Author: Mykhailenko A.
The number of cyber threats globally is skyrocketing, and organizations that act proactively now will be better prepared to mitigate their impact and enhance overall security. We’ve thoroughly reviewed the latest Cybersecurity Forecast 2025 report from Google and are excited to share key insights we hope will be useful for you.
- Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for Cybercriminals
- The Growing Influence of the “Big Four”
- Increasing Ransomware Attacks
- The Democratization of Cyberattack Capabilities
- Rising Interest in Web3
- How Cloud Service Customers Can Prepare for Cyber Threats in 2025
This report is based on data provided by security leaders from Google’s cloud division, along with dozens of analysts, researchers, incident responders, reverse engineers, and others who routinely confront large-scale cyberattacks and their consequences. So, what critical threats did Google identify for the coming year?
Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for Cybercriminals
Yes, cybercriminals are just as adept at using advanced tools that simplify life for regular users and companies. AI solutions are expected to be increasingly deployed at various stages of cyberattacks. Neural networks and large language models (LLMs) will likely be used to craft more convincing phishing emails, SMS attacks, and other social engineering exploits, as well as for generating fake websites and robotic cold calls from AI-powered call centers. Additionally, identity forgery among business users could bypass “Know Your Customer” (KYC) protocols.
On the other hand, Google notes that AI will also play a larger role in cybersecurity tasks next year, such as generating queries, processing large datasets, automating routine operations, and prioritizing security incidents requiring immediate expert attention.
The Growing Influence of the “Big Four”
This refers to Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, which remain relentless in creating cybersecurity incidents. Most of their information operations target Europe and NATO countries. The “Big Four” have been repeatedly implicated in large-scale information campaigns, cyber espionage targeting politicians, media outlets, and tech companies. These states use tactics such as masking internet traffic to reduce their digital footprint, exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities, and even deploying entire ecosystems of malware—all to unethically pursue their geopolitical goals.
Increasing Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware, including double extortion schemes, remains one of the most devastating forms of cybercrime, impacting businesses and societal functions alike. The number of incidents, their scale, and the resulting financial damage continue to grow. Next year, this issue could worsen with the rapid expansion of the Ransomware as a Service (RaaS) market.
The Democratization of Cyberattack Capabilities
RaaS is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to opportunities for newcomers in the cybercrime market. Technology is becoming increasingly accessible, not just for legitimate purposes but also for malicious intent. The low entry threshold for new players, combined with the use of AI tools, will lead to a growing number of incidents. These cyberattacks will be as effective and well-executed as if they were orchestrated by seasoned cybercriminals.
Rising Interest in Web3
As cryptocurrency startups flourish, hackers will increasingly exploit vulnerabilities in smart contracts and private keys. Over the past four years, more than $12 billion in cryptocurrency has been stolen, and this figure is far from final. Interestingly, social engineering tactics are most frequently used in this sector.
How Cloud Service Customers Can Prepare for Cyber Threats in 2025
While businesses cannot control the volume or complexity of cyber threats, they can prepare to reduce risks and potential damages.
Colobridge’s Expert:“In environments encompassing both local and cloud architectures, it’s essential to reevaluate security controls and abandon single-factor authentication altogether while reducing session durations for access to critical data. This helps ensure that the compromise of a single account does not lead to severe consequences for the entire organization.
In addition to multi-factor authentication, companies hosting data in private and public clouds must focus on employee education—they need to understand risks and recognize potential threats. This approach can significantly reduce incidents involving social engineering, especially phishing attacks, which continue to rise according to the report.
Regular software updates remain one of the most effective defenses, as vulnerabilities often serve as entry points for cyberattacks. Having a pre-approved incident response plan allows for rapid action to address problems and minimize damage if an attack occurs.
Finally, businesses should prioritize data backups in the cloud and disaster recovery measures. At Colobridge, our Backup as a Service and Disaster Recovery solutions, whether used together or separately, help preserve and restore critical business data, ensuring operations can continue after a failure or security incident.”
Selecting a reliable provider that stores data in secure data centers and offers advanced data protection solutions is another way to mitigate cybersecurity risks in 2025. Delegating tasks such as proactive monitoring, software updates, and disaster recovery planning to experts like Colobridge can strengthen your organization’s security posture.
