Digital Trend Alert
examining hot topics in the high-tech, entertainment and digital industries
Cybersecurity As The Top Digital Trend 2025: why cybersecurity matters in today’s evolving trends
by Carol Ingley, president
Media Mogul Enterprises
Digital Trend Alert
Week of January 20, 2025 through Week of February 24, 2025
Key Digital Trends
As key digital trends evolve and expand in 2025, cybersecurity will be critical. In fact, it is so critical that it can be seen as the top trend of 2025. That’s the current thinking of Larry Ellison, CEO, Oracle. A clue to how he may be approaching cybersecurity solutions could be found in a 2016 quote from Fortune magazine: “If you do everything everyone else does in business, you’re going to lose.”
Innovative solutions for cybersecurity–creative and proactive–are now demanded. It’s an offensive and defensive game with the importance shifting more and more to the offensive. As other key digital trends like generative AI/deep learning, metaverse/virtual reality, quantum computing, and edge computing disrupt the status quo thinking, they will create both new opportunities and new vulnerabilities. In the following sections, each of these four digital trends is discussed from a cybersecurity viewpoint. There are, of course, many other trends that cybersecurity will impact.
Generative AI and Deep Learning
As AI models generate increasingly sophisticated outputs, they may also be exploited by malicious actors for phishing, fraud, or deepfake creation. There will be a need for robust AI-driven security systems to detect and mitigate such threats. Additionally, AI’s ability to automate attacks will necessitate equally advanced defense mechanisms. As Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft, succinctly summed up the coming impact, “AI is going to change the nature of cybersecurity itself.”
Metaverse and Virtual Reality (VR) Expansion
The expansion of virtual environments increases the attack surface. User data in the metaverse, including biometric and behavioral data, will be highly sensitive. Securing these virtual worlds against breaches, fraud, and identity theft will be paramount.
Quantum Computing Advancements
Quantum computing holds the potential to break current crytographic systems, which could undermine much of today’s cybersecurity infrastructure. As quantum technology advances, quantum-resistant encryption will be a critical area of focus.
Edge Computing and 5G/6G Integration
With more data being processed at the edge (closer to devices and users), ensuring the security of decentralized systems becomes more challenging. The increased volume of connected devices via 5G and 6G also expands the attack surface for cyber threats.
Summary
Cybersecurity is not just important but foundational to the success and sustainability of all digital trends in 2025. As technological innovations grow, the sophistication of cyber threats will also increase. Without robust security frameworks, the very technologies that promise to revolutionize industries could become major vectors for risk. Cybersecurity will be a key enabler, ensuring that these advancements are adopted safely and responsibly.