Editor’s Note: In this week’s blog, we wrap up our two-part series, highlighting some of the critical topics in cybersecurity that are expected to emerge in 2025. Today, we look at the significance of protecting our supply chain and critical infrastructure and what’s ahead when it comes to guarding the resources that help support all of us.

If you’ve seen the TV coverage in the aftermath of a tornado or an earthquake, it’s devastating.

There’s the sense of loss that’s etched in the expressions of the faces of the people who’ve just lost everything. There are also the images of the physical damage; entire homes and businesses reduced to a pile of debris that stretches for miles. And while it’s true that, in time, the people who’ve been impacted find a way forward, we want to find a solution so that it doesn’t happen again, right?

Or, at the very least, we’re better prepared when (and not if) it might happen again.

With that in mind, it could be said that there are some parallels when you see what’s on the horizon in a new year for supply chain management and protecting our critical infrastructure. It's not that we're forecasting a disaster, but rather it's a situation where you want to be prepared so as to avoid the devastation that can occur.

Moreover, at a time when we’re dealing with what’s amounted to a rapid increase in the number of cyber incidents and attacks – in towns as small as Tipton, Indiana – it has the same kind of potential to leave in its wake, the same kind of damage to entire systems and company reputations, not to mention a LOT of sensitive data being compromised. It’s why, in 2025, the focus will be on building a comprehensive and proactive cybersecurity strategy. In that sense, it’s not just a prediction, as it is a proposition we can’t ignore.

To get prepared, there are five key trends and challenges that’ll shape the supply chain in 2025. In response, there are steps your organization can take to prepare for the “when, not if” environment we’re living in that includes:

• Investing in AI tools to enhance the visibility of your supply chain, allow for a greater demand in planning and operational efficiency.
• Developing internal policies and training to help guide the adoption of using AI in a way that’s responsible.
• Considering partnerships with providers that are integrating AI into their logistics platforms to enhancing your services.

Additionally, the forecast includes an expected increase in spending in cybersecurity globally that’s projected to top $300 billion.

When it comes to seeing into the proverbial (digital?) crystal ball for securing critical infrastructure, especially as it involves state and local government and educational institutions (both K-12 and higher ed), one key prediction is the increased use of blockchain technology to help ensure the integrity and transparency of critical data exchanges. Blockchain can provide decentralized security measures, reducing the reliance on single points of failure and making it harder for cyber adversaries to execute successful attacks. Critical infrastructure in this sector spans various domains, including power grids, water treatment facilities, transportation networks, and educational IT systems. By fortifying these areas through innovative technology and collaboration between public and private entities, the resilience of such essential infrastructure can be significantly enhanced.

Capitalizing on these improvements will also continue to take on a greater significance, given the fact Nation-state cyber actors from China, Russia, and Iran, are expected to remain primary threats.

In predicting what any lapse in security could pose for the public’s health and safety, part of the forecast calls for municipalities to continue in their efforts “to adopt simple, yet effective cyber hygiene practices and (by) fostering tighter coordination between public and private sectors, these defenses are expected to evolve, mitigating risks and safeguarding critical services."

Of course, with every prediction or resolution, there’s always the requisite acknowledgement that what happens is any sort of “guarantee of future results”. But let’s hope we’re able to continue following the best practices and using the resources that are out there – including those that are free – so we can avoid showing up on the 6:00 news!