6 Cyber Security Challenges Emerge from World Economic Forum

As we step into 2025, the cyber security landscape continues to be as complex as ever for

security leaders looking to protect their organizations from increasingly injurious cyber threats.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) detailed some of the most challenging threats in its Global

Cyber security Outlook 2025, with some critical areas of concern mirroring those in our own

State of Cyber security Report 2025. Both reports emphasize the growing sophistication of

cyber threats, the integration of emerging technologies to make cyber threats harder to detect

and deter, and the outsized influence of global geopolitical factors influencing cyber security

threats.

Following are six trends and areas of emphasis that both the WEF and Check Point Research

see as critical challenges for cyber security leaders in 2025 and beyond.

1. Geopolitical Tensions and Cyber security Strategy

According to WEF research, nearly 60% of organizations report that geopolitical tensions have

directly influenced their cyber security planning. The increasing use of AI in cyber warfare,

particularly for disinformation campaigns, is creating new challenges. Check Point Research

reported that nation-state actors are employing AI tools to amplify fake news, create deepfakes,

and manipulate public opinion. As these technologies become more advanced and widely used,

the ability to manipulate media, elections, and public sentiment is growing, making it harder to

differentiate between truth and fictitious content.

State-affiliated hacktivism is also becoming a more serious issue. Cyber attacks are increasingly

being used as a tool to further geopolitical agendas, leading our researchers to concluded more

sophisticated and sustained cyber conflicts with long-term impacts may soon become the norm.

2. Supply Chain Vulnerabilities and Ecosystem Risks

Both our report and WEF researchers highlight supply chain vulnerabilities as one of the top

cyber security risks for organizations. The increasing complexity and interdependencies of

global supply chains, alongside a lack of visibility into the security practices of third-party

vendors, has made supply chain attacks a critical hot spot for cyber criminals. Fifty-four percent

of large organizations identified supply chain risks as a major barrier to cyber resilience,

according to the WEF report.

This is further compounded by a marked shift in ransomware tactics with cyber criminals now

stealing sensitive data (data exfiltration) and threatening to release it, further ratcheting up

pressure on businesses. The healthcare, financial services, and education sectors will be most

impacted by these threat strategies

3. AI-Driven Threats and Vulnerabilities

AI is transforming the cyber security landscape in both positive and negative ways. While AI

offers significant potential for improving security systems, its adoption is also introducing new

vulnerabilities that are only just starting to emerge onto the scene.

The WEF reports that 66% of organizations expect AI to have the greatest impact on cyber

security in 2025, yet only 37% have processes in place to assess the security of AI tools before

deployment – a large risk for these organizations. Generative AI, in particular, is enhancing

cyber criminal capabilities, enabling more sophisticated social engineering attacks and an

increase in phishing attempts.

Our research looks at AI in terms of its use in amplifying cyber warfare, particularly in

disinformation campaigns and data manipulation. As AI continues to evolve, it will be critical for

cyber security strategies to address both the defensive and offensive capabilities of this

technology.

4. Edge Device Vulnerabilities

Security professionals know that the cloud edge presents an area of unique vulnerability for bad

actors. And in 2025 both WEF and Check Point Research note edge devices, including IoT

devices and remote work hardware, as an area of increased intrusion and exploit. Our research

predicts a rise in zero-day vulnerabilities in edge devices, which can be less secure and harder

to monitor than network-connected or cloud-based endpoints.

5. Rising Compliance Challenges and Regulatory Fragmentation

With the proliferation of cyber regulations worldwide, compliance has become a top concern for

cyber leaders – and a major burden.

WEF research notes that fragmented regulations across jurisdictions have become a significant

challenge, with 76% of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) reporting difficulty

maintaining compliance. While regulations are important for improving cyber security posture

and building trust, their lack of harmonization creates significant complexity for organizations

operating across multiple regions, especially for organizations with a deep security stack.

While our research didn’t touch upon compliance as a major challenge in and of itself, we did

note that the growing complexity of managing hybrid cloud environments, and the risks of

misconfigured cloud settings can expose sensitive data – a huge back door for skilled attackers.

6. Cyber Skills Gap and Workforce Challenges

A major theme in both reports is the widening cyber security skills gap. WEC research found

that two-thirds of organizations report moderate-to-critical skills gaps, making it difficult to meet

security demands. Additionally, 49% of public-sector organizations indicated a shortage of

necessary cyber security talent, a figure that has increased by 33% from 2024. This shortage is

now being compounded by the rapid adoption of new technologies (including AI) which require

specialized skills to properly assess and implement secure systems.

Our own research acknowledged this critical skills gap – adding another layer to the message

that a prevention-first approach to stopping threats from entering the network would go far in

alleviating this harrowing situation for the industry. Fewer SOC false positives and fewer threats

that bypass an organization’s cyber stack mean fewer security professionals to respond to alerts

and threats.

Both reports make it clear that cyber security in 2025 is becoming increasingly complex, driven

by geopolitical tensions, AI advancements, supply chain vulnerabilities, and a growing threat

from cyber criminals.

As organizations face more sophisticated and targeted attacks, from ransomware and AI-driven

cyber warfare to infostealers and edge device vulnerabilities, a proactive and prevention-first

approach is essential.

Investing in emerging technologies, securing the workforce, and staying ahead of regulatory

changes will be critical to ensuring resilience in the face of these challenges. By understanding

and responding to these key cyber security trends, organizations can better prepare for the risks

that lie ahead, safeguarding their operations, data, and reputation from the next wave of cyber

threats.

Last Updated on 2 weeks by News Desk 1