DigiCert outlines cybersecurity trends set to shape 2025 and beyond

DigiCert, a prominent global provider of digital trust, has unveiled its annual forecast for cybersecurity trends anticipated to shape the landscape in 2025 and beyond. This forward-looking report outlines significant challenges and opportunities that enterprises are expected to face, highlighting the increasing importance of digital security in an evolving technological environment.

One of the key predictions highlights the anticipated rise of post-quantum cryptography (PQC), which is set to transition from theoretical constructs to practical applications as early as 2025. With expected announcements from the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and heightened compliance demands, industries are projected to adopt quantum-resistant solutions at an accelerated pace.

DigiCert also forecasts the growing importance of Chief Trust Officers (CTrOs) as digital trust takes centre stage within corporate governance. These professionals will assume responsibilities for overseeing ethical artificial intelligence, ensuring secure digital experiences, and achieving compliance within an increasingly regulated landscape.

As enterprises adapt to shorter lifecycles of SSL/TLS certificates, the report indicates that automation and crypto-agility will become essential capabilities. This shift is crucial for organisations aiming to maintain secure operations amid evolving standards, thus ensuring their systems are robust against emerging security threats.

With the rise of deepfake technology and misinformation, another striking trend is the mainstream adoption of content provenance techniques, set to be championed by the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA). The introduction of the Content Credential icon for digital images and videos aims to enhance the verification process, fostering greater trust among media consumers.

The recent outage of CrowdStrike has emphasised the necessity for organisations to demand resilience and zero outages, particularly as the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to expand. Concerns around the safety of over-the-air updates, notably for self-driving vehicles, are prompting calls for increased transparency in digital security practices. This is in line with the E.U.’s forthcoming Cyber Resilience Act, which will enforce stricter cybersecurity standards set to become effective in 2027.

As the cybersecurity landscape becomes more complex, there are also warnings about an anticipated spike in AI-driven phishing attacks. Attackers are expected to utilise artificial intelligence to design highly personalized phishing campaigns, making them increasingly difficult to detect and enabling them to target both individuals and organisations with precision.

The report also notes the rising momentum of private Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) standards, such as ASC X9, particularly in sectors like finance and healthcare. These standards provide bespoke security frameworks designed to meet rigorous regulatory requirements, promoting greater flexibility and trust among organisations.

The concept of a Cryptography Bill of Materials (CBOM) is set to gain traction as businesses seek to catalog cryptographic resources and understand their dependencies, thereby enhancing risk assessment processes in response to escalating cybersecurity threats.

Furthermore, the manual management of digital certificates is expected to diminish, with automation increasingly recognised as a necessity for compliance with shorter certificate lifespans and stringent security protocols. DigiCert predicts that enterprises will favour fewer vendors, driven by the desire to streamline management and bolster security, despite existing concerns regarding single-vendor risks.

Speaking about these predictions, Jason Sabin, Chief Technology Officer at DigiCert, stated, “The relentless pace of innovation is not just reshaping our digital lives—it’s exposing new vulnerabilities faster than we can secure them, demanding a bold rethinking of how we approach cybersecurity.” Moreover, Anant Deshande, Regional Vice President of DigiCert for India & ASEAN, remarked on the profound transformation within the digital trust landscape, highlighting the need for resilient systems and tailored security measures in the face of increasingly sophisticated cybersecurity threats.

As the cyber threat landscape evolves, the insights presented by DigiCert underscore the critical importance of proactive measures in securing digital environments, equipping organisations to navigate the complexities of the future digital world.

Source: Noah Wire Services