The 2025 Cybersecurity Outlook, a Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) study on technology trends and focus areas curated by its experts, said generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), cloud security and supply chain resilience are key for organisations to navigate the threat landscape in the future.
As new technologies continue to be embraced, they create new and complex threats. Experts and leaders at TCS have identified seven focus areas that will influence cybersecurity and help organisations prioritise their security investments to prepare for increasing cyberattacks.
“With geopolitical shifts and evolving technology, global cybersecurity is undergoing a major transformation. GenAI is enhancing operational efficiencies, but organisations must equip themselves to counteract cyber threats,” said Ganesa Subramanian Vaikuntam, TCS’s Global Head of Cybersecurity.
“It is imperative for organisations to harness these advancements and implement GenAI-powered threat detection and response systems to stay ahead of the curve. In this era of evolving technologies, a robust and proactive cyber resilience strategy is not just an option, but a necessity for enterprises to effectively navigate and mitigate unforeseen cyber incidents.”
The 2025 Cybersecurity Outlook highlighted the following cybersecurity trends to look out for in 2025…
Influence of GenAI
GenAI is transforming organisational operations, but cybercriminals are also exploiting it for advanced attacks, such as deepfakes, phishing, data manipulation, and new malware. In response, organisations must deploy GenAI-powered threat detection and response systems to fight fire with fire.
Cloud security is critical
As cloud computing adoption continues to accelerate, organisations need to implement strong security protocols like encryption, access controls, and continuous monitoring. Maintaining proper cloud configurations is crucial to prevent unauthorised access and breaches.
Elastic supply chains
Organisations will need flexible, resilient supply chains due to changing geopolitics and partner ecosystems. Leaders must develop proactive strategies to adjust their supply networks, while protecting sensitive data and maintaining regulatory compliance. Enhancing supply chain resilience will be increasingly vital for preserving operational integrity in the face of uncertainty.
Secure by design
At a time when digital technologies, IoT capabilities, and advanced connectivity are driving new business models in EV charging, DERMS, autonomous vehicles, and other connected factories, organisations must secure their value chains to ensure these businesses are safe by design. By 2025, the growth of IoT devices will require stronger device hardening, secure communication channels, and ongoing vulnerability assessments.
Zero Trust security
Organisations are moving from traditional security models to zero-trust architecture, which requires continuous authentication and limited access to minimise threats. By 2026, most large enterprises will adopt zero-trust methods, consolidating security tools to be more efficient. To adapt, companies must use integrated platforms for orchestrating and automating cybersecurity while working towards Cybersecurity Mesh Architecture (CSMA) for dynamic, collaborative, and secure environments.
Automation-first approach
Modern Managed Detection and Response (MDR) combines Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Security Operation Centres (SOCs), Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR), Extended Detection and Response (XDR), threat hunting, threat intelligence, and various attack simulations. These components must integrate seamlessly under an ‘automation-first’ approach for strong cyber defence against new technologies like Gen AI, quantum computing, and 5G expansion.
Cyber resilience is key
Now more than ever, a robust cyber resilience strategy is crucial for organisations to handle unexpected cyber incidents and will require taking a fresh look at the basics: regular backups, detailed incident response plans, and business continuity measures. Something as simple as regular drills can enhance organisational preparedness and response capabilities. A culture of resilience will help minimise downtime and disruptions from cyberattacks.
The Mumbai-based IT consulting firm, which generated revenues of $29 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, is a leader in cybersecurity globally. The company has over 16,000 cybersecurity professionals on its roster with more than 612,000 employees worldwide. It has over 600 enterprises as clients across the globe and a network of 15+ cybersecurity delivery centres worldwide.
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