Information technology has changed dramatically in recent years, with advances in virtually every aspect of the industry — including cybersecurity. Yet, cyberattacks persist and have become increasingly complex.

Specialist insurance provider Hiscox’s “Cyber Readiness Report 2024” found that 67% of organizations have experienced an increase in cyberattacks in the past 12 months, and 34% of respondents reported that their organization’s cybersecurity measures have been compromised due to a lack of expertise in managing emerging cyber risks. Human error is the leading cause of breaches, especially when employees work remotely and access company networks from their personal devices. Building a cyber-aware culture — where employees view cybersecurity as a “collective responsibility” — is key to thwarting attacks.

What are the cybersecurity trends as we head in 2025? Read on to find out.

Resiliency of Ransomware

The first widely recognized ransomware attack occurred in 1989, but the threat has grown exponentially over the last decade. Methods of seizing and encrypting a victim’s critical data and then charging exorbitant ransom to release it continue to evolve. Today’s social engineering schemes go beyond simple phishing, thanks to the availability of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

Moreover, aspiring culprits who lack technical expertise can find Ransomware as a Service (RaaS) options on the dark web. They use pre-developed ransomware tools to launch attacks and give the provider a share of the ransom in exchange. Perpetrators also commonly use “double extortion” now, meaning they demand payoffs not only to release stolen data but also not to leak it.

AI Trends

AI has seemingly infiltrated everything, and cybersecurity is no exception. On the positive side, it’s powering dramatic improvements in cybersecurity. For example, AI-backed data analytics can cost-efficiently scrutinize massive amounts of data for suspicious patterns and anomalies so threats can be detected sooner. Research from IBM and the Ponemon Institute found that organizations that leveraged AI and automation for security prevention saved an average of $2.22 million over those that didn’t.

Organizations should view AI and cybersecurity as complementary forces. The 2024 Hiscox report found that 64% of business leaders say AI will be pivotal in developing their cybersecurity approach by 2030.

On the other hand, cybercriminals have also embraced AI to further their malicious activities. For instance, AI makes it easier to develop ransomware and generate deep fake video or audio recordings, which can be used to deceive recipients into granting network access to criminals.

IoT Expansion

The so-called Internet of Things (IoT) — the networking of people, sensors and objects to collect, exchange and apply all manners of data — continues to expand. The federal government estimates that more than 75 billion IoT devices will be in use by 2025. While the convenience they bring may be appealing, the prevalence of such tools creates greater opportunities for cybercrime.

Smart appliances, fitness trackers and virtual assistants create potential openings for criminals to access networks, expanding what experts call the “cyberattack surface.” These devices generally lack the capacity for cyber defenses that can be deployed in computers, such as antivirus software and firewalls, leaving them particularly vulnerable to attacks.

Emergence of Zero Trust Models

You’ve probably heard the phrase “trust, but verify.” Zero trust models aim to shrink the cyberattack surface by operating on the premise of “never trust, always verify.” This approach has been gaining in popularity and seems poised to dominate prevention strategies going forward.

Under zero trust, every access request is treated as a potential breach. As a result, every user, device and connection — whether inside or outside of the organization’s network — must be repeatedly authenticated before receiving access. When access is granted, it’s encrypted and may be subject to limitations. One example is micro-segmentation, which divides a network into small, discrete segments that each have their own security protocols.

Stay Vigilant

These days, no organization is safe from malicious cybercriminals, but our Cybersecurity Team can help mitigate your organization’s risks. From conducting comprehensive risk assessments and audits to preparing incident response plans, we’ve got you covered.