Over the years I have consolidated a few “next year” predictions as it is interesting, well at least for me, to see how accurate the predictions are but also how geopolitical and technological developments can impact the security industry and therefore the outcomes of the predictions.

If you want to look back in time, my consolidated list for 2011 click here

The 2025 predictions are below, there are some common threads you will be able to spot.

Top 5 Cyber Security Trends for 2025 – From TechRepublic

1. Renewed focus on third-party risk management, including the AI software supply
2. Macs will become more targeted by cybercriminals
3. Identity to shift into the jurisdiction of security teams
4. Cyber regulations will divide countries
5. Specific employees targeted via social media and AI

Experian Top 5 data Breach Predictions for 2025 – From Experian via Finextra

According to Experian, businesses and consumers need to stay vigilant and keep on eye on these five predictions for 2025:

1. There could be a dramatic increase in the number of teens prosecuted for hacking and fraud.
2. One global brand may be impacted by fraud perpetrated by an insider who was provided educational AI training.
3. Cyberattackers may jeopardise a nation’s cloud infrastructure through an attack on the power required to run it.
4. There may be a marked increase in hacker-on-hacker attacks either for political or monetary reasons.
5. Dynamic identification could replace driver’s licenses and social security cards with PII that continually changes.

Six Middle East cybersecurity predictions for 2025 – From Intelligent CISO

• Prediction 1: The increasing use of AI will not alter the basics of cybersecurity strategies
• Prediction 2: The ‘human factor’ will be key to guarding against the increase in hackers leveraging AI for offensive attacks
• Prediction 3: In the next five years, AI-driven cybersecurity will enhance operational efficiency for defenders, but the human element will remain crucial in interpreting data and making decisions
• Prediction 4: Automation and orchestration will grow in importance in 2025 to centralise risk telemetry across cloud, endpoints and IoT devices
• Prediction 5: Cyber-risk quantification (CRQ) will be a core organisational practice for most CISOs in the next five years
• Prediction 6: The relationship between CISOs, the C-suite and boards will evolve toward more strategic collaboration, driven by a focus on economic and operational efficiency

The Biggest Cybersecurity Predictions for 2025 – From Tech.Co

• Boosted Security for the Internet of Things
• Zero Trust Architecture Expands Beyond Devices
• Risk Quantification Becomes a Core Security Tool
• A Focus on Mid-level Cyber Skills Gaps
• AI Tools Will Further Integrate into Companies’ Security Protocols
• Be Wary of Undermanaged Assets

Cyber security: what to look out for in 2025 – From Charity Digital

• AI-powered cyber attacks
• Sophisticated phishing scams
• Cloud security risks
• Insider threats and human error
• Stricter regulations

5 Cybersecurity Trends for 2025 That Tech Pros Need to Know – From Dice.com

• Hiring Challenges Will Remains and Skills Continue to Matter
• AI Issues Continue to Raise Concerns
• Changing Role of the CISO
• Fresh Approaches to Cyber Defenses
• Don’t Ignore OT Security

Top 10 Cybersecurity Trends to Expect in 2025 – From The Hacker News

1. AI as a weapon for attackers
2. The rise of zero-day vulnerabilities
3. AI as the backbone of modern cybersecurity
4. The growing complexity of data privacy
5. Challenges in user verification
6. The increasing importance of supply chain security
7. Balancing security and user experience
8. Cloud security and misconfiguration risks
9. The threat of insider attacks
10. Securing the edge in a decentralized world

There were dozens of predictions I could have added but those I have included cover a good spread of technology and business predictions.

It will be good to see in 2026 how many were right.