind each security prediction (or trend) offer vital context. I urge readers to visit these companies’ websites, read their full prediction reports (or articles/blogs) and see the details on each item — often in video format. My goal is to point you in the right direction and encourage you to visit website links for more details.

But before we dive into more reports, I like to remind readers how they can benefit from these security trends, forecasts and security prediction reports.

Back in 2016, I wrote this for CSO magazine: “Americans love baseball, hotdogs, apple pie and predictions. In fact, if we really like something a lot, and especially if we have a growing interest in some new area of life, it’s not long before we start thinking about what the future holds within that area.”

And just as in the last few years, there are more cybersecurity predictions for next year than ever before — cybersecurity now touches virtually every area of life.

The best security prediction reports do much more than just make educated guesses at what might happen in the next year or two. The top 25 security predictions for 2025 examine the vendors who study global security incident trends, analyze what’s working and what’s not, examine new cyber solution alternatives, and use science and data to gaze into the future and make forecasts by connecting the dots.

Here are just a few ways that we can benefit from reading the details in security prediction reports:

1. Gain industry knowledge, understand overall trends and expand your horizons beyond one stovepipe or topic.
2. Use the free advice, direction, insights and annual reports provided by many.
3. Use predictions as an opportunity to educate others.

No doubt, some people will say things like, “Nothing will change — 2025 will be just like 2024, only worse.” But the reality is that everything in technology is changing rapidly. The public and private sectors must adapt faster now more than ever to evolving cyber threats and new digital risks. This report can help with that education in our new AI-focused business world.

So let’s dive into some more cybersecurity trend insights as we head into calendar year 2025.

16)      Palo Alto Networks

While Palo Alto Networks doesn’t offer a single report in PDF format, this piece on their website, "The Convergence of Cybersecurity and AI: 7 Game-Changing Predictions for 2025," is full of excellent materials, including video explanations.

In their introduction, they proclaim: “By 2026, the majority of advanced cyberattacks will employ AI to execute dynamic, multilayered attacks that can adapt instantaneously to defensive measures. This escalation in AI usage by both attackers and defenders will transform the cybersecurity landscape into a continuous AI cyber arms race. Success in this New Year will depend on the convergence of security solutions and data into a unified platform, making strides in establishing governance frameworks and trust in AI, and putting AI at the helm of security operations.”

Palo Alto Networks offers these predictions (with details on each at the link):

• Cyber Infrastructure Will Be Centered Around a Single Unified Data Security Platform
• The Data Advantage: Larger Incumbent Organizations Will See Greater AI Success Than New AI Startups
• AI's Integrated Role in 2025: Establishing Trust, Adhering to Governance, and Reshaping Leadership in Security Operations
• In 2025, Enterprises Will Widely Adopt a Secure Browser
• In 2025, There Will Be More Focus on the Energy Impact of AI, Including AI Used for Security
• Debunking Quantum Security Hype: Managing Expectations and Taking Action in 2025
• The CIO and the CMO Are the Enterprise's New Dynamic Duo

Palo Alto Networks also offers these "8 Trends Reshaping Network Security in 2025."

One more: This Palo Alto Networks blog is also worth reading: "2025 Predictions — How One Year Will Redefine the Cybersecurity Industry."
 
17)      ZeroFox

With this announcement, ZeroFox rolled out their 2025 Threat Forecast Report. The report includes in-depth assessments of anticipated external threat trends, including:

• Deep and dark web (DDW) landscape: ZeroFox Intelligence predicts DDW marketplaces and the actors that frequent them will continue to be impacted and governed by external factors such as law enforcement operations and geopolitical issues, extracting maximum profit while maintaining their reputation, and operational continuity.
• Ransomware and digital extortion (R&DE): 2024 was a record year for R&DE collectives with a greater number of victims identified than any year before. ZeroFox Intelligence anticipates incidents will remain at elevated levels in 2025, with new collectives, such as RansomHub, posing a significant threat to organizations across industries and regions.
• Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI): ZeroFox Intelligence predicts the greatest cyber threat posed by GenAI will likely come from malicious actors harnessing new technologies to enhance the efficiency, efficacy, and accessibility of existing tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) and threat vectors.
• Social engineering: In 2025, social engineering will remain one of the most dangerous threat vectors leveraged by malicious actors looking to gain initial network access, conduct fraudulent activity, or steal data via evolved TTPs such as phishing and the bypassing of multifactor authentication (MFA) to exploit both technical vulnerabilities and human elements within the security chain.
• Initial access brokers (IABs): ZeroFox Intelligence predicts IABs pose a significant threat to organizations globally by increasingly seeking to monetize access to third-party service providers, enabling threat actors to compromise downstream operating partners, as well as organizations reliant upon interconnected systems and networks.
• Geopolitical and cyber convergence: During 2025, geopolitical developments will heavily influence the cyber threat landscape with threat actors continuing to operate with political partisanship and target the private sector in response to trade policies. The report provides specific insights into the European Union, China, Russia, and Israeli and Iranian tensions.

18)      IDC

Like Gartner and Forrester, which were highlighted in part 1, IDC generally charges for their predictions. Last year, they offered an unusually large amount of free content, but that has been scaled back for 2025.
Nevertheless, the IDC FutureScape report entitled A Look into Security 2025 FutureScape Predictions has some great samples to digest. There is further information, as well as guidance at the free links.

• By 2027, 40 percent of businesses will support DIY security for developers and line-of-business application owners, through AI-enabled automation of security policy generation from natural language commands.
• By 2027, only 35 percent of consumer-facing companies will use AI-powered IAM for a personalized, secure user experience due to continued difficulties with process integration and cost concerns.
• By 2028, precipitated by AI BOM (bill of materials) requirements, 85 percent of data products will include a data BOM detailing data collection, edits made, data cleanup, and how consent was obtained.
• By 2029, 50 percent of organizations will use external attack surface scan data to monitor their partners/suppliers in an effort to understand third-party risk.

IDC also offers other FutureScape prediction reports on related IT topics, which you can review here.

19)      SecurityScorecard

The prediction piece this year from SecurityScorecard is called 2025 Security Predictions: The Forces Reshaping Cybersecurity.

“Cybersecurity leaders are bracing for a year of intensifying challenges. Regulations are tightening, nation-state attackers are refining their strategies, and CISOs are under growing pressure. …

“What worked in 2024 may not protect you in 2025. These experts outline what to expect and highlight hidden vulnerabilities to address to keep your company safe from attackers.”

They predict (with excellent, detailed analysis on each point at their website):

• Regulatory pressures will intensify, with potential software bans on the horizon.
• Nation-state espionage will lurk beneath the surface of U.S. infrastructure.
  
  • “In 2025, the Trump administration’s national security priorities will lead to direct action against Chinese cyber operations. China will target more U.S. infrastructure systems through hidden network access points, particularly in compromised routers. Rather than launching immediate attacks, these concealed entry points serve as strategic assets for potential future conflicts. This approach of establishing quiet network access, combined with rising international tensions, this passive infiltration strategy will underscore the urgent need for vigilant monitoring of infrastructure vulnerabilities — vulnerabilities that could be activated when tensions reach their breaking point.”
• Third-party breaches will reach critical mass, threatening entire supply chains.
• With a new administration, relentless cyber threats from nation-states will test U.S. defenses.
• State-level AI legislation will ignite a new wave of AI legislation and test American AI leadership.
• Governments will steer towards a new era of global regulatory harmonization.
• AI-driven recruitment scams will move from LinkedIn to Zoom as threat actors get bolder.

20)      Tanium

Tanium offers us their Top 10 Bold Cybersecurity Predictions for 2025. Many of these are different from other reports and call for a second look, with great details in the report:

• Biometrics will fall flat on its face
• AI-powered tools become double-edged swords
• Ransomware payments face global regulation
• Data sovereignty and “data embassies” go mainstream
• Cyber insurers clamp down on claims
• AI-powered attacks undermine critical infrastructure
• U.S. firms brace for more EU privacy requirements on AI
• Cyber reinsurance retrenchment causes a coverage crisis
• Decentralized cyber defense goes mainstream
• Attackers take advantage of haphazard AI implementations

21)      Security

With a different twist, Security offers a mix of experts who articulate their physical security predictions for 2025.

Here are a few (with some excerpts):

• Artificial Intelligence — Mike Lahiff, CEO and co-founder at ZeroEyes: “I believe that in 2025 we will see even more school districts, public spaces and businesses adopting AI-based security solutions. Reliance on computer vision is rapidly growing, thanks to a mix of new product innovations, rising demand from different industries, and breakthroughs in technology.
  “As the problem of gun-related violence continues in this country, thoughts and prayers just aren't enough. There is no 'one size fits all' solution, but a layered security program that includes perimeter security, access control, intrusion detection, and other advanced technologies is proving to be the most effective approach. We are seeing schools, hospitals, houses of worship, commercial businesses, public transit and other organizations increasingly investing in proactive AI-based solutions, and I expect this to continue into next year and beyond. I also think we will be seeing more state legislatures granting funds so schools can invest in AI technology.”
  
• Budgeting concerns — Charles Randolph, chief security officer at Ontic: “The biggest threat facing many companies in 2025 will be a lack of money and resources due to an uncertain economic environment.”
  
• Proactive crime deterrence — Steve Lindsey, CTO at LVT: “We will see a necessary transition from passive evidence collection or simple alarm solutions to proactive crime detection and deterrence systems in the coming months, empowering teams to prevent crime instead of just detect it — forever changing the whole notion of security.
  “Security solutions have advanced to the point where artificial intelligence can gather real-time information about threats happening and constantly augment intelligence based on threat patterns.”

22)      Symantec

"Top 5 Symantec Cybersecurity Predictions for 2025" — see the details on these at the link.

• Be prepared for more Russian aggression in cyberspace
• A shift in the balance of power is underway in the criminal underworld
  “Historically, the operators of the large ransomware families stood at the top of the cybercrime food chain. They franchised their businesses, using the ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) business model, where 'affiliate' attackers leased their tools and infrastructure in exchange for a cut of ransom payments. However, the unintended consequence of this business model has been to make the ransomware ecosystem more robust by placing more power in the hands of affiliates, who can quickly migrate to rival operations if one is shut down. Ransomware operations are now competing with one another for affiliates, offering increasingly better terms for their business.”
• The honeymoon for cloud security is over
• Living-off-the-land tool usage to expand
• Ransomware gangs expand into South America, Asia and beyond

23)      Huntsman

An excellent report with lots of material, a PDF download and much more. Here are a few of their items:

“Looking to 2025 and beyond, we anticipate the following five areas will have noteworthy impact on the cyber security landscape:

• “The growing adoption of threat exposure management in large and small organizations.
• “The disruption in the SIEM market leads to adjustments in cyber security strategy.
• “AI will introduce new issues for cyber security management.
• “The success of secure-by-design will depend on the approach taken.
• “An increasing focus on compliance, driven by regulatory change.”

24)      Dice

In this piece, Dice offers a detailed writeup on each of five areas. It is worth reading the thoughtful details behind the list: "5 Cybersecurity Trends for 2025 That Tech Pros Need to Know."

Opening excerpt: “As the calendar hurdles toward 2025, Dice spoke to several experts across the cybersecurity landscape to better understand how the industry is poised to change over the ensuing 12 months. These trends can also help tech and security professionals measure their career opportunities, including the skill sets they need following a tough job market in 2024 that saw layoffs and hiring slowdowns across multiple sectors.

“Several insiders noted that the coming months are when cybersecurity professionals must master the business side even more, as the nature of the security shifts and organizations weigh risks, compliance and governance that affect the bottom line, experts noted.”

• Hiring Challenges Will Remain and Skills Continue to Matter
• AI Issues Continue to Raise Concerns
• Changing Role of the CISO
• Fresh Approaches to Cyber Defenses
• Don’t Ignore OT Security

25)      StateTech brings us top trends for cities, counties and more

In "12 Trends to Watch for the 2025 City and County Outlook," Alan Shark says artificial intelligence may dominate the landscape, but local governments also have other concerns. Great list by Alan, and I love the “AI of everything” at No. 1.

Here are the top 10:

• AIoE in Ascension: “While the Internet of Everything focuses on the interconnectedness of people, processes, data and things, we now enter AIoE, which extends the IoE concept by adding a layer of AI across everything connected. It implies that the interconnected elements are linked and made intelligent, with AI enabling autonomous decision-making, predictions and optimizations.”
• Overcoming AI Fatigue
• Conversational AI: The Rise and Acceptance of Chatbots
• Collaborative Technologies, Front and Center
• AI Policies, Guidelines and Enforcement
• Cyber AI for Better Security
• The AI Divide
• A Return to On-Premises
• Digital Identity and AI
• The Rising Cost of Tech

FIVE BONUS PREDICTION REPORTS FOR 2025

26)      Center for Internet Security

A great list of detailed predictions from CIS, with a top-notch list of experts contributing: 12 CIS Experts' Cybersecurity Predictions for 2025.

Here are a few from Marcus Sachs, senior vice president and chief engineer:

• Artificial Intelligence: "In 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) will play an even larger role in cybersecurity, both for good and bad. Attackers are likely to use AI to automate attacks, create adaptive malware, and avoid traditional detection methods. Unlike manually controlled attacks, AI-powered adversaries will use adaptive algorithms to change and carry out attack strategies in real time. These strategies could adjust based on what they detect and exploit, making it harder for defenders to keep up. Meanwhile, defenders will also increase their use of AI to improve threat detection, anomaly spotting, and predictive analysis. This AI 'arms race' will redefine how attackers and defenders tackle cybersecurity."
• Compliance and Regulation: "As AI systems become more common, cybersecurity issues related to data privacy, manipulation of AI models, and misuse of AI-generated content will grow. To address this, compliance frameworks will be introduced to ensure organizations secure their AI training data, model accuracy, and interactions with users. This new focus on 'AI security compliance' will push companies to improve defenses around AI models, reducing risks of disinformation, theft of intellectual property, and misuse of sensitive data in AI systems. Beyond AI, traditional regulatory actions will impact critical infrastructure, with governments likely to enforce minimum cybersecurity standards and response protocols to boost resilience against physical and cyber threats. Expect new policies requiring cybersecurity education and proactive risk assessments for critical infrastructure to mitigate major risks. Cyber-Informed Engineering principles may gain traction as an essential tool for embedding resilience into critical systems."

And also Valecia Stocchetti, senior cybersecurity engineer, CIS Critical Security Controls:

• AI Embedded in Software: “AI has exploded in many ways over the past 1–2 years. This rise in the use and abuse of AI will likely continue to grow in 2025. Organizations will face many complex challenges because of this. For one, vendors will continue to embed AI features into their software and applications, producing a forcing-function for organizations to either adopt or drop these new features. In some instances, these AI features can't be turned off or removed. Organizations will need to be vigilant in what is acceptable risk in terms of using AI features. Questions to ask include the following: Where is my data being stored? Is it being kept confidential and is it protected? Am I still in compliance with certain regulations I need to comply with? Regulations on AI are still emerging. It remains to be seen whether end-organizations will be able to keep up with demands on the vendor side.”

27)      Rapid 7

After looking back at 2024, Rapid 7 offers tips to navigate choppy waters and discusses how 2025 could be iceberg alley and visibility as a life preserver.

• Prediction 1: "Greater visibility will act as a life preserver for security teams treading water across an increasingly complex attack surface.
  "Visibility isn't just a cybersecurity buzzword — it's the foundation of effective defense. Raj Samani summarized this challenge succinctly: 'You can't protect what you don't know about.'"
• Prediction 2: "To thrive in a world where regulatory change is an ongoing concern, SecOps should prepare for both the predictable and the unpredictable.
• Prediction 3: "Cybercriminals will increasingly exploit zero-day vulnerabilities, expanding potential entry points and bypassing traditional security measures to deliver more ransomware attacks."

28)      Orca Security

An excellent set of thoughts: Key Cloud Security Predictions for 2025: What to Expect and How to Prepare. There are many more specific details at the link above.

• Prediction 1: AI will become a key tool for reducing manual workload in cloud security
• Prediction 2: Ransomware will become a top cloud threat
• Prediction 3: Attackers will target non-human identities (NHI)
• Prediction 4: Adoption of Zero Trust frameworks and passwordless authentication will increase
• Prediction 5: Advances in social engineering will increase the need for cloud security

29)      Global Cyber Alliance

"Global Cyber Alliance Unveils Top Five Cybersecurity Predictions for 2025"

• AI-Powered Cyberdefense Reaches a Milestone — Artificial intelligence systems will play a transformative role in detecting and mitigating cyber attacks before they cause harm. However, adoption will be slowed by deployment and interoperability challenges.
• The Rise of Passkeys for Authentication — The use of passkeys will soar, replacing traditional passwords. Technology will increasingly overcome usability barriers which will enhance security for individuals and organizations alike.
• The First $25 Billion Cyber Incident — A single cyber breach will cause unprecedented damage, emphasizing the critical need for robust and comprehensive preventative measures.
• Global Push for Secure-by-Design — There will be much more focus on ensuring products are created with security in mind from the get-go, making them less vulnerable to cyber attacks and minimizing the impact of any breaches that do occur. The focus will be international, and not limited to only a few countries.
• Addressing the Cyber Workforce Gap — There will be more emphasis on equipping all staff — not just the engineering team — with the skills and analytical tools they need to actively protect the company’s digital assets. This may include more in-house and external training, more public-private partnerships and donor involvement, and more university programs to close the gap in cybersecurity expertise.

30)      Waystone

A good list by Waystone: Cyber security trends to watch in 2025 – predictions and preparations.

I like the tip under each item listed.

• AI-driven cyber threats and defenses
  Preparation tip: Invest in AI-powered security solutions that offer real-time monitoring and analysis, and train employees to recognize AI-enhanced social engineering attempts.
• Quantum computing’s security implications
  Preparation tip: Begin assessing cryptographic systems and planning for a transition to quantum-safe encryption standards as they become available.
• Cyber insurance evolution
  Preparation tip: Review your coverage and coverage amounts. Ensure ransomware is covered and a rider, if necessary, is created. The amount will be on the higher side for firms that store more data. If you have an internal development team or internally developed applications, review total data usage with your team to ensure you have sufficient coverage.
• Regulatory and compliance shifts
  Preparation tip: Even if you are a newly formed firm, be sure to have policies in place. It’s far easier to create them at the beginning than to change behaviors once a firm is established. They will be required soon, so it’s best to prepare as early as possible.
• Focus on zero trust architecture
  Preparation tip: Transition to a zero trust framework by implementing multifactor authentication (MFA), least privilege access, and continuous monitoring.
• Human-centric cyber security
  Preparation tip: Regularly review access permissions and ensure employees only have access to the resources that they need to perform their role. This is especially important for executives who have far more control than is truly necessary.

HONORABLE MENTION PREDICTIONS/CYBER TRENDS REPORTS

TechTarget
The Enterprise Strategy Group of TechTarget writes this optimistic outlook: “2025 will mark a cybersecurity turning point. We stand at the edge of a mountain of change, and if we look up to the snowy peak, we can see a flag that needs planting. Massive data collection, AI analysis, automated remediation and cyber agents of execution all point toward a new approach to actually fixing the problems that cybersecurity has been unable to eliminate for the last two decades. …”

• Agentic cybersecurity begins a slow ascent to reality
• The year of automated remediation

“I believe 2025 will finally be the year cybersecurity vendors realize their buyer demand has changed so much that they must completely rethink how they approach business and the products they bring to market. Many vendors will have to tear the house down to the studs and remodel completely to remain relevant in the future.”

Claroty 
"Claroty 2025 Cyber Security Predictions"

• The use of cyberattacks in executing modern warfare, which is already happening, will enter public awareness
  “A major cyberattack will be executed on critical infrastructure as part of a wartime scenario and this will enter mainstream news, as world leaders recognize the need to protect their domestic critical infrastructure from being attacked by an act of war from their enemies.”
• A “back to basics” approach to OT cybersecurity
  “In 2025, we will see at least one 'invisible' cyberattack on a critical infrastructure organization, i.e., where the attack proceeds completely undetected due to an organization’s lack of knowledge regarding its network and connected devices. An example of this was the Danish Power grid attack in 2023. …”

NordLayer
I really like their "10 must-know cybersecurity trends for 2025."

Here are their key takeaways:

• Quantum computing could break current encryption methods.
• Cyber criminals will be increasingly using stolen credentials to access systems.
• AI agents will be involved in 25 percent of data breaches by 2028.
• AI-driven SOC co-pilots will improve threat detection and response.
• CIO and CISO roles will merge to address AI-driven cybersecurity threats.
• Cloud security threats will increase with AI and more complex attacks.
• Securing IoT and multicloud environments will be one of the major cybersecurity challenges.

Cyber Defense Magazine
A long list of predictions on a variety of cyber topics in "Predictions for 2025 and Beyond."

Here is one sample: “Deepfakes Will Unleash a Devastating New Wave of Social Engineering Attacks:

“'No longer just a theoretical risk, video-based deepfakes will become highly realistic and imperceptible from reality. This technology will be weaponized in social engineering attacks, allowing criminals to impersonate executives, forge high-stakes transactions, and extract massive payouts from unsuspecting victims. With AI making deepfakes accessible at the push of a button, the potential for financial fraud will explode, forcing organizations to rethink how they verify identity in an increasingly deceptive world.' – Steve Povolny, Senior Director, Security Research and Competitive Intelligence at Exabeam”

Crowdstrike
Cybersecurity Asia brings us these "CrowdStrike 2025 Industry Predictions":

• Identity Will Open the Door to More Cross-Domain Attacks. Identity-based attacks continue to rise — 75 percent of attacks to gain initial access are now malware-free.
• AI Security Will Dictate Innovation. AI is transformative, and its evolution is unfolding rapidly across public and private clouds. As adversaries increasingly target AI services and large language models (LLMs) deployed in these environments, protecting the integrity and performance of AI systems is more critical than ever.
• The SIEM Renaissance Will Continue. 2024 marked a pivotal year of transformation for SIEM vendors, driven by a surge of mergers and acquisitions that show no signs of slowing down into 2025. As the competition heats up, innovation, seamless integration and cost-efficiency will separate the leaders from the rest.
• Platforms Will Continue to Dominate Security in 2025. Consolidation will once again be a central focus for security in 2025. The current threat landscape is too dynamic to leave infrastructure vulnerable to threat actors who have been known to exploit gaps in point solutions.

Bloomberg Technologies: 2025 as the year of AI agents
Watch this video:

Mimecast
"Cybersecurity Predictions for 2025 from Mimecast"

"What We See Happening in 2025: While we don’t have a crystal ball, we do have a lot of amazing folks who know a lot about cybersecurity and where the industry is likely to be heading in the future. To that end, each year, we poll our internal experts for their outlook. Here is what we expect in 2025:

• "The continual decrease in the time between a vulnerability becoming known and it being widely exploited by cybercriminals will highlight the importance of predictive analytics in prioritizing threats.
• "When creating new solutions, or just reacting to how their existing solutions address new threats, cybersecurity companies will need to balance time-to-market against volatility, uncertainty, complexity, hyperconnectivity, and the sometimes ambiguity of threats.
• "Meaningful artificial intelligence (AI) will be embedded in technology, moving beyond the hype cycle to it being a big part of solutions that actually work.
• "Human risk management will be topic of the year.
• "Cybersecurity companies will rely more on external strategic partners to plug the ongoing skills gap.
• "Regulators will tread a fine line between keeping the world safe and not stifling innovation." 

Splashtop
"Top 12 Cyber Security Trends And Predictions For 2025"

Here are their top three trends:

• Trend 1: Harnessing AI for Advanced Threat Intelligence
• Trend 2: Adopting Zero-Trust Architecture for Robust Security
• Trend 3: Securing 5G Networks for Future Connectivity

Solutions Review
"46 Identity Access Management and Security Predictions from Industry Experts for 2025"

A long list of security predictions from a wide variety of industry leaders. Here are two:

• Regulations Will Redefine “Identity” — Tim Eades, CEO and co-founder at Anetac
  “The evolving identity security landscape will force regulators to abandon the traditional separation between human and machine identities.”
• Strong passwordless tech momentum will accelerate. — Gary Orenstein, chief customer officer at Bitwarden
  “FIDO2 WebAuthn adoption is growing, and more organizations will recognize that passwordless authentication — whether through biometrics, passkeys, or hardware security keys — offers a more secure, user-friendly alternative to traditional passwords. The Bitwarden Cybersecurity Pulse survey reported that 65 percent of tech leaders integrated biometric authentication in 2024, reflecting growing adoption and familiarity with passwordless methods across industries.”

Identity Theft Resource Center
Identity Theft Resource Center 2025 Predictions

• Reduced victim support and less law enforcement focus will translate into increased identity crimes.
• Criminal fines and asset forfeitures earmarked to help identity crime victims will drop too.
• The cybercrime job market will boom.

PKWare
"Top Cybersecurity Predictions for 2025"

One of their cybersecurity prediction items: IoT Devices Will Be a Major Security Weak Point

“The Internet of Things (IoT) continues to expand, with billions of connected devices predicted to be in use by 2025. These devices, ranging from smart home gadgets to industrial sensors, often have weak security protocols, making them prime targets for hackers. Botnet attacks and data breaches resulting from compromised IoT devices will rise, forcing manufacturers to adopt stronger security standards and providing consumers with more secure options."

Darktrace
"Preparing for 2025: Darktrace's Top 10 AI and Cybersecurity Predictions"

Top of the Darktrace list of 10 prediction items includes: The overall Total Addressable Market (TAM) of cybercrime gets bigger.

“Cybercrime is a global business, and an increasingly lucrative one, scaling through the adoption of AI and cybercrime-as-a-service. Annual revenue from cybercrime is already estimated to be over $8 trillion, which we’ve found is almost 5x greater than the revenue of the Magnificent Seven stocks. There are a few key factors driving this growth. …”

Arctic Wolf Labs
2025 Cybersecurity Predictions

“Prediction 1: Many organizations will see a continued breakdown of their perimeter defense as threat actors target VPN gateways and other edge devices and services.

“Once the cornerstone of a strong cybersecurity posture, the perimeter has undergone unprecedented transformation in recent years — resulting in both a larger attack surface and a plethora of remote access tools that threat actors are eager to exploit.

“Arctic Wolf Recommends: Ensure network and endpoint logs are available for examination and correlation. Additionally, utilize network segmentation and a vulnerability management program, and ensure your organization trains users to follow credential security best practices to limit any initial access into web-based applications.”

Centraleyes  
"Top Cybersecurity Trends to Watch Out For in 2025"

Trend 2 — “Decentralization of Cybersecurity Decision Rights”

“The growing trend of decentralization is disrupting traditional cybersecurity oversight models. By 2027, 75 percent of employees are expected to acquire or modify technology outside of IT’s control, up from 41 percent in 2022. This decentralization shifts cybersecurity decision-making to business units and product lines, resulting in a more fragmented but dynamic security landscape.

“For cybersecurity professionals, this shift will require a more flexible approach that accommodates decentralized decision-making while ensuring comprehensive risk management across business units.”

Thales
"Data Security Predictions for 2025: Putting Protection and Resilience at Center Stage"

Prediction 1: Data Privacy Regulations Take Center Stage

“The United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) states that 80 percent of countries now have or are working on data protection and privacy legislation. These regulations mandate that data will be stored and processed within specific jurisdictions to address risks associated with international law enforcement. …”

Forbes — Emil Sayegh
"2025 Tech Predictions: AI Maturity And Cybersecurity Evolution"

Prediction 1 — 2025: A Turning Point For AI

“2025 will be a defining year for AI, shifting from generalized applications to enterprise-focused solutions. Businesses will refine their strategies to target specific use cases that deliver measurable results.”

Dr. Erdal OZKAYA — Cybersecurity Predictions for 2025
Frontier Enterprise
"The 2025 cybersecurity predictions bonanza"

1. AI2 Bursts the Bubble — “AI2, or the ‘Artificial Inflation’ of artificial intelligence, is set to see its hype deflate across industries. While AI will remain useful for basic automation and workflows, much of the over-promised capabilities, particularly in security, will fall short in 2025. The focus will shift toward practical AI applications that enhance security without overwhelming organizations with marketing noise.”

Expert Computer Solutions
"2025 Cybersecurity Predictions: What Two Decades of Experience Has Taught Us"

1. The AI Arms Race Is Already Here — “In the world of cyberattacks, AI isn’t just speeding up how hackers work — it’s making them smarter and harder to stop. According to IBM’s 2024 Cost of a Data Breach Report, AI-powered attacks have cut the average time it takes to break into systems from 277 days to just 159 days. …”

Solutions Review
"68 Cybersecurity Predictions from Industry Experts for 2025"

First on the list of experts is Idan Plotnik, co-founder and CEO of Apiiro:

"Security architects will surrender to genAI and open-source developments: 'In 2025, the rise of generative AI and open-source developments will bring new layers of complexity to software architecture, challenging consistent security oversight. As development velocity accelerates, manual security reviews and checklists won’t keep up, and application security engineers and security architects will lose all control. Companies should pivot toward automation and integrated security tools that provide continuous, scalable oversight while embracing a shift-left security approach to keep pace with agile, AI-driven application development cycles.'"

DigiCert
"10 ways AI, quantum and trust will shape the year ahead"

"Prediction 1: Post-quantum cryptography will advance from theoretical to practical and deployed

"Last year, DigiCert predicted that ongoing advances in quantum computing would motivate executives to learn more about its risks and accelerate their investments in post-quantum cryptography (PQC). We predict that 2025 will be the year that PQC takes a major leap forward, from abstract line items on IT roadmaps to deployed operational solutions.

"We’re already seeing the first steps toward putting PQC into play. The U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) is expected to announce CNSA 2.0 algorithms for critical NSS networks. We predict adoption of quantum-resistant cryptography will grow, with advanced encryption becoming available in hardware security modules (HSMs) and applications.

"As its adoption accelerates, PQC will also evolve to become a regulatory compliance imperative. Global organizations have acknowledged the need for a quantum-secure economy, and compliance standards and regulations are in process for financial services organizations as well as healthcare providers."

Adarma
"2025 Cybersecurity Predictions: Top 10 Trends to Watch"

Many common themes in this report. But here is one that is less prevalent:

6. “Passwordless Authentication to Become Mainstream — The future of authentication is passwordless. Biometric systems such as facial recognition and fingerprint scanners will likely replace traditional passwords, making authentication more secure and user-friendly. Gartner predicts that by 2025, more than 50 percent of the workforce will use passwordless authentication methods, improving both security and user experience. However, with the rapid advancement of AI and the increasing sophistication of deepfake technology, there is growing speculation over whether voice recognition and fingerprint systems will continue to provide an adequate means of authentication.”

TechRound (U.K.)
"Expert Predictions For Cybersecurity In 2025"

You can read the predictions from the following industry leaders:

• Marcin Kleczynski, CEO and Founder, Malwarebytes
• David Ruiz, Senior Privacy Advocate, Malwarebytes
• Thomas Reed, Director, Cyber Technology, Malwarebytes
• David Bennett, CEO, Object First
• Paul McLatchie, Security Strategy Consultant, Wavenet
• Martin Greenfield, CEO, Quod Orbis
• John Hernandez, President and General Manager, Quest Software
• Nathan Charles, Head of Customer Experience, OryxAlign
• Manuel Sanchez, Information Security and Compliance Specialist, iManage
• Bret Fund, SVP and General Manager, Infosec Institute
• Jason Law, Group IT Director, Avant Homes
• Chaim Mazal, Chief Security Officer, Gigamon
• Galia Beer-Gabel, Partner, Team8

Netwrix (via Security Info Watch)
"What to expect in cybersecurity in 2025 and how previous predictions fared"

2. “Social engineering attacks will become more sophisticated. Malicious actors will bombard organizations with highly effective spear phishing, business email compromise campaigns, deepfake voice and video calls, and other attacks, fueled by information taken from massive corporate data leaks and social media and analyzed and correlated using new technologies. To reduce risk, organizations should require identity verification of all individuals participating in financial transactions using strategies like tokens, authenticators, or secret codewords.”

Arctic Wolf (from SecurityInformed)
"Arctic Wolf 2025 report: Cybersecurity trends ahead"

1. "Human reasoning capabilities — Critical infrastructure could be subject to destructive — rather than disruptive — attacks in 2025 as actors look to take advantage of changes in Western administrations and leadership. Threat actors will also continue to leverage new and existing tools, with AI soon predicted to replicate human reasoning capabilities and allow actors to uncover novel initial access techniques as a result. …"

Experian (via Business Wire)
"Emerging Cybersecurity Threats May Come From Unexpected Sources as Teens and AI-Savvy Employees May Perpetrate More Attacks Next Year"

“Global data breaches show no signs of slowing down as this year has already exceeded 2023 in the number of data breaches and consumers impacted. Businesses and consumers need to stay vigilant and keep an eye on these five predictions for 2025:

• "Smells Like Teen Secret: Today, the world of cyber hacking is not confined to grown ups nor is the fallout. According to the FBI, the average age of someone arrested for cybercrime is 19 vs. 37 for any crime. Many teens will have been recruited into the 'business' by more sophisticated fraudsters, who reach them through online gaming, chat and social media. As more states pass legislation against revenge porn, cyberbullying, and other forms of online fraudulent attacks, we may see a dramatic increase in the number of teens prosecuted for hacking and fraud."

Go to the URL link for the other four.

BlueVoyant and KnowBe4 (via IT Wire)
"2025 Cybersecurity Predictions — BlueVoyant and KnowBe4"

“Over-reliance on AI as companies cut personnel and costs. While AI can enhance efficiency and automate routine tasks, it lacks the nuanced understanding and critical thinking that human employees bring to complex decision-making processes. Dependence on AI could lead to a reduction in human oversight, increasing the likelihood of errors and biases in automated systems. As AI systems are only as good as the data they are trained on, they may perpetuate existing biases and inaccuracies, leading to flawed outcomes. Additionally, the reduction in personnel not only impacts employee morale and organizational culture, but also leaves companies vulnerable to cyber threats, as human expertise and adaptability are crucial in identifying and mitigating such risks. Ultimately, the cost savings from reducing personnel may be offset by the potential for costly mistakes and security breaches, underscoring the need for a balanced approach that integrates AI with human expertise. …”

SecurityBrief Australia
"The top cybersecurity predictions for businesses in 2025"

1. “Threat actors will invest ever more time and effort into evading or disabling security measures. They will leverage novel, complex, and sophisticated techniques, such as the endpoint detection 'EDR killer' designed to disable endpoint security and advanced phishing methods that can bypass traditional security. …”

Dell
"2025 AI strategies: Insights, predictions and trends"
Locknet  
"Cybersecurity Predictions 2025: Emerging Threats and Trends"

1. “Supply Chain Security Under Siege
“The digital web connecting businesses and their vendors is growing, and so is the potential for exploitation. In 2025, cybercriminals will double down on supply chain attacks, pinpointing weak spots in software dependencies, hardware components, and application programs.

“Recent years have shown how a single vulnerability in the supply chain can ripple across industries, impacting thousands of companies. Attackers are expected to focus less on traditional malware and more on sneaky infiltration, such as embedding malicious code during software updates or exploiting development tools.

“To stay ahead, organizations need to scrutinize third-party vendors and demand transparent Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs) to map out software dependencies. Automation tools for vulnerability detection and a secure development lifecycle will be crucial allies in countering these risks. …”

Shira Rubinoff (with Rinki Sethi and Matthew Rosenquist)
“Cybersecurity and AI predictions for 2025”

2025 SECURITY PREDICTION INDUSTRY REPORT AWARDS

Best and Most Comprehensive Vendor Report Overall: Trend Micro

“The Artificial Future — Trend Micro Security Predictions for 2025” offers in-depth predictions, references, multiple types of supporting materials, creativity, interactive graphics and everything you want to see in a great report. In addition to the PDF, check out their interactive versionwhich contains easy-to-use graphics that highlight key terms.

Most Creative Report: WatchGuard

WatchGuard offers an excellent report and supporting materials in their 2025 cybersecurity predictions.

• Malicious AI Will Create Attack Chains
• Threat Actors Move to the Long Con
• Bad Actors Profit with GenAI
• CISO Becomes the Least Desirable Role in Business
• Disruption of Threat Actors Starts to Have an Impact
• Organizations Will Rely on AI-Powered Detection

Top New Trend: Agentic AI will be everywhere — for better or worse. (This comes from numerous vendor reports including Gartner and Google.)

Favorite Single Prediction: Trend Micro — “Surge in Pig Butchering scams using AI and deepfakes”   

Scariest, but Still Practical, Predictions: Kaspersky

Securelist APT predictions for 2025 — This list starts with a review from last year, but go to the link to see the details on each item:

• Hacktivist alliances to escalate in 2025
• The IoT to become a growing attack vector for APTs in 2025
• Increasing supply chain attacks on open-source projects
• C++ and Go malware to adapt to the open-source ecosystem
• Broadening the use of AI in the hands of state-affiliated actors
• Deepfakes will be used by APT groups

See also: "Kaspersky predicts quantum-proof ransomware and advancements in mobile financial cyberthreats in 2025."

Biggest Disagreements in Security Predictions: Many vendors talk about the benefits of AI in cybersecurity and security operations centers. However, some disagree. Here are two different viewpoints:

1.      Frontier Enterprise — The 2025 cybersecurity predictions bonanza

“AI2 Bursts the Bubble — AI2, or the ‘Artificial Inflation’ of artificial intelligence, is set to see its hype deflate across industries. While AI will remain useful for basic automation and workflows, much of the over-promised capabilities, particularly in security, will fall short in 2025. The focus will shift toward practical AI applications that enhance security without overwhelming organizations with marketing noise.”

2.      Idan Plotnik, co-founder and CEO of Apiiro

“Security architects will surrender to genAI and open-source developments: In 2025, the rise of generative AI and open-source developments will bring new layers of complexity to software architecture, challenging consistent security oversight. As development velocity accelerates, manual security reviews and checklists won’t keep up, and application security engineers and security architects will lose all control. Companies should pivot toward automation and integrated security tools that provide continuous, scalable oversight while embracing a shift-left security approach to keep pace with agile, AI-driven application development cycles.”

FINAL THOUGHTS

This year’s prediction work was the biggest ever, with hundreds of reports considered. And yet, I know that some vendors and experts could still not be included. Reasons include cutoff dates, very commercially focused reports (that just try and sell products), paywalls blocking access and simply a lack of enough time and resources on my end.

For those who want to ensure inclusion in future years, here are a few things you can do: make sure your reports are available for free online and in multiple formats (such as videos, PDFs, web pages, etc.); have good search engine optimization (SEO) so you show up in Google and Bing searches by Dec. 15; and most of all, provide quality content that is unique, timely, insightful and relevant — with backup materials and references if possible.

What’s missing for 2025 in these lists? Not much about upcoming world events, space cyber wars (which was a big theme in 2022 and 2023), or predictions of game-changing cyber incidents like a cyber 9/11. President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for federal reorganizations and related initiatives are almost never mentioned, and I brought these up in my year-end review a few weeks back. Needless to say, his plan to cut government regulations could be contrary to many predictions for more cyber regulations globally.

We will be having an expert panel discussion on these 2025 security prediction reports on Jan. 14, 2025, on the BrightTALK series “CISO Insights.” Please join us for free.

Finally, I’d like to wish you a blessed New Year, and thank you for following “Lohrmann on Cybersecurity.”