Cybersecurity in 2025 will demand sharp focus as technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing continue reshaping both risks and defenses. Zero-day exploits are expanding, cybercriminals keep cooking up new schemes, and operational technology (OT) faces mounting threats. Companies need to fortify defenses and constantly rethink strategies to protect vital systems and data. To manage risk and strengthen resilience, pay special attention to these five trends in 2025:
1. Secure operational technology amidst growing vulnerabilities
Operational technology (OT) networks are the backbone of industries such as energy, healthcare, and manufacturing. For many organizations, OT also plays a role in building access control, climate control, security cameras, and other day-to-day technology. In 2025, OT faces escalating cyber risks from two persistent challenges: the proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and continued reliance on outdated legacy systems and equipment.
Unsecured IoT devices can serve as entry points for cybercriminals, while aging infrastructure in OT environments lacks the modern safeguards to withstand sophisticated attacks. These vulnerabilities can have cascading consequences, potentially disrupting operations, endangering safety, and leading to financial losses.
Strategies to reduce OT risks
- Separate your IT and OT networks to reduce the risk of lateral cyberattacks and limit the potential for cross-network contamination.
- Update and replace outdated equipment when feasible, and isolate legacy systems to prevent their vulnerabilities from affecting other parts of the network.
- Regularly evaluate IoT device security against best practices and implement segmentation to restrict devices' access to sensitive systems.
- Weigh the costs of upgrading aging systems against the potential fallout of a breach and build a roadmap for addressing high-risk components.
2. Monitor use of artificial intelligence (AI) and educate employees
In many organizations, employees are experimenting with artificial intelligence tools outside the oversight of their IT departments, often accessing free, unsanctioned AI applications online. While these tools seem convenient, they can introduce cyber risk. For example, employees could unknowingly share sensitive data with an AI tool, increasing the risk of exposure. Vulnerabilities in some AI programs create openings for attackers to infiltrate corporate networks.
Also, deepfake technology and AI-driven social engineering attacks are becoming more sophisticated, making them harder to detect and amplifying their potential to compromise businesses.
Strategies to protect against AI risks
- Establish and enforce governance policies to regulate how employees use AI. Communicate what ethical, secure AI usage looks like and how to protect sensitive data.
- Educate your teams about the dangers of using unsanctioned AI applications and implement network restrictions to block access to high-risk platforms.
- Train employees with deepfake simulation exercises and social engineering awareness programs, so they can recognize and respond to AI-powered phishing and fraud attempts.
- Invest in monitoring technologies that identify irregular data patterns, unauthorized use of proprietary systems, or suspicious AI activity. Partner with your cyber insurer or approved security providers to deploy these tools effectively.
3. Consider potential zero-day exploits in business continuity planning
Zero-day vulnerabilities — security flaws that software vendors don’t know about yet — are a big risk for critical infrastructure. Attacks that take advantage of these flaws can disrupt things like energy grids, financial trading, and water treatment systems. These attacks are hard to predict but important to plan for.
Strategies to mitigate zero-day risks
Safeguard your own software and systems:
- Strengthen access controls: Verify all users and devices accessing critical systems by implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA), virtual private networks (VPNs), and role-based permissions to prevent unauthorized access.
- Invest in advanced threat detection: Use monitoring tools like intrusion detection systems and behavioral analytics software to identify and counter unusual activity as early as possible.
- Prioritize patch management: Develop and enforce a rigorous patching policy. Apply software updates promptly to minimize potential entry points for attackers exploiting known vulnerabilities.
- Conduct regular vulnerability assessments: Periodically review your systems to uncover and remediate weaknesses before an exploit occurs.
Prepare for indirect impacts of zero-day exploits:
- Evaluate business interruption coverage: Make sure cyber insurance covers downtime caused by third-party infrastructure attacks (e.g., outages in utilities, supply chains, etc.).
- Negotiate coverage for dependency risks: If your operations depend on third-party providers and platforms, confirm your policy includes terms for contingent business interruption (CBI) due to external cyber incidents.
- Develop incident response plans: Create a strategy for maintaining business continuity during external service disruptions, including backups, alternative suppliers, and operational redundancies.
- Perform supply chain risk assessments: Work with partners and vendors to understand their cyber risk posture. Make sure contractual agreements include shared responsibility for managing threats and disruptions.
4. Prepare for quantum computing’s challenge to encryption
If your organization has experienced a past theft of encrypted information, the data may be useless to cybercriminals today. Quantum computing, however, could facilitate decryption of that data. Because of exponential leaps in processing power, quantum machines have the ability to break encryption protocols. You’ll want to plan for this contingency.
Strategies that anticipate quantum computing risks
- Build awareness among your IT and risk teams regarding quantum computing advances and identify any vulnerabilities that require attention today.
- Track advancements in quantum-resistant encryption technologies, such as post-quantum cryptography, and determine what to incorporate into your IT and cybersecurity roadmaps.
- Strengthen encryption measures for archived and sensitive data, ensuring it’s as shielded as possible against future decryption attempts.
- Partner with cybersecurity vendors and insurers who are actively preparing for quantum risks to design a strategy that addresses both current and emerging threats.
5. Add cyber liability insurance review to annual risk management planning
Even if you have cyber liability insurance today, the cyber protocols required by your insurance company can change over time. To maintain coverage, you may need to implement specific security processes, tools, and training. Also, cyber insurers are increasing scrutiny of vendor relationships.
Some of the contracts your business relies on for revenue and/or operations may require proof of cyber coverage. So, staying on top of your cyber policy — making sure you have the right coverage amounts to satisfy contractual obligations and the right risk management procedures in place — requires ongoing attention.
Insurance and risk management strategies to protect your balance sheet
- Revisit your organization’s contract review/approval processes. Because cyber risks can lurk in vendor contracts, ask your legal counsel and insurance broker to scrutinize the fine print.
- Establish formal procedures, if you don’t already have them, to track the cyber insurance requirements in your government, customer, and other contracts (to ensure compliance).
- Review policy exclusions carefully, especially those concerning state-sponsored attacks or third-party vulnerabilities, and address any gaps in coverage.
Looking ahead at cybersecurity challenges
Cybersecurity isn’t a task you check off — it’s a constant battle against evolving threats. Ignoring vulnerabilities or standing still invites risk, whether it’s outdated OT systems, AI-driven scams, or quantum-powered attacks on encryption.
The stakes are high. Aligning with trusted partners, investing in robust technology, and embedding cybersecurity into every level of operations will help fortify your organization.
Want to learn more?
Find Allen Blount on LinkedIn.
Connect with Risk Strategies Cyber Risk team at cyber@risk-strategies.com.
