Here, then, are seven cybersecurity predictions from CyberArk which organizations can use to plan their strategies to stay ahead of the threat actors.

1. AI agents will proliferate

   These intelligent, purpose-built tools can perform specific tasks on behalf of humans to make decisions, and they will proliferate and mature in 2025. We expect to see more AI agents perform specific tasks with high proficiency, enabling more tailored and robust AI applications. As AI systems mature, we will see an increase in AI brokers: intermediaries that combine various AI agents to deliver more comprehensive, versatile solutions.

2. More everyday endpoint devices will become smarter

   Soon, AI will become more embedded into everyday endpoint devices, transforming the way average users interact with technology. As more AI features become standard in Windows, MacOS, and mobile devices, users will be able to harness capabilities such as real-time analytics, personalized insights, and task automation directly on their devices for work. In 2025, more users stand to benefit from productivity gains with the democratization of AI automation.

3. Cyberattacks will accelerate targeting of AI

   AI systems are increasingly attractive targets for cyberattackers due to the low barrier to entry and high likelihood of success. Many of the current AI models and implementations may not have been designed with adequate security protection and guardrails. This has allowed many cyberattackers to poison data or circumvent AI system safeguards. Furthermore, attackers are using AI to launch more sophisticated social engineering (such as deepfakes) and fraud campaigns. To mitigate these risks, organizations will prioritize stronger security measures and embed security frameworks directly into AI models.

4. Machine identity security programs will become essential

   With more machine and digital identities to manage at greater speed and with more complexity, organizations may be vulnerable to attackers that are increasingly focusing on identity attacks, particularly in cloud-native and development environments. As digital certificate lifespans shrink, organizations that rely on manual certificate lifecycle management processes could face a higher risk of outages and security risks if they do not create dedicated Machine Identity Security programs.

5. Adversaries will increasingly target cloud-native environments

   In 2024, attacks on major tech players have highlighted that developer access rights are more vulnerable, more targeted, and more likely to be exploited by cyber attackers. Cloud-native and developer environments will become even bigger targets due to the surge in machine identities such as cloud access tokens, API keys, and service accounts. Successfully targeting machine identities gives attackers a clear pathway to admin-level control, enabling everything from data theft to taking over — or shutting down — critical business services.

6. Post-quantum readiness will become a pivotal focus

   As quantum computing approaches market viability in some form, boards will start asking security teams about quantum readiness plans. In 2025, organizations will start replacing untrusted Certificate Authorities as part of their transition to quantum-resilient systems. Through integrated solutions, security teams will streamline securing machine identities and lay a strong foundation for a successful migration to a post-quantum future.

7. Cyber resilience and vendor risk management will be in the spotlight

   Following high-profile outages among major vendors, there will be a growing demand and need to achieve organizational cyber resilience and improve vendor risk management. In 2025 and 2026, organizations will demand greater transparency and contractual assurances from vendors, moving towards resilient, multi-cloud or hybrid architectures to reduce downtime and dependency on single providers. This underscores the importance of reliable infrastructure, particularly in sectors where cloud adoption levels are high and digital services are critical.