By Jim Broome, President and CTO, DirectDefense

As we step into 2025, businesses across industries are full of hope for innovation and growth. Yet, while many companies ring in the new year with optimism, cybercriminals are also celebrating. These actors, honing their techniques each year, continue to exploit longstanding vulnerabilities, leaving many organizations on the defensive. The holiday season, unfortunately, often leaves attackers with a renewed opportunity for largely unfettered access to valuable data.

With that in mind, here are my cybersecurity predictions for 2025, all under the theme of addressing security issues proactively. Expect to see similar tactics as in 2024 but with a few strategic shifts and more dangerous execution.

1. Cyberattacks target essential services in retaliation for crackdowns - Healthcare and utilities sector are at heightened risk

In years past, cyber attackers avoided certain industries, such as healthcare and utilities, recognizing the potential risk to human lives. However, recent disruptions by law enforcement, including the multinational "Operation Endgame" led by the FBI, have pushed cyber actors into a more retaliatory stance. As a result, industries once considered "off-limits" are now squarely in the crosshairs.

In October, American Water Works, a leading U.S. water supplier, suffered a significant attack, quickly mitigated but emblematic of what's at stake. Healthcare, utility, and critical infrastructure sectors must bolster their security postures, ensuring they have contingency plans in place to manage potential breaches effectively.

2. Data theft becomes the new ransomware strategy, forcing heavily regulated industries to pay or disclose

Ransomware used to be the primary way threat actors secured payouts, but 2025 will see a further evolution. Now, attackers exfiltrate data before deploying ransomware, using this tactic as leverage for extortion. Highly regulated industries, such as healthcare, face significant disclosure requirements if data is compromised, which adds pressure to pay attackers to avoid public fallout.

Organizations need to prioritize ransomware detection and prevention solutions and ensure their Security Operations Center (SOC) can manage and monitor these platforms effectively.

3. AI's dual role sharpens, boosting cybersecurity resilience while powering sophisticated attacks

In 2025, AI will further solidify its paradoxical role in cybersecurity: bolstering defense capabilities on one hand, while intensifying threats on the other. As organizations deploy AI-driven solutions to streamline threat detection and vulnerability assessments, their digital defenses will become more efficient, reducing analyst burnout and standardizing risk management across platforms. However, these new AI applications will also widen the attack surface, heightening exposure to sophisticated breaches if not closely monitored.

Simultaneously, threat actors are using AI to overcome traditional social engineering detection tactics, crafting convincing phishing attempts with the help of generative AI and deepfake technology. By eliminating telltale red flags like grammatical errors or off-brand language, attackers are creating more authentic and personalized scams that can fool even well-trained employees.

To combat these evolving risks, companies must establish AI oversight teams dedicated to tracking data usage and managing exposure, while regularly updating employee training to account for AI-enhanced threats. Leveraging sandbox environments can offer controlled spaces to manage AI-based interactions and better secure data processing workflows. Without proactive AI governance, organizations will find themselves vulnerable to the very technology intended to protect them.

4. Cloud security concerns will continue to climb

In 2025, cloud security risks will continue to escalate as organizations migrate further from on-premise solutions, widening visibility gaps and introducing security complexities across multiple cloud environments. With each cloud platform requiring unique configurations, many companies will struggle to maintain a consistent security posture, inadvertently creating openings for cyber attackers to exploit. The surge in attacks-up 75% in recent years-is only expected to grow as threat actors increasingly target misconfigured settings and unsecured access points in cloud infrastructures.

To prepare, organizations must proactively disable default settings and user permissions in commonly used platforms like Microsoft 365 and Google Suite. The deployment of conditional access policies, alongside continuous monitoring for unauthorized applications, will become essential for any company looking to safeguard its cloud environment against sophisticated threats. In 2025, cloud security posture management will no longer be optional; it will be a fundamental defense strategy for protecting against the next wave of cloud-centric cyberattacks.

5. Third-party vendors will remain a top cybersecurity risk as attackers exploit weak links

Third-party vendors will continue to pose one of the greatest risks to corporate cybersecurity, as attackers increasingly exploit vulnerabilities in vendors' systems to breach their clients' data. Despite heightened awareness, companies often overlook the deeper security implications of vendor partnerships, failing to monitor the technology solutions that third parties deploy within their environments.

To mitigate this ongoing risk, companies must implement stringent vendor management processes, requiring suppliers to disclose the solutions they use and to detail their access controls and monitoring practices.

Your 2025 cybersecurity imperative: Reinforce, adapt, and stay ahead of emerging threats

The clearest takeaway for the year ahead is the importance of revisiting and reinforcing your security strategy. Companies should ensure they're not only implementing the latest technologies but are also training staff, securing cloud environments, and preparing for the dual-edged impact of AI on cybersecurity.

As cyber threats continue to evolve, addressing existing security gaps and adapting to emerging risks will be essential. 2025 holds great promise, but it also presents an urgent call to action for companies to make cybersecurity a top priority and stay one step ahead in this ever-shifting digital landscape.

##

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jim Broome, President/Chief Technology Officer

Jim Broome is a seasoned IT/IS veteran with more than 20 years of information security experience in both consultative and operational roles. Jim leads DirectDefense, where he is responsible for the day-to-day management of the company, as well as providing guidance and direction for our service offerings.

Previously, Jim was a Director with AccuvantLABS where he managed, developed, and performed information security assessments for organizations across multiple industries, while also developing and growing a team of consultants in his charge.

Prior to AccuvantLABS, Jim was a Principal Security Consultant with Internet Security Systems (ISS) and their X-Force penetration testing team.

Jim has also developed and provided training courses on several security products, including being a primary author of the CheckPoint Software Software CCSA/CCSE/CCSI training program, as well as creating and delivering numerous client-focused training programs and events.