Industry executives and experts share their predictions for 2025. Read them in this 17th annual VMblog.com series exclusive.
By Darren Wolner, VP, Product Management, GTT
The rapid evolution of AI is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace. It’s not just driving the need for high-performance networks- it’s fundamentally altering approaches to cybersecurity. Organizations will no doubt have growing pains, from challenges in scaling infrastructure to managing evolving threats. My 2025 predictions explore key trends shaping the future of network design and security, emphasizing the role of AI in driving innovation, automation, and adaptability while highlighting the critical need for human expertise to close emerging gaps.
AI demand will drive a new era of high-capacity, low-latency network design
The rapid growth of generative AI and AI-driven workflows will push companies to build stronger, faster networks that can handle massive data loads with minimal delay. To keep up, organizations will lean on edge computing for substantial data processing and distributed architectures, boosting network performance for hybrid work and cloud environments. AI will play a dual role, not only increasing the need for more powerful networks but also helping network operators fine-tune performance. With AI-driven monitoring and adaptive optimization, networks will become smarter and more efficient, ready to support the high demands of modern AI applications.
Network Security Budgets Will Pivot from Prevention to Incident Response
Once primarily used by large enterprises, incident response plans and third-party retainers will become priorities for businesses of all sizes. As threats grow more sophisticated, companies will invest heavily in solutions that quickly identify breaches and contain them. While endpoint and firewall protection will remain critical, security budgets will increasingly focus on detection and response, reflecting a shift away from pure prevention to favor a layered defense strategy that enables fast, effective incident response.
Organizations will expect their teams and providers to act swiftly, with protocols that assume a breach is a matter of when, not if.
Automation will be your first responder
As cyber threats multiply and the network attack surface expands due to growing reliance on hybrid workforces, IoT, cloud services, and more, data-driven and AI-infused automation will serve as the primary frontline defense. Such systems will act instantly and autonomously, analyzing data patterns to combat threats without human intervention. This makes networks more adaptable as automated defenses learn from every new incident to evolve in real-time, allowing organizations to respond to emerging threats faster, smarter, and more precisely overall.
AI will take on the basics, but security pros will need to adapt quickly
AI will have a more prominent role in detection, response, and routine cybersecurity tasks. However, this shift won’t eliminate the need for skilled experts. Instead, the shift toward a more robust AI-powered toolset will call for new expertise in threat intelligence interpretation, complex analysis, and strategic threat response. With AI covering the basics, cybersecurity teams must use the time gained to adapt swiftly to evolving threats while fully leveraging the latest AI capabilities to keep defenses strong.
The Skills Gap Will Leave Businesses Exposed-AI-Driven Security Could Make It Worse
With security talent both scarce and costly, companies will keep leaning on automated defenses. But many will learn the hard way that even the best tools are only as good as the people setting them up. As attacks get more complex, the demand for skilled, affordable experts will far exceed supply, leaving a critical gap in oversight and exposing businesses to serious risks if they can’t bridge the divide.
Without a doubt, AI will become an integral part of both technological innovation and security strategies. Its influence will redefine how businesses operate and protect their networks. High-capacity, low-latency network designs will be essential to support AI’s growing demands. Despite AI’s advances, the human element remains irreplaceable, as skilled professionals will be critical to unlocking its full potential and addressing the skills gap that could otherwise leave businesses vulnerable. These advancements and challenges outline a future where organizations must balance cutting-edge technology with human expertise to thrive in an increasingly digital and connected world.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darren Wolner leads GTT Managed Services, Professional Services, SD-WAN, SASE, cybersecurity product development, and lifecycle management. A visionary, he sets the company’s performance goals to innovate and align with market developments while meeting the demands of the company’s enterprise customers. He champions his team to help customers navigate their business transformation journey with fully managed, all-digital, on-demand experiences while helping them protect their environments from today’s cyber threats.
