Like any trend, cybersecurity trends come and go. But unlike the average catchy dance or viral challenge on social media, keeping up with the latest cybersecurity trends can improve your security posture (but maybe not your follower count). We’ll explain some potential 2025 cybersecurity trends to keep an eye on.
In the 2024 State of Sysadmin annual report, over half of respondents cited security as their biggest IT industry concern. Lots of sysadmins also wrote in AI. Needless to say, security and AI also haunt our nightmares.
Artificial intelligence
Are you surprised that AI tops this list? We didn’t think so. AI had a major boom in 2024, but it’s poised to keep changing the face of cybersecurity as we know it. And that holds true for virtually every aspect of cybersecurity — from the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) threat actors use to the solutions that improve prevention, detection, and response.
AI-assisted attacks
We all knew it would happen. Hackers got their hands on AI, giving them powerful new options.
AI cybersecurity threats include deepfakes, malware generation, attack optimization, and so much more. This means that less skilled malicious actors may be able to launch more advanced attacks than ever before. Worse still, AI-powered attacks may mutate over time to dodge defenses and evade detection.
AI data breaches
AI platforms are prime targets for threat actors. That’s because AI training requires a massive amount of data, which hackers naturally thirst for. Platforms may also retain user-inputted data for training purposes, adding to the treasure trove. (And increasing the need to vet permissible third-party AI tools to ensure they don’t use your data for training.)
The AI cybersecurity trend may give hackers access to sensitive information, but that’s not the only concern. Security professionals have to be on the lookout for data poisoning, which is when threat actors alter the data in AI models to influence their outputs. If your environment houses an AI model or training data, you’ll need to take strong security measures.
Cybersecurity professionals should also keep in mind that any third-party AI tools could fall victim to these issues, increasing third-party risk (more on that later).
AI-powered cybersecurity solutions
Security teams need every benefit they can get over cybercriminals, so it should come as no surprise that more and more solutions leverage AI to prevent, detect, and respond to cybersecurity incidents. Since AI is great at processing large volumes of data to detect patterns, it’s good at vulnerability identification, threat detection, and so much more. And more advanced tools are essential to combatting more advanced cyber threats.
Get a step ahead of hackers
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Zero trust
The zero trust security model has long been a popular cybersecurity strategy with security leaders, but it’s due for a bigger moment in the spotlight.
Threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, so traditional perimeter-based security just isn’t cutting it anymore. Zero trust requires continuous authentication and authorization, regardless of the location, user, and device. It also applies the principle of least privilege, giving users the minimum access necessary to better protect sensitive data.
Basically, zero trust assumes a breach or cyber incident, aiming to minimize lateral movement across network devices.
Decentralized security models
Decentralized security models — such as blockchain, decentralized identity systems, and distributed ledgers — spread data and security controls across several nodes to reduce single points of failure and increase cyber resilience. These models are also often more transparent for easier auditing, and they frequently give users some level of control over their own data and identity for greater privacy.
With increasing cyber threats, privacy concerns, and compliance requirements, decentralized security models present a logical option.
Cybersecurity awareness training
Regular security awareness training is one of the most common cybersecurity best practices, but the 2024 State of Sysadmin report found that 11% of IT professionals never do it. Another 22% only do it on an ad hoc basis, and 28% do it yearly. That means a whopping 61% of respondents don’t get around to training users about security all that often.
In 2025, that may change. Here’s why: 68% of breaches involve a human element, and phishing remains a common and costly attack vector. Additionally, in 2023, a reported 71% of organizations experienced successful phishing attacks.
Since threat actors may increasingly leverage AI to launch harder-to-detect social engineering attempts, virtually every security team should assess whether their cybersecurity awareness program passes muster.
Cloud-native security
Cloud-native security emphasizes application security, baking security in to the development process across four layers: the cloud itself, the containers that hold the apps, the clusters that manage them, and the actual code. This proactive approach helps ensure data security and reduce the risks of a cybersecurity breach or data breach, making the jobs of sysadmins and security teams a little easier.
Malware as a service (MaaS)
We’re all familiar with software as a service (SaaS), but there’s a newer kid on the block: malware as a service (Maas). And yes, unfortunately that also includes ransomware as a service (RaaS).
With this cyber threat, all aspiring threat actors have to do is pay a fee to use malware created by other developers. They might make a one-time purchase (you know, for special occasions), subscribe for a set period, or even enter a profit-sharing arrangement. This significantly lowers the entry barrier for launching a malware or ransomware attack.
Cybercriminals are always looking for new ways to profit off cyberattacks, so we expect MaaS and RaaS to become increasingly common. With prices estimated to start around $20, would-be attackers can get their foot in the door around the price of 50 Chicken McNuggets (prices may vary).
And with 75% of IT leaders reporting being hit by ransomware at least once in 2023, it’s hard not to wonder what easier access to ready-to-use malware will mean for those numbers.
Cyberwarfare
With several major global conflicts raging, the geopolitical climate is ripe for cyberwarfare. And cyberwarfare is more than just a threat to homeland security; it’s also an emerging threat to businesses. In addition to the common objective of interrupting military operations, enemy states may also seek to disrupt infrastructure, steal research, or make a quick buck.
Worse still, 66% of IT leaders doubt that the U.S. government is prepared to defend against these threats (though 95% think their organizations are ready).
Although, let’s be real: Most private companies in the SMB space probably aren’t equipped to handle threats from nation-states. Especially without adequate funding.
According to Rachel Coleman, PDQ’s senior SOC analyst, “The trend I am seeing is that the government’s cybersecurity coffers are increasing (hello war in the Middle East and Russia), while private company’s budgets are actually decreasing.”
Third-party risk awareness
Hopefully, you’ve already been keeping an eye on the security threat posed by third-party vendors and supply chain attacks. But even if you have, it will probably play an increasingly prominent role in your life (sorry to be the bearer of bad news).
That’s because every vendor you work with introduces additional cyber risk to your environment. With businesses relying increasingly on third-party software, partners, vendors, contractors, and suppliers, your business reputation and operations could be affected if any of them experience a breach.
Plus, businesses average 6,138 third parties but only monitor an average of 1,870 — that’s an awful lot of opportunity for incidents to happen while your back is turned. In fact, one study found that 61% of respondents experienced a third-party cybersecurity incident in just a one-year timeframe.
Case in point: SolarWinds. In 2020, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service reportedly injected trojanized code that then went out to nearly 18,000 customers through software updates. It effectively created a backdoor into infected machines.
The only solution is effective risk management. We’re talking vetting external vendors, analyzing potential risks, mitigating risks, etc.
IoT security
It’s no secret that internet of things (IoT) devices present a cybersecurity risk. But Rachel Coleman, our in-house cybersecurity expert at PDQ, views IoT security as a topic not enough people are worried about. After all, any device that connects to the internet could introduce exploitable vulnerabilities into your environment.
And all too often, IoT devices are the easiest entry point for hackers, who then move laterally to access sensitive data or take control over more influential devices. For instance, way back in 2017, cybercriminals hacked an internet-enabled fish tank to steal data from a casino.
That's why cybersecurity teams are increasingly looking to secure all device types — not just traditional endpoints.
The cybersecurity landscape is constantly evolving, and staying up to date is pretty much a full-time job in and of itself. Let PDQ help with your patch and vulnerability management so you have one less thing to worry about.
PDQ Connect detects and prioritizes CVEs, then lets you remediate with just one click. It also includes robust remote Windows device management features, including automated deployments, reporting, and remote desktop. Sign up for a free 14-day trial to see how easily you can fortify your security posture.
