Editor’s Note: This week’s blog is the first of a two-part series that takes a look at some of the key topics in cybersecurity that are likely to emerge in 2025. Today, we discuss the significance of artificial intelligence, especially as it regards some important steps that companies and organizations can take to protect themselves in today’s rapidly changing world.

When it comes to previewing the “coming attractions” that we expect to see in 2025 – with all things cyber – it’d be nice if we could ease into it comfortably; like we used to do when we went to the movies.

Once we saw those animated “refreshments” happily dancing across the screen, with the message “let’s all to go to the lobby”, we would settle into our seat and preview some of the blockbuster hits that Hollywood was certain we’d just have to see, right? Of course, from there, we would be thrust into whatever action flick, romantic comedy, or AI-generated fantasy that Disney or Pixar could dream up to take us away from our everyday lives, if only for a couple of hours.

But just as we’ve discovered with sequels, prequels and anything Marvel, there’s no guarantees that a movie will be a smash at the box office. It’s kind of the same thing when it comes to cybersecurity and getting a read on what we can expect in the way of a “happy ending” for protecting our personal and financial information, or avoiding an AI-generated deepfake that makes it seems as though your company’s chief financial officer, in a video conference call, said it was OK to authorize a payment of $25 million!

And whether you’re seated around a table in Hong Kong, or you are running a small business in Hagerstown, Indiana that’s trying to grow, cybersecurity is, already, an essential tool that everyone in your organization will rely on and need to use in a way that’s safe and secure.

That being said, as pointed out in a recent article from AVC Technology, the cybersecurity challenges of 2025 are shaping up to be both innovative and unnerving and it includes five key issues that small and medium-sized businesses should anticipate having to deal with and what they can do to prepare, including:

• AI-Driven Attacks: Smarter, Faster and Harder to Detect
  • How to Prepare: Invest in advanced detection tools that use machine learning to spot these smarter attacks. Educate your team on recognizing AI-enhanced phishing e-mails that are eerily personalized and authentic.
• Quantum Computing: The end of encryption as we know it?
  • How to Prepare: If you haven’t already, start researching quantum-resistant encryption. It’s also a good idea to make this part of your long-term cybersecurity strategy to avoid being left scrambling when the time comes.
• Social Media Exploitation and Deepfakes: The Misinformation Machines
  • How to Prepare: Build and promote a culture of verification within your business. Encourage employees to be cautious with unexpected requests – even those that look or sound legitimate. Training and awareness are your best defenses, and it’ll help your team recognize these scams before they fall for them.
• Ransomware: It’s Getting (More) Personal
  • How to Prepare: Double down on incident-response planning and invest in backup solutions that allow you to recover quickly without paying a ransom. Regularly test your backups and keep them off-network, when possible, to prevent attackers from compromising them too. Ransomware may be unavoidable, but being prepared will keep it from taking your business down with it.
• Regulatory Changes and Compliance Headaches
  • How to Prepare: As the requirements for handling personal data begin to get stricter, you’ll want to stay on top of regulatory developments in your industry and region. Designate a team member or consider hiring a consultant to track these changes and ensure your business remains compliant. It’ll help you avoid legal issues but also strengthens your overall security posture.

To help with the privacy issues, there’s also a FREE resource (here in Indiana) that’s you can use. Known as the Indiana Privacy Toolkit, it is a practical guide – developed by experts – that’ll help your organization gain a better understanding of how privacy “works” and why it’s important.

Of course, just as Hollywood always seems to have more than one blockbuster film ready to go – especially during the holidays – for us to see, one of the other major issues in cyber that’ll have us grabbing our popcorn in ’25 is protecting our supply chain and critical infrastructure.

To learn more, be sure to check back with us in the New Year, on January 2, 2025, as we discuss in Part Two of our series, some of the solutions (along with a few expert predictions) that are designed to proactively guard against a cyber incident or cyberattack involving the resources that our communities, businesses and schools, large and small, rely on.

Until then, here’s hoping that you have a Cyber-Safe and Happy New Year!