Top three cybersecurity threats in 2025 and how to combat them

The frequency of cyberattacks continued to increase in the first half of 2024, with well over half of those attacks directed at North American organizations.  During that time, the average cost of a data breach in the United States amounted to $9.36 million.

Despite the widely acknowledged perception that cyberthreats are a clear and present danger, the number of new cybersecurity job postings year-on-year in the U.S. has declined 5.4% in 2024, and the cybersecurity workforce number of employees has declined by 3.0%. This is due to a combination of factors, with organizations citing budgetary shortcomings and reporting a shortage of qualified workers. That publication further finds that most respondents state that cybersecurity is a high priority at their firm, but less than half say that it is easy to procure funds for cybersecurity activities or feel that cybersecurity budgets are increasing.

One positive factor in the decline may be an increase in the use of managed cybersecurity solutions, which lessens the need for organizations to scour the marketplace for qualified personnel. Still, at a time when the cybersecurity stakes are as high as they have ever been, the pressure is on to maintain security with fewer resources.

Here's a look at the three cybersecurity threats we see impacting U.S. organizations in 2025 and some tips on how to combat them.

1. AI-powered cyberattacks can be defeated by Al-powered cybersecurity measures: As the beneficial business impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) increase, cybercriminals are also using the capabilities of AI to develop sophisticated and targeted attacks. AI-generated phishing emails, automated malware creation, and AI-driven social engineering pose significant challenges for traditional defense mechanisms. Boosted by AI, phishing remains a common and costly attack vector. Organizations need to upgrade their cybersecurity defense with threat detection capabilities to stop evolving threats and mitigate risks effectively.
   
   SD-WAN network solutions can offer next-generation firewall (NGFW) protection, malware protection, content filtering, web application control, intrusion protection and packet inspection of encrypted traffic. Solutions exist that deliver high performance when inspecting and securing resource-intensive traffic — in terms of both volume and velocity. These networks can be powered by an NFGW solution. 
   
   FortiGate NGFWs, backed by FortiGuard AI-Powered Security services, helps to prevent cyberattacks and mitigate security risks with consistent, real-time protection and responses against even the newest and most sophisticated threats. AI can increase the speed at which new attacks are discovered, draw statistical conclusions, and send that information to endpoint protection systems. Organizations can access real-time data on deviations and other problems using network monitoring and horizon scanning. Continuous diagnostics and forensics analysis enable optimal protection, and the defense framework layers (firewalls, payload, endpoint, network, and antivirus) are updated automatically. 
2. IoT devices and their vulnerabilities: IoT devices are proliferating within enterprises, increasing the risk of IoT device related cybersecurity breaches expanded attack surface. Hybrid work environments inevitably introduce vulnerable personal or third-party IoT devices into an enterprise’s cybersecurity environment. 
   
   Potentially, hackers can obtain data through any IoT-connected device. Many of these devices are particularly susceptible to attack, as they have not had their default passwords changed. According to Forrester, malicious actors can now compromise a common class of IoT devices and execute broad-scale attacks, which would require organizations to conduct costly remediation efforts, and replace entire groups of devices. There are solutions available from managed service partners with all-in-one IoT security solutions. These include situational awareness, enforceable security policies for technology integration, threat information sharing, and helping organizations to implement a cyber resilience strategy. 
   
3. Cloud-based cybersecurity threats: Gartner estimates that more than 95% of new digital workloads will be deployed on cloud-native platforms in 2025. Organizations can realize significant efficiencies by adopting cloud technology. While the migration of IT infrastructure to the cloud extends opportunities for many enterprises, it also complicates the task of protecting them.
   
   Unfortunately, these opportunities can also attract sophisticated criminals. Cloud jacking involves illicit entry into a cloud environment for a range of nefarious activities. These include blocking access to legitimate users, sending out phishing emails or malware under the guise of business activity, or even inflicting wholesale financial and reputational damage on the host.
   
   Rapid migration to the cloud raises new security concerns due to the complicated systems that need to be kept up to date and protected from zero-day threats. According to cybersecurity expert Chuck Brooks, "Integration should be the main security focus for mixed cloud setups. Achieving integration requires being able to see everything in the environment, including public, private, and on-premises areas."
   
   The enterprise can help keep users and data safe with managed cloud security solutions. These cloud-based solutions apply zero trust network access (ZTNA) and multi-factor authentication (MFA) technologies to help protect your business devices, users, and locations from a wide range of risks. 

How Spectrum Enterprise can help

Today’s IT teams are faced with challenges unlike any they have faced before. They need to support a distributed workforce at scale by granting proper access to the cloud-based applications and programs employees need to do their jobs effectively – all while keeping their data secure.

Secure Dedicated Fiber Internet combines connectivity and advanced security, backed by a 100% uptime SLA guarantee, for fast, reliable internet access. This all-in-one secure networking solution delivers built-in threat protection, professional installation, continuous maintenance, and 24/7/365 US-based support, ensuring your business stays effortlessly connected and protected.

Our Secure Access with Cisco Duo and Cloud Security with Cisco+ Secure Connect offerings are designed to help clients provide their employees with safe and secure access to information and applications on private networks or public clouds, while integrating seamlessly with managed network offerings. 

Learn more about our cybersecurity offerings and see for yourself why 83% of Fortune 500 rely on Spectrum Enterprise for technology solutions.