Google Cybersecurity Forecast 2025 - How to Prepare for Future Threats
The Google Cloud Cybersecurity Forecast 2025 details major cybersecurity trends, highlighting the growth of AI's role, cyber operations by state actors, and the increase in ransomware and identity theft. The cybersecurity industry continues to innovate as businesses face new challenges in a world of expanding and multifaceted cyber threats.
In this blog, we explore Google's Cybersecurity Forecast 2025 report in more depth and what the views of Google Cloud's cybersecurity leaders are on cybersecurity trends this year.
The Impact of AI on Cybersecurity in 2025
The use of AI in cyberattacks will grow significantly in 2025 as malicious actors utilize AI technology more effectively. Large language models (LLMs) and deepfake technology will enhance phishing, spear-phishing, and other social engineering attacks while facilitating identity theft and fraud. The demand for LLMs for illicit purposes will also increase.
Generative AI is also changing information operations, as fake news and fake profiles are produced on a larger scale and with more credibility than before. As a result, the spread of disinformation is becoming even more challenging to detect and combat.
However, AI also works on the side of cybersecurity. In 2025, there will be a shift towards more automated security operations, where AI supports security teams by analyzing data, identifying threats, and prioritizing alerts. This improves responsiveness and enables more effective defense against evolving cyber threats.
Ransomware is One of the Biggest Threats
Ransomware will continue to be one of the biggest cyber threats in 2025. According to the Google Cloud report, the impact of these attacks is far-reaching and no longer limited to individual companies. For example, in 2024, the healthcare sector suffered several severe ransomware attacks that disrupted hospital operations and jeopardized patient care in the USA.
"Without question, multifaceted extortion and ransomware will continue in 2025, likely with an increase outside the U.S.,” commented Charles Carmakal, Mandiant CTO, Google Cloud.
According to Google's report, ransomware and extortion operations have affected over 100 countries and all industries. In 2024, the number of data leak sites doubled, and a large number of new ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) solutions emerged. This shows how serious and constantly evolving a threat ransomware is to organizations.
Evolving Malware: Multifaceted Attacks Become More Common
The systems organizations use are increasingly extending to multi-cloud environments, increasing the importance of identity protection. Compromising a single user account can lead to extensive security problems. Therefore, companies should utilize multi-factor authentication, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), device verification, and dynamic risk assessments.
Data-stealing malware is a growing threat, especially for those companies that have not implemented multi-factor authentication. With the help of this malware, attackers can steal login credentials and use them for more extensive cyberattacks. In 2025, the sophistication of such malware will increase further, making it more difficult to combat.
Infostealer malware has become even more effective, and its use in data breaches has increased significantly. In 2024, criminals used stolen credentials to infiltrate numerous organizations. Since malware is easily available even to actors with limited technical skills, its threat is constantly growing. Without multi-factor authentication (MFA), organizations are particularly vulnerable to these attacks.
In addition to these, Web3 and cryptocurrency companies are increasingly attractive targets for attackers. Cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities in smart contracts and steal private keys. Google's report says that over 12 billion dollars have been stolen in crypto thefts in recent years. State actors, such as North Korea, also use social engineering and supply chain attacks to infiltrate Web3 companies.
How to Protect Your Company from Malware:
- Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) and device verification.
- Reduce access rights and restrict the use of credentials across different systems.
- Protect endpoints from malware and phishing.
- Keep systems and software up to date with security updates.
- Monitor and block malware that attempts to steal data.
- Use password management solutions and multi-signature (multi-sig) mechanisms.
- Ensure security testing of smart contracts and store private keys in offline solutions.
- Train staff to recognize the risks of social engineering and supply chain attacks.
Vulnerabilities must be responded to even faster (Time-To-Exploit, TTE). Google's Cybersecurity Forecast 2025 report states that in 2023, attackers were able to exploit a vulnerability on average in five days, whereas previously, it took more than 30 days. The number of software vendors targeted has also increased significantly, and these numbers are expected to grow further this year.
Ensuring Cloud Security
In 2025, cloud security will become even more central. Vulnerabilities related to cloud environments are often caused by incorrect configurations, insufficient monitoring, credential reuse, and weak security practices in unmanaged cloud environments.
Cloud-based Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems will become even more common in 2025. These solutions offer scalability, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to manage and automate security. Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response (SOAR) improves the response to cyber threats and reduces the workload of security officers. At the same time, vulnerabilities in cloud platforms, such as incorrect authentication settings and access rights management, require closer monitoring and better protection solutions.
The development of quantum computers also puts pressure on traditional encryption methods. Although quantum attacks are not yet a widespread threat, organizations should already map their encryption solutions and prepare for future changes.
Tightening Regulation for Cloud Service Providers
As critical infrastructure moves to cloud services, regulation is increasingly being directed at cloud service providers. In 2025, the requirements regarding the security and operational reliability of cloud services will be further tightened, emphasizing the responsibility of cloud service providers.
The European Union's NIS2 directive sets stricter security requirements and expands its scope to cover more sectors and companies in 2025. This means that even more companies must implement strong security measures, perform risk analyses, and report security breaches. NIS2 emphasizes risk management, incident handling, and supply chain security, forcing organizations to adopt more proactive and comprehensive approaches.
Organizations must invest in staff training, security technologies, and incident management to comply with NIS2 requirements. The directive also promotes cooperation and information sharing, which strengthens the cybersecurity ecosystem in the EMEA region.
How to Protect Yourself from Cyber Threats in 2025?
The year 2025 brings more sophisticated cyber threats, while also opening new doors to combat them. Organizations need to invest in a proactive security strategy, utilize AI-based protection solutions, and ensure that their security practices are up-to-date. The Zero Trust model, multi-factor authentication, and cloud-based security solutions are key ways to protect against cyberattacks and ensure business continuity.
Companies can no longer rely on traditional solutions focused on perimeter protection, but proactive and comprehensive strategies are needed that utilize the latest technology, such as artificial intelligence and Zero Trust architecture.
So, how can your company stay one step ahead and ensure its competitive advantage in the rapidly changing digital world? Read more about this: How to ensure your competitive advantage with cybersecurity in 2025.
Gapps offers comprehensive solutions to ensure cybersecurity. We have supported several organizations in developing information security. Read here, for example, how Gapps helped Waltti Solution to guarantee strong security and management in Google Cloud.
Also, check out the Google Cloud Security Posture Review and Google Workspace Security Assessment, which allow you to easily and reliably determine the current situation.
Do you want to make sure that your organization is ready for the cyber threats of 2025? Get in touch! And, hope to see you in our Security Day by Gapps in September
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