Exploring 2025 Cybersecurity Threats and Solutions: AI, Quantum Computing, CISOs, and Deepfakes

As we look ahead to 2025, cybersecurity continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Emerging technologies, like AI and quantum computing, present both new threats and innovative solutions. At the same time, critical infrastructure remains vulnerable to sophisticated attacks like deepfakes. Below, I explore key questions and provide insights into the future of cybersecurity and the challenges organizations will face.

AI-Based Protections and Attacks

AI is quickly becoming a central force in both cybersecurity defenses and threats. It’s changing the way we protect our systems and how attackers target them.

Do you foresee AI creating a "stalemate" between cyber criminals and defenders, or will it ultimately benefit one side? If so, which one and why?

I do not foresee a stalemate. History has shown us that security is an evolution. The bad guys do X, and we counter with Y. The thing we'll need to focus on is predicting the X from the bad guys. AI will not equalize the battlefield but will keep it dynamic, requiring constant adaptation from defenders.

What emerging AI-based cyber threats do you anticipate by 2025? How can organizations prepare for them?

AI will become fully weaponized, and the evolution process will accelerate. AI-based attacks will be harder to detect, and their patterns will be more complex than human-driven attacks. Attack systems powered by AI could be bought and sold to non-hacker teams, widening the scope of potential attackers. Organizations will need AI defenses to match this complexity and speed.

Who will own building AI-based cyber defenses inside an organization? Will the CIO take on this responsibility, or will the speed of change demand a new role to manage it?

The responsibility will likely fall under the CIO or CISO, but the tactical nature of this challenge will demand a specialized team. It’s time to envision a new cyber AI role in organizations, someone to lead the charge and adapt quickly to the evolving threat landscape.

Quantum Computing and Cryptography

Quantum computing has the potential to both revolutionize cybersecurity and introduce new risks. As encryption methods evolve, so do the tools available to break them.

How can organizations balance the need for quantum-resistant security with the practicality of implementation?

This will be tough. Not everyone has access to a quantum computer. The industry will need to develop resellable quantum computing instances within existing infrastructure. Think of providers like Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS, and Google offering quantum computing as a service, making it more practical for widespread implementation.

What challenges do you foresee in achieving truly quantum-resistant security?

People are already working on it, but we need new mathematical encryption algorithms that haven't been fully developed yet. There will be a natural evolution in this space, as we see progress in both quantum encryption and the methods to counteract quantum attacks.

What is one immediate step organizations should take to prepare for post-quantum cryptography?

Start looking for solutions now and identify the key players in this space. Organizations should familiarize themselves with the current state of quantum-resistant cryptography and keep an eye on its development.

Could quantum computing enhance cybersecurity in unexpected ways? If so, how?

Yes, quantum computing will evolve tactics and technology, and it could lead to computing advancements we couldn’t have predicted. I imagine quantum encryption will move faster than quantum decryption, as encryption tends to be easier to implement than breaking it.

How might 'Harvest Now, Decrypt Later' threats affect data retention policies by 2025?

This is how attacks will likely unfold in 2025. While quantum computing may not be ready for real-time decryption just yet, 'Harvest Now, Decrypt Later' threats will grow. We might not see real-time quantum decryption until 2026 or later, but attackers will still be collecting encrypted data in anticipation of future breakthroughs.

The Evolving Role of CISOs/ISOs

With the rising complexity of cyber threats, the role of CISOs and ISOs is becoming more integrated into business strategy. They are no longer just protectors of systems—they are strategic leaders.

How do you see the responsibilities and required skills of CISOs and ISOs evolving in 2025? What about 2030?

By 2025, CISOs and ISOs will need to be technology visionaries, constantly studying new technologies and understanding how they impact security postures and organizational strategy. The pace of technological advancements will far exceed traditional business evolution, so we’ll need to anticipate changes much faster than before. By 2030, this visionary approach will become even more critical as the threat landscape becomes more complex.

Which skills will become less important in the coming years?

The way humans respond to incidents will change significantly. Gone will be the days of manually poring over logs to find intrusion points. Instead, AI and machine learning will handle much of this analysis. Security leaders will need to make decisions quickly, based on insights delivered by AI, and many simple decisions will be made automatically.

How might the relationship between CISOs/ISOs and other C-suite executives change in light of emerging cyber threats?

The rest of the C-suite will rely heavily on CISOs and ISOs to identify and leverage new technologies that can transform the business. Next-generation security leaders will need to understand the business as deeply as their fellow C-suite executives. This is a big step up for many security leaders, but it’s essential for driving business transformation through security.

Supply Chain Deepfakes and Critical Infrastructure Vulnerabilities

Deepfakes are no longer just a novelty—they are a potent tool for attackers to disrupt critical infrastructure and supply chains.

What specific threats do you foresee from supply chain deepfakes, and how might they disrupt industries like global shipping?

Deepfake technologies have become very prominent in recent years. Attackers can now convincingly mimic executives' voices, adapting vocal tones and even video likenesses, making it difficult to verify if messages are legitimate in a fast-paced world. Industries like global shipping could face serious disruption if critical decisions are made based on these falsified communications. Proper communication channels and rejecting out-of-channel communications will be key to avoiding compromise.

With the rise of biometric security in critical infrastructure, how vulnerable are we to deepfake attacks, and what radical new authentication methods might we need?

Biometrics might still be the answer. While deepfake technology will likely impact messaging and single-factor authentication, fingerprints and retinal scans should remain accurate. If someone forgets their device or credentials, access cannot be permitted without re-authorizing that person through secure biometric verification. We need to reject anything that can be easily faked or manipulated through these technologies.

In a world where deepfakes become ubiquitous, might we see a return to 'analog' or 'human-centric' verification methods in critical systems? What might this look like, and how would it change our current cybersecurity paradigms?

I don't foresee a return to analog methods, but human-centric and biometric verification will be heavily relied upon. Re-authorization processes will change—IT help desks and similar infrastructure will need escalating proof of a person's legitimacy to mitigate deepfake risks.

Which critical infrastructure sectors do you believe will be most at risk in 2025, and why?

I believe election and political systems are most at risk. Deepfakes can create convincing videos or audio of individuals appearing to do or say things they did not, potentially misleading the public. Companies are also at risk, with deepfakes targeting executives to trick employees into executing unauthorized actions. The economy as a whole could face significant disruption, with predictions of $10 trillion in lost revenue annually due to these kinds of attacks.

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