Top 10 Cybersecurity Threats in 2025 and How to Mitigate Them

As cyber threats become more sophisticated, they’re also becoming more expensive. According to a report from IBM, the global average cost of a data breach was $4.88 million in 2024 — a 10% increase over 2023 and the highest total ever. The stakes have never been higher, and they’re only going to keep rising.

There were a number of high-profile cyber incidents in 2024, and if organizations want to avoid a similar fate in 2025, they should focus on building an understanding of the threat landscape and cultivating awareness of current threat trends.

The Evolving Cyber Threat Landscape

Technological advancements like AI, IoT expansion, and remote work are major drivers of change in the cyber threat landscape. The rise of AI gives both attackers and defenders new tools — cybercriminals are using AI to automate attacks and evade detection, while AI-driven security solutions improve threat detection. The widespread adoption of IoT solutions in consumer and industrial settings has introduced new vulnerabilities and entry points for hackers. And remote and hybrid work models have increased reliance on cloud services, which come with their own unique security challenges.

Traditional security measures alone are no longer sufficient to combat some of the latest cybersecurity threats. Businesses must implement proactive security measures and keep security team members up-to-date with emerging threat intelligence and advanced strategies.

So, what are the most common cybersecurity threats for businesses in 2025? The following list highlights the top 10 cybersecurity threats organizations should be aware of and prepared for in 2025, along with tips to defend against them and strengthen your overall security posture.

Threat #1: AI-Driven Phishing & Social Engineering

Phishing attacks aren’t new, but these aren’t your mother’s phishing scams. Advancements in AI are making phishing attacks more sophisticated and targeted. Instead of trying to get you to click a link in a simple, sketchy email, cybercriminals are now delivering hyper-personalized emails, text messages, and even voice deepfakes that convincingly mimic trusted individuals and organizations.

Why It Matters

These advanced phishing attacks can be nearly indistinguishable from legitimate communications, which increases the likelihood of credential theft, financial fraud, or unauthorized system access. Many of these AI-powered messages are error-free, convincing, and context-aware, letting them slip through email spam filters that would catch traditional phishing scams.

Voice deepfake capabilities are particularly alarming, as this new era of hyper-realism can fool even the most tech-savvy and security-aware employees, making it one of the top cybersecurity threats organizations face today.

Mitigation Strategies

• Regular staff training on emerging phishing tactics, including simulated phishing campaigns to help employees recognize new, AI-enhanced threats.
• AI-driven email security tools to detect anomalies and filter out the new generation of advanced phishing messages.
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) to limit the impact of stolen credentials and prevent unauthorized access to company systems and data.

Threat #2: Ransomware 2.0 (Data Exfiltration & Double Extortion)

In Ransomware 2.0, attackers first steal sensitive data before locking systems down and locking organizations out of their own networks. They then use a double extortion tactic, threatening to sell the stolen data or leak it to the public if the ransom isn’t paid. Many companies would feel forced to comply with such a threat, fearing public exposure of customer information, trade secrets, and other confidential data.

Why It Matters

Ransomware 2.0 is highly effective, and many attackers feel emboldened to demand increasingly high ransom payouts. The fallout from a ransomware 2.0 incident can be catastrophic for victims, who face costly operational downtime in addition to severe financial, legal, and reputational damage.

There are now even ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) platforms, making these types of attacks more accessible to cybercriminals and increasing their frequency.

Mitigation Strategies

• Robust, frequent backups, especially those stored offline, can facilitate a fast recovery after a ransomware 2.0 incident.
• Network segmentation can limit the spread of ransomware and protect critical systems from being reached.
• Updated Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions help detect and block ransomware in early stages.

Threat #3: Supply Chain Attacks

In a supply chain attack, cybercriminals compromise a trusted vendor, software provider, or service partner to gain indirect access to target organizations. Rather than attacking a company directly, hackers infiltrate third-party software, cloud services, or hardware components to spread malware or exploit vulnerabilities. 

Why It Matters

This type of attack allows threat actors to bypass traditional security defenses by leveraging trusted connections. Businesses increasingly rely on an interconnected web of third-party applications and cloud services, so a breach of one service can cascade across many organizations, wreaking havoc, compromising data, and damaging customer trust.

Attackers are also known to take advantage of software update mechanisms, injecting malicious code into widely distributed — and trusted — firmware updates.

Mitigation Strategies

• Vet suppliers and cloud partners carefully and enforce contractual security requirements to make sure they don’t become an access point.
• Implement zero-trust network architecture, requiring strict authentication and access controls for third-party integrations.
• Continuously monitor third-party integrations for suspicious activity.
• Establish rapid response plans to address supply chain incidents before they escalate.

Threat #4: Cloud Jacking & Misconfigurations

Cloud jacking refers to unauthorized access or manipulation of cloud-based infrastructure, services, or applications, often due to weak configurations. Once attackers gain access to a cloud system, they can exploit sensitive data, disrupt services, or launch further attacks. 

Why It Matters

Businesses are widely adopting cloud services — Gartner estimates 90% of businesses will operate with a hybrid cloud approach within the next few years. However, this rapid migration is among the top cybersecurity threats: rushed deployments often overlook critical security controls, and sloppy configurations can leave systems dangerously exposed to breaches.

Additionally, some businesses mistakenly assume cloud providers handle all security aspects, which can leave gaps for threat actors to infiltrate.

Mitigation Strategies

• Regular cloud configuration audits to ensure there are no gaps for attackers to exploit.
• Identity access management (IAM) policies, including least privilege principles to limit user permissions.
• Data encryption in transit and at rest, a way to protect sensitive data at all stages of storage and access.

Threat #5: IoT Exploits

IoT devices are everywhere, and malicious actors are exploiting them because, unfortunately, they often make easy targets. Just like the cloud is a weak entry point in cloudjacking, IoT devices can be used as entry points into corporate networks. Once they enter a network through an unsecured IoT device, attackers can access sensitive data and launch further attacks.

Why It Matters

Many IoT devices are designed for convenience over security and therefore lack built-in security controls. This is concerning when it comes to consumer devices like smart thermostats and other smart home devices, but it’s even more alarming when IoT adoption is growing across industries like healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, and more. Vulnerable IoT devices in industrial settings are prime targets for attackers looking to manipulate operations, steal sensitive data, or disrupt critical infrastructure.

Mitigation Strategies

• Segment IoT devices on isolated networks, preventing would-be attackers from using them as access points to other systems and data.
• Update and patch IoT firmware regularly to fix known vulnerabilities before an attacker can exploit them.
• Enforce strong authentication and encryption for device connections, striking a balance between security and practical access for authorized users.

Threat #6: Deepfakes and Synthetic Media Attacks

Deepfakes and synthetic media attacks use AI-generated videos, images, or audio to disseminate disinformation or carry out corporate fraud. For example, cybercriminals can create fake CEO voice messages authorizing wire transfers or use AI-generated videos to impersonate executives and manipulate employees or partners. It may sound like science fiction, but it’s happening now. And as AI technology improves, it’s getting harder to tell what’s real and what’s fake.

Why It Matters

Deepfake attacks and synthetic media bypass traditional security controls because they are nearly indistinguishable from real communications and media. In an era of hybrid and remote work and video calls, organizations are more susceptible to these tactics than ever. 

With a deepfake attack, malicious actors have access to more than just online systems and networks. They can use these impersonation tools for complex fraud, espionage, and social engineering.

Mitigation Strategies

• Use verification protocols, especially multi-step approvals or callback procedures that would thwart an impersonator’s efforts to achieve unauthorized access.
• Employ deepfake detection tools to analyze audio and video messages for signs of manipulation.
• Teach employees how to recognize audio and video anomalies like unnatural pauses or odd facial movements.

Threat #7: Cryptojacking

Cryptojacking is a cyberattack where hackers hijack an organization's computing resources — CPUs, GPUs, and cloud instances — to secretly mine cryptocurrency. Cryptojacking doesn’t necessarily disrupt day-to-day operations, but it does exploit system resources. If a cryptojacking attack goes undetected, it can become a major invisible drain on computing power and system efficiency.

Why It Matters

It may seem like a lower-stakes attack, but cryptojacking can have serious consequences. It slows down business operations, degrades device performance, and increases energy costs. A successful cryptojacking scheme can also indicate broader system vulnerabilities that attackers can later exploit for activities worse than cryptojacking. 

Mitigation Strategies

• Monitor for unusual spikes in CPU, GPU, and cloud resource usage, as this can indicate unauthorized mining activity.
• Deploy robust endpoint security solutions, such as behavior-based threat detection and malware software that can recognize and block cryptojacking scripts.
• Educate staff on avoiding malicious websites and downloads that may harbor cryptojacking scripts.

Threat #8: Zero-Day Exploits

Zero-day exploits are attacks that take advantage of undiscovered or unpatched vulnerabilities in software or hardware. Attackers exploit these vulnerabilities before the vendor releases a patch, which means there’s no immediate fix available for victims. The term “zero-day” refers to the fact that the vendor has zero days to address the vulnerability before cybercriminals exploit it.

Why It Matters

Because zero-day attacks are focused on undiscovered vulnerabilities, they often fly under the radar, remaining undetected due to lack of awareness of the flaw being exploited. Once the flaw is discovered, damage is already done. It can take a while for the vendor to develop a patch to fix the flaw, giving attackers even more time to extract sensitive data, deploy malware, and generally wreak havoc in the system.

Mitigation Strategies

• Threat intelligence feeds to spot emerging vulnerabilities before threat actors do.
• Virtual patching to protect systems while waiting for official patches and a regular patching cadence to ensure ongoing protection.
• Intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS) to detect unusual activity that can be indicative of zero-day exploits.
• Strong network segmentation to contain breaches and prevent attackers from accessing critical data.

Threat #9: Insider Threats

Insider threats include malicious or negligent actions by employees, contractors, or partners with authorized access to an organization’s systems. Whether intentional or unintentional, authorized users can put sensitive data at risk, leak company information, or introduce vulnerabilities. Some insider threats are deliberate acts of sabotage, and others result from carelessness or negligence.

Why It Matters

When insiders have legitimate access to company systems, they don’t leave evidence of their actions like external attackers do. Monitoring systems are often programmed to look for signs of  intruders and outside actors, not internal threats. An insider can do a lot of damage, not only because their actions are less detectable and their access is broad, but because they have intimate knowledge of the organization’s inner workings.

Mitigation Strategies

• Role-based access controls and strict privilege management to make sure individuals only access the information and systems they need for their role.
• Employee activity monitoring to detect unusual behavior and employees accessing systems they wouldn’t normally need in their day-to-day work.
• Clear policies and ongoing awareness training to ensure employees understand the importance of security and the potential risks of negligence.

Threat #10: Data Poisoning & Manipulation of AI Models

Data poisoning and AI model manipulation is when attackers feed corrupt or misleading data to machine learning models, skewing results and sabotaging business operations. A corrupt AI model can produce biased outputs and manipulate decision-making, which leads to incorrect business predictions and forecasting and can disrupt day-to-day business processes. 

Why It Matters

Organizations are increasingly relying on AI for decision-making across various departments and areas of business. This can be a good thing. From marketing to fraud detection, AI outputs are steering companies towards greater efficiency and cost savings. However, the potential for data poisoning should cause AI users to pause and avoid full automation. Just as AI models can be powerful tools for progress, they can also be manipulated and used for malicious purposes.

Mitigation Strategies

• Validate data sources and implement anomaly detection for input data before feeding information into AI models.
• Regularly retrain AI models with verified datasets to ensure accuracy.
• Employ checks and balances, and implement manual reviews for critical processes and high-stakes decisions made with the help of AI systems.

Building a Proactive Cybersecurity Strategy

To build resilience against the threat landscape in 2025, organizations need a comprehensive and proactive cybersecurity strategy: 

Layered Defense

A layered defense combines multiple security measures, including firewalls, endpoint protection, encryption, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and more. Since many threats can bypass one or more security measures, a layered defense increases your ability to protect critical systems and data. 

Security Culture

Your employees are a key resource when it comes to security. Encourage ongoing employee training and awareness, so staff can learn to recognize and report suspicious activity. In this new age of cyber threats, simple phishing email training isn’t going to cut it. Employers should cover topics like deepfakes, social engineering, AI-driven attacks, and other cutting-edge threats.

Incident Response Planning

Although you hope to never need it, having a tested plan to follow in the event of a data breach can significantly reduce damage and downtime. The longer an incident goes on, the more damage a hacker can do. If your team knows exactly what to do when something happens, you can act quickly and minimize the impact of a breach.

Protect Your Organization from Cyber Threats in 2025

These are just ten of the top cybersecurity threats in 2025 — there are many more, including perhaps some we haven’t even seen yet. And many of these threats can be combined, creating multi-faceted attacks that require a multi-faceted approach. For example, a phishing email might distribute cryptojacking malware or ransomware.

To avoid falling victim to these threats, businesses must invest in security tools to safeguard systems and training resources to teach employees how to spot suspicious activity. Cybrary’s hands-on cybersecurity courses are designed to help you remediate skill gaps and stay ahead of emerging threats. Request a demo to start exploring Cybrary for Teams.