Top 10 Predictions Shaping the Future of Cybersecurity in 2025 According to 35+ Experts
Author: David Monnier, Chief Evangelist at Team Cymru and Host of The Future of ThreatIntelligence Podcast
Throughout my conversations with security leaders last year, a clear pattern has emerged despite them ranging from being within Fortune 50 and below. Some organizations have transformed security into a strategic advantage, while others still view it as a necessary cost of doing business. This isn't just about adopting new technology - it's about fundamentally changing how organizations approach security.
As the host of the Future of Threat Intelligence podcast, I've had the privilege of speaking with hundreds of industry experts. In 2024alone, I interviewed over 30 leaders across sectors that drive our economy and protect our society - from finance and healthcare to law enforcement. These conversations revealed a clear pattern: organizations that treat security as a business enabler consistently outperform those treating it as a compliance checkbox.
In this article, I'll share ten key predictions that emerged from these conversations. Each represents a critical shift that security leaders see coming in 2025, supported by insights from experts who are already preparing their organizations for these changes.
Prediction #1: Security Will Drive Business Strategy
Throughout my interviews this year, security leaders consistently emphasized a fundamental shift happening in successful organizations - security is moving from a support function to a strategic driver of business decisions.
Jeffrey Wheatman, SVP and Cyber Risk Strategist atBlack Kite, offered a compelling perspective on this evolution. He pointed out how security teams and business leaders often view risk from opposite angles. "You see the risk from doing the thing; they see the risk from not doing the thing," he explained. While security teams focus on the cost of new tools like EDR, business leaders are weighing the risks of missed opportunities.
This disconnect between technical and business perspectives came up repeatedly in my conversations. During my discussion with Brian Palmer, Director of IT Security andInfrastructure at Ventas, he shared a practical approach to bridging this gap. Rather than discussing technical metrics like patch percentages, he focuses conversations on business impact. "What does have meaning is the risk of a critical business system being out of service for a week, a month," he told me. "If email is down, what does that do to our business? If our website is down, what does that do?"
The key to success, according to Noah Davis, VP & CISO at Ingersoll Rand, lies in how security leaders communicate with executives. His mentor taught him that "When you're in there with leadership, you're in the room because you're already the expert. Talk about the why and make it connect with them." He emphasizes translating technical risks into business terms - explaining how risks to an ERP system impact business capability and why defense-in-depth approaches maintain business resilience.
Looking ahead to 2025, organizations that succeed will be those that integrate security considerations into their business strategy from the start, rather than treating it as an afterthought or compliance exercise.
Prediction #2: Zero Trust Will Become Essential Infrastructure
The most successful organizations I spoke with this year are moving beyond perimeter-based security models. They recognize that in today's distributed work environment, traditional network boundaries no longer provide adequate protection.
At the core of this shift is a practical reality that Brett Stone-Gross, Director of Threat Intelligence at Zscaler, emphasized during our conversation. Traditional VPN networks allow attackers to scan and move laterally once they gain access. Instead, he advocates for zero trust architecture where "users connect to your environment and your applications, they're not on the network and they're not able to scan and identify additional resources they can compromise."
This transition requires careful planning and a clear understanding of business needs. In my discussion with Drew Simonis, Deputy CISO at ADT, he stressed how security teams must balance protection with productivity. His approach centers on understanding business context first, then wrapping security controls around it - whether for cloud infrastructure or new technologies like Gen AI.
The open source community is also driving innovation in this space. Christopher Steffen, VP of Research at EnterpriseManagement Associates, pointed out that while major vendors might take months to address vulnerabilities, open source solutions often deliver fixes within minutes. This rapid response capability will become increasingly crucial as organizations adopt zero trust architectures.
Organizations that thrive will have transformed their security architecture to align with zero trust principles, enabling both security and business agility in an increasingly complex environment.
Prediction #3: Automation Will Transform Security Operations
Running a Security Operations Center (SOC) today means processing an overwhelming volume of data, regardless of the team's size. Through my conversations, I noticed a clear trend - organizations that thrive are moving beyond basic task automation to transform their entire security operations.
This evolution is well illustrated by Matthew Bull, CTO and CISO at Elanco. He described how automation helps his team break free from what he calls the "Whack-a-Mole situation" of purely reactive security. Rather than chasing one problem after another, his team leverages automation to scale their detection and response capabilities effectively.
Understanding threat intelligence presents another opportunity for strategic automation. When discussing this topic with Eric Hanselman, Chief Analyst at S&P Global, he emphasized that simply having a threat feed isn't enough. Organizations need to understand how that intelligence informs both daily operations and strategic planning, using automation to update threat models and assess organizational risks continuously.
Perhaps the most compelling example of automation's impact came from my conversation with Mikko Hypponen, Chief Research Officer at WithSecure. He described how automated systems now detect new threats, run samples through multiple operating systems, and deploy tested responses globally within minutes. "Most people don't even realize that every day they're being protected by this level of automation," he noted.
The gap between organizations effectively leveraging automation and those relying on manual processes will become a key differentiator in security effectiveness.However, success won't come from automation alone - it will require thoughtful implementation that enhances rather than replaces human expertise.
Prediction #4: AI Will Redefine Threat Detection
When discussing AI this year, I noticed a stark contrast between media hype and practical implementation. While headlines focus on generative AI's potential risks, security leaders are taking a measured approach, examining where AI can genuinely enhance their operations.
The real challenge, according to Wade Wells, Lead Cybersecurity Threat Detection Engineer, lies in properly implementing these tools. "AI is primarily an accelerant to everything it touches," he explained during our conversation. "The real hurdle is having the expertise and drive to learn so that we can accurately check these tools and make sure they are spitting out correct answers."
Security teams are already finding practical applications for this technology. During my discussion with David Ortiz, Global CISO at Church & Dwight, he emphasized the importance of responsible implementation. While AI acts as a force multiplier, he stressed that success depends on ensuring teams not only have access to AI tools but use them safely and effectively.
Looking at specific use cases, David Bianco, Staff Security Strategist at Splunk, shared how AI is transforming network analysis. His team uses AI tools to monitor logging configurations across their environment, automatically identifying gaps in coverage and recommending improvements. This kind of practical application shows how AI can enhance existing security processes without requiring a complete operational overhaul.
As we look toward 2025, organizations that succeed won't be those with the most advanced AI systems, but those that thoughtfully integrate AI to enhance their existing security capabilities while maintaining human oversight and validation.
Prediction #5: Board-Level Security Engagement Will Deepen
Through my conversations this year, I observed a significant shift in how boards engage with cybersecurity. We're moving beyond periodic risk updates to deeper strategic discussions about security's role in business growth and resilience.
This evolution requires security leaders to master the art of executive communication. Andrew Gontarczyk, CISO at Pure Storage, shared a practical reality from his experience - most CISOs get just 15 minutes per quarter with their audit committee. "If you put that lens on," he told me, "three months worth of activity distilled down to 15 minutes should be a great filter for what's important." Rather than discussing technical details, he focuses on answering two critical questions: Are we under control, and what should we worry about?
The financial sector offers a compelling example of this shift. Gregory Van den Top, AI Practice Leader for Europe at Marsh, pointed out how thoroughly cybersecurity has become embedded in business strategy. "If you think of a bank, much of its operations are IT," he explained. Where physical security once focused on protecting storefronts from fire, today's digital operations mean cybersecurity directly impacts business continuity.
The key to effective board engagement lies in understanding their perspective. Krista Case, Research Director at The Futurum Group, emphasizes the importance of deeply understanding both technology and business challenges. This knowledge allows security leaders to present options that directly address the organization's strategic needs.
Successful security leaders will be those who can translate security initiatives into business value, making cybersecurity an integral part of strategic planning rather than just a risk management exercise.
Prediction #6: Cyber Risk Quantification Will Mature
One of the most significant shifts I've observed this year is how organizations approach risk measurement. The days of qualitative assessments like"high," "medium," and "low" are giving way to more sophisticated analysis based on real data and business impact.
This evolution in risk assessment requires organizations to better utilize their own data. Jim Tiller, CISO at Cyberbellum, introduced me to the OODA loop concept(Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) for risk assessment, emphasizing how crucial it is for organizations to understand when to act quickly versus when to conduct deeper research. This framework helps teams make more informed decisions about risk mitigation.
The journey to effective risk quantification often starts with getting the basics right. During my conversation with Joe Mariscal, Director of Cybersecurity andCompliance at Ryerson, he shared how their success came from methodically building their risk management program over time. Rather than rushing to implement the latest tools, they focused on establishing formal methods for risk scoring and mitigation across the organization.
Understanding data context proves crucial for accurate risk assessment. David Patariu, Attorney at Venable LLP, offered a compelling analogy: measuring temperature in Virginia during summer might lead you to think the whole world is 98 degrees. Similarly, organizations must ensure their risk models consider a complete picture rather than a limited snapshot of data.
Organizations that develop sophisticated risk quantification capabilities will make better-informed security investments and more effectively communicate security's business value to stakeholders.
Prediction #7: Ransomware TacticsWill Further Evolve
Despite years of heightened awareness and improved defenses, ransomware remains a critical threat. However, my conversations this year revealed how attack patterns are shifting from simple encryption to more sophisticated extortion strategies.
This reality became clear during my discussion with Ryan Chapman, Threat Hunter and Instructor at SANS Institute. His global view of incident response revealed a surprising pattern. "They're using the same methods, they're using the same tools, they're using the same xyz. It's the same over and over and over," he told me. What's concerning isn't the sophistication of these attacks, but how effective basic tactics remain against unprepared organizations.
The evolution of these attacks has been dramatic. João Pedro Gonçalves, Global CISO at EQT Group, walked me through this transformation. While attackers once simply encrypted files and demanded payment, today's threats are more complex. "From 2019 up to now, what we're seeing are multi-extortion tactics," he explained, describing how attackers now steal sensitive data before encryption, creating multiple pressure points for payment.
Success against these threats requires a comprehensive approach. Kristof Riecke, Field CISO at Rackspace Technology, emphasized the importance of transparency and awareness. Understanding your vulnerabilities, educating users, and maintaining visibility into your environment become crucial as attack methods continue to evolve.
Succeeding against ransomware means combining strong fundamental controls with the ability to adapt quickly to new attack patterns. The threat won't disappear, but the impact will vary dramatically based on preparedness.
Prediction #8: Cross-Sector Collaboration Will Become Critical
Through my conversations this year, I've noticed a significant shift away from the"go it alone" mentality in cybersecurity. Organizations that excel at threat detection and response increasingly rely on a mix of internal expertise and external partnerships.
The hybrid approach to security operations illustrates this trend. Joe Mariscal, Director of Cybersecurity andCompliance at Ryerson, shared how his team partners with MSPs for specific functions like log aggregation and after-hours alerting, while maintaining internal control over critical activities like threat hunting and daily security operations.
The drive toward collaboration stems from a growing recognition that security can't operate in isolation. During my discussion with Rafal Los, Head of Services Strategy at ExtraHop, he described a pivotal realization: "We were fixing technical things that actually had no business impact." This insight led to a more collaborative approach, wrapping business context around technical threats to drive better risk decisions.
Internal collaboration proves just as crucial as external partnerships. Matthew Winters, Lead Threat Hunter at T. Rowe Price, emphasized how organizations often overlook their own data as intelligence. Whether you're running a dedicated threat hunting team or wearing multiple IT hats, he stressed the importance of knowing when to act quickly versus when to conduct deeper research.
Organizations that thrive will be those that effectively balance internal capabilities with external partnerships, creating security operations that are both robust and adaptable.
Prediction #9: Security Teams Will Demand Diverse Skill Sets
The image of the purely technical security professional is fading. My conversations this year highlighted how modern security challenges require teams that combine technical expertise with business acumen, communication skills, and creative problem-solving abilities
Kristof Riecke, Field CISO at Rackspace Technology, highlighted this shift during our discussion. "We are at the point where we got possibly 30, 40 different forms of cybersecurity sub disciplines," he explained. Modern security teams need everything from governance experts to cloud specialists, each bringing their unique perspective to solving complex challenges.
What stands out in successful security teams is their ability to tackle unexpected problems creatively. Ryan Link, Principal of Threat Detection and Response at CDW, described looking for people with"that kind of MacGyver instinct" - professionals who can create solutions with whatever tools are available. While programming capabilities matter, the ability to think flexibly proves even more valuable.
Technical skills can be taught, but core competencies like collaboration and adaptability form the foundation of effective security teams. "It's about the person, it's about the personality," David Ortiz, Global CISO at Church & Dwight, told me. He looks for individuals with the drive to keep pace with both shifting attack patterns and changing business needs.
The security leaders who create high-performing teams in 2025 will focus less on checking technical certification boxes and more on building diverse teams with complementary skills and perspectives.
Prediction #10: Customer-Centric Security Will Drive Success
Security strategies that succeed in 2025 won't come from generic playbooks. Through my conversations this year, I've seen how organizations that tailor their security approach to specific customer needs consistently outperform those applying one-size-fits-all solutions.
The real impact of security becomes clear when you look at specific industries. Rick DeLoach, Deputy CISO at ADT, framed this perfectly when discussing his mission: "I help save lives for a living." His team focuses on security measures that protect not just data, but critical life-saving systems like carbon monoxide and smoke detectors that directly impact people's safety.
Understanding specific business contexts changes how security leaders approach their role. Jim Tiller, CISO at Cyber Bellum, challenged the standard metrics-driven approach during our discussion. Rather than focusing on generic KPIs, he emphasizes understanding and meeting specific business needs. "The reality is," he explained, "you have to understand the business."
This shift toward customer-centric security requires translating technical concerns into business impact. Bob Palmer, Director of IT Security at Ventas, shared how different this conversation looks for each business. Rather than discussing patch percentages, he focuses on scenarios that resonate with executives - like the impact of email or website outages on specific business operations.
Success in this new era of cybersecurity belongs to organizations that move beyond generic security practices to develop solutions that align with their specific industry challenges and customer needs.
Conclusion
My conversations with security leaders this year revealed a clear message - the organizations pulling ahead in cybersecurity aren't just deploying better technology. They're fundamentally changing how they approach security, moving it from a support function to a strategic driver of business success.
The predictions shared here aren't just trends to watch. They represent critical shifts that will determine which organizations thrive in an increasingly digital economy. Leaders who integrate security into business strategy, leverage automation effectively, and build diverse, skilled teams position their organizations to turn security investments into competitive advantages.
Whatstands out most from these discussions is how security's role has evolved. It'sno longer about just preventing breaches - it's about enabling business growth,fostering innovation, and building customer trust. The security leaders whounderstand and embrace this shift will shape the future of their organizations.