CIO OPINION
Shift focus to security transformation and remove vendors causing complexity
In ten years there will only be two types of companies ; those that leveraged AI to innovate , and those that no longer exist . With this harsh reality , CISOs must figure out how to be an enabler of AI , not a blocker . knee jerk reactions that require unrealistic efforts . This is a complete misstep , with much of today ’ s regulatory efforts ineffective and not focused on the most critical aspects of security controls .
Grant Bourzikas , CSO , Cloudflare
But with AI still in its infancy , very few have a strong understanding of the technology or the risks it may present , leading to extremely low levels of confidence that their organisation is well-prepared . The lack of understanding around AI , is ultimately giving threat actors a leg up .
The broad brush of cyber regulations legislated with good intent will have a reverse effect in 2025 ; which is creating complexity and having no real impact on stopping attacks . In the past few years we have witnessed a cadence of record shattering , significant breaches that have drawn the eye of regulators .
But while their attempts to raise the security resiliency of organisations are aimed to be helpful , they are often
Vendor lock-in is a crutch that will lead to increasing breaches in 2025 and organisations must start their security transformation journeys . The deeply rooted foothold that vendors have in organisations ’ environments has become one of the main drivers of complexity . The bottom line is that complexity creates chaos , and chaos distracts from the real priorities when it comes to securing an organisation .
Being held hostage by a vendor , to a point where moving off of them seems impossible , is the moment they begin to help shift the balance of power back in favour of threat actors . The hyper-focus on digital transformation over the past few years , implementing a myriad of new tools and vendors across the organisation to rapidly innovate , has left security in the dark .
Cross-border cyberbullying to intensify targeting political beliefs
Anna Larkina , Privacy Expert , Kaspersky
Advances in AI , privacy protection , and data ownership frameworks will reshape the way people interact with technology and manage their digital lives . With prominent operating systems like iOS and Android rolling out AI-enhanced features , people will increasingly rely on AI for communication , workflows , and creative tasks .
This normalisation also brings challenges as personalised deepfakes become increasingly sophisticated in the absence of reliable detection tools .
Individuals may gain the right to monetise their data , transfer it easily across platforms , and benefit from simplified consent .
The growing emphasis on privacy is expected to lead to new regulations that strengthen user control over personal data . By 2025 , individuals may gain the right to monetise their data , transfer it easily across platforms , and benefit from simplified consent processes .
Global frameworks , such as the EU ’ s GDPR , California ’ s CPRA and South Africa ’ s POPIA , continue to inspire reforms worldwide , while decentralised storage technologies could further strengthen user autonomy over their information .
Increasing political polarisation is expected to exacerbate cyberbullying in 2025 . Social media algorithms that amplify divisive content , combined with the widespread availability of AI tools for creating deepfakes and doctored posts , are likely to intensify online harassment .
Cross-border cyberbullying could also escalate as global platforms facilitate the targeting of individuals based on their political beliefs .
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