As we look ahead to 2025 and beyond, the cyber security landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace.
Emerging technologies, expanding regulatory pressures, and the continuing innovation of threat actors are shaping a future where security and resilience are more critical than ever.
Our experts have shared their thoughts on the key topics and trends that will define the years ahead in cyber security. These insights aim to inspire action and preparation as we confront a world of rapid disruption and boundless potential. Whether you’re steering a business, shaping policy, or enhancing personal security, the future is here—and it’s moving fast.
Economic, legislative, and technological challenges
Sian John, Chief Technology Officer:
The modern era is defined by relentless disruption, where social, economic, and technological forces are reshaping the cyber landscape. From evolving online behaviours to geopolitical instability, the challenges are multifaceted and demand a proactive approach to resilience and adaptability.
Online behaviour and social media shifts: Social media has created echo chambers, amplifying issues like online bullying, harassment, and interference. These challenges are exacerbated by the growing sophistication of deepfake technology, which is likely to become more pervasive in the short term. This may spur shifts in societal attitudes toward social media platforms and prompt regulatory responses such as the Online Harms Act, which aims to address these issues.
The impact of global politics: Geopolitically, the landscape remains volatile, with persistent shocks such as trade wars, tariffs, and military conflicts. Going forward, we may expect to see these shocks increase alongside virtual wars.
Digital and geopolitical disruptions are increasingly intertwined, creating uncertainty in threat landscapes, investment priorities, and regulatory frameworks. In a world where there is less international cooperation and governments are concerned with emerging tech, we can expect the trend to continue of increasing regulations that aren’t necessarily harmonised, leading to more complexity for organisations working in jurisdictions across the world.
Critical infrastructure, IoT, and connected devices: The integration of IoT and connected devices into critical national infrastructure will continue to grow, alongside the increasing use of digital technologies, telehealth, and AI to provide services. However, in this, we can expect to see vulnerabilities in operational technology (OT) being exposed in critical national infrastructure, as this integration brings new threat vectors that will need to be addressed. Vulnerabilities in operational technology (OT) are particularly concerning in critical infrastructure, where security and availability are essential to national safety. However, many systems lack security as a foundational element.
Despite the security of critical infrastructure being essential to national security, they often don’t have security embedded into the core of operations. Moving forward, adopting Secure by Design and cyber resilience approaches will be critical to addressing these challenges. These are not one-size-fits-all products but overarching strategies that require tailored implementation. As organisations embrace digital transformation, ensuring the security and reliability of connected systems will remain a top priority