Rory Ebanks, Director of Cybersecurity at Symptai tells SJA about the landscape of cybersecurity for the coming 12 months.

Cyber-resilience

As we enter 2025, cybersecurity remains a rapidly changing field, influenced by new threats and advancing technologies.

For businesses, grasping the evolving landscape is essential for maintaining cyber-resilience.

Here are the key trends, threats and preparatory strategies that demand attention in 2025.

Top cybersecurity threats to watch

AI-powered cyber-attacks: Threat actors are leveraging AI to amplify their capabilities.

From sophisticated phishing and social engineering to deepfake-based identity theft, AI is becoming a force multiplier for cyber-criminals.

Businesses must counter this with equally advanced AI-driven defences.

Ransomware and multifaceted extortion: Ransomware remains a disruptive force.

Attackers are not only encrypting data but also exfiltrating and threatening to leak sensitive information.

The consequences include financial loss and reputational damage, particularly for businesses handling critical customer or proprietary data.

Compromised identities and hybrid environments: With hybrid work models persisting, compromised identities pose a significant risk.

Attackers exploit weak credentials or misconfigurations in identity management systems to infiltrate networks.

Leveraging credentials available on the Dark Web will be used to target individuals and employees of organizations.

Web3 and cryptocurrency exploits: Web3 platforms and crypto assets are prime targets for cyber-criminals.

Vulnerabilities in blockchain protocols and smart contracts are exploited for large-scale heists.

Operational technology (OT) risks: Critical infrastructure systems, often running on legacy hardware, face increasing threats.

Breaches in OT environments can disrupt essential services and bring entire countries to a standstill.

Key trends shaping cybersecurity

Continuous threat exposure management (CTEM): CTEM thoroughly analyses the tactics attackers use to navigate systems, emphasising the need to prioritise fixes with the most significant impact.

By regularly evaluating risks, businesses can actively address vulnerabilities and enhance their defences.

Attack graph technology: Map potential threat pathways, helping organizations identify and neutralize high-risk attack chains before adversaries can exploit them.

AI-driven threat intelligence: Advanced AI tools enable faster detection and prediction of threats, reducing response times and improving overall security postures.

Zero trust architecture in multi-cloud environments: As businesses adopt multi-cloud strategies, Zero Trust principles ensure that no entity is trusted by default, reducing exposure from compromised credentials or insider threats.

Security by design (DevSecOps): Embedding security and recovery mechanisms during system design ensures organizations can adapt and recover swiftly from incidents.

Actionable strategies for 2025

Invest in advanced AI defense systems: Use predictive analytics and machine learning to combat emerging AI-driven threats.

Strengthen Identity and Access Management (IAM): Conduct routine audits, enforce least-privilege access and implement multi-factor authentication.

Focus on compliance: Treat compliance as an ongoing process, not a one-time task.

Advanced user awareness training: Use advanced methods to demonstrate the cyber-risks and attack techniques to users.

Don’t just use a PowerPoint for teaching, utilize advanced social engineering techniques.

Secure IoT devices and OT systems: Isolate Internet of Things (IoT) networks from critical systems and ensure that all devices are regularly updated with the latest patches.

Penetration testing & adversarial simulations: Conducting regular security assessments and simulations can significantly enhance vulnerability management, recovery times and reduce the impact during actual breaches.

Conclusion

The cybersecurity landscape in 2025 demands vigilance, innovation and a proactive approach.

Many of the threats that existed before will continue to do so, but we will continue to see new vulnerabilities surface.

By understanding emerging threats and adopting forward-thinking strategies, businesses can transform cybersecurity challenges into opportunities for differentiation and resilience.

Now is the time to ensure security becomes a competitive advantage.

Rory Ebanks

Rory is a seasoned cybersecurity leader with over 14 years of experience in information security, IT audit and governance.

As Director of Cyber Security at Symptai, Rory oversees IT advisory and assurance services, providing leadership in risk management, security governance and incident response.

His consultancy portfolio includes vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, digital forensics and business continuity planning.

Rory collaborates with business development teams to identify market opportunities and drive service innovation in IT security.

This article was originally published in the special February Influencers Edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.