AI continues to dominate the cybersecurity outlook for 2025. AI is a double-edged sword, generating new risks and methods of countering those risks. Threat actors utilize AI to develop more sophisticated phishing attacks, deepfakes, adaptive attacks, and adversarial AI attempts. Palo Alto Networks, a leading technology vendor, predicts that by 2026, almost all cyberattacks will use AI. On the other hand, AI is the only technology powerful enough to counter these emerging threats. Traditional perimeter threat techniques are no longer adequate in blocking various ransomware attacks.
Quantum computing will eventually render current encryption methods obsolete. Though not widely used yet, quantum computing is already impacting cybersecurity. State-backed hackers use a tactic called “harvest now, decrypt later,” where they steal and store encrypted data to crack it later once quantum technology arrives. While not an immediate threat, organizations should start planning for quantum risks.
Additionally, new regulatory guidelines will emerge worldwide to monitor and manage these rapidly developing technologies. Professionals in all industries must stay current to adequately mitigate risks for themselves and their clients.
Machine learning and “agentic” AI
The next wave of AI innovation will involve “agentic” AI, which aims to make AI more autonomous and function with less human input and oversight. This innovation will reverberate throughout the business world as new risks emerge as companies adopt agentic AI in varied use cases. Lawyers and accountants are already seeing the benefits of adopting AI—less grunt work mainly, but also the ability to quickly summarize or analyze large amounts of paperwork, such as a contract. However, accuracy is always a concern, with many prominent examples of AI fabricating legal precedents.
Professionals must sort the hype from actual benefits as they investigate potential AI uses for their firms, clients, and partners. Using AI in cybersecurity has proven benefits. A joint study from IBM and the Ponemon Institute reported that organizations that utilize AI cybersecurity tools save over $2 million more than companies that do not.
Learn more: AI in Accounting: How Machine Learning is Transforming the Industry
Zero trust is still critical
Zero trust is one aspect of the cybersecurity outlook that defines best practices across the pillars of devices, users, identities, applications, data, and automation. Due to a federal mandate, U.S. government departments have gradually migrated to zero-trust security systems or are in the process of doing so. While some private organizations have also adopted zero trust to enhance their security fabric, many more have avoided it due to the difficulty of implementation.
Zero trust will become even more critical in the coming year as organizations seek new ways to defend against emerging threats and AI tools make some zero-trust principles (like security automation) much easier to deploy. Market predictions support this idea, with the zero trust market share predicted to triple to over $95 billion by 2030.
Learn more: The Basics of Zero Trust Implementation
Quantum readiness
As quantum computing and related technologies become mainstream, the potential for practical quantum attacks on encryption methods may arise within the next decade. In 2025, nation-state threat actors are expected to ramp up their “harvest now, decrypt later” strategies, targeting sensitive government data and valuable intellectual property. This situation risks data protection, as quantum computing can compromise civilian and military communications and disrupt critical infrastructure.
Organizations (and the professionals that advise them) should develop a quantum-resistant roadmap to combat these threats and implement defenses such as quantum-resistant tunneling and updated cryptographic standards from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). High-security organizations might consider quantum key distribution (QKD) for secure communications.
Security platformization vs diversification
Two competing forces will continue to battle for supremacy in 2025, with the outlook uncertain as to the victor. For some years, the trend in cybersecurity has been toward “platformization,” or the unification of diverse security tools. By 2028, Gartner predicts that 45% of organizations will rely on fewer than 15 unique cybersecurity tools, up from a mere 13% in 2023. This statistic reflects a movement toward more integrated and effective security solutions.
However, the Cyberstrike incident earlier in 2024, which downed airport computer systems across the country, exposed the critical flaw in the single vendor approach. While it is likely that cybersecurity systems will continue to streamline, many organizations may seek to diversify their security efforts.
Secure browsers
The shift to a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) computing model of application delivery has generated new risks. Browsers have been identified as a key weakness in cybersecurity defense, with 95% of companies reporting security incidents from browsers. To counter this threat, a new generation of secure browsers is emerging to offer enterprise-grade security.
Secure enterprise browsers enable organizations to enforce security policies, including masking sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) and blocking attackers from accessing data within the browser’s secure workspace. These protective measures ensure that employees can safely access business applications while minimizing the risk of data breaches.
Shifts in compliance
No discussion on the outlook of cybersecurity is complete without mentioning compliance. We can anticipate further progress in global AI governance and regulations. Following its GDPR and AI Act, the European Union will likely enhance its digital sovereignty efforts by tightening data privacy laws and cross-border data transfer rules. In the Middle East, digital transformation may lead to stricter cybersecurity laws to protect critical infrastructure and mandate local data processing. Likewise, Latin American nations like Brazil and Mexico are expected to strengthen their cybersecurity frameworks and collaborate more on cross-border data agreements.
Domestically, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is set to finalize the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act (CIRCIA) by October 2025, leading companies to adopt new compliance measures before the rule is enforced.
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The 2025 cybersecurity outlook is one of increasing risk. In today’s rapidly changing digital landscape, businesses must safeguard their assets against these threats. To stay ahead of evolving cybersecurity risks in 2025, professionals must embrace innovative strategies, implement zero trust, and prioritize AI-driven solutions to safeguard their businesses and clients.
Additionally, appropriate insurance coverage allows professionals to effectively reduce the financial impact and legal risks of data breaches, cyberattacks, and various other security incidents. To learn more about shielding your organization’s digital resources and mitigating potential liabilities, explore McGowan Professional’s offerings in Information Security and Data Privacy Liability Insurance. We provide valuable insights and solutions to help you stay protected in an era where cyber threats are increasingly prevalent.