Cyber security trends to watch in 2025

Cyber security threats are evolving

The methods cyber criminals are using are evolving, with attacks becoming more sophisticated and often multi-faceted. Staying on top of the latest cyber security trends can help you make sure your strategy for securing your business evolves as well.

Below we explore areas for you to consider, with practical tips to help you better protect yourself and your business.

AI’s impact on cyber security

Cyber criminals are using AI tools to underpin attacks that are becoming harder to spot. This can be because the messages they’re sending are less obvious as fakes or because they’re attacking on multiple fronts.

For example, cyber criminals offer toolkits and even subscription services for phishing that can help less skilled scammers attack in more sophisticated ways or better skilled ones scale up what they’re doing more easily.

It’s getting harder to spot a fake

What’s happening?

Generative AI tools enable people to produce content quickly and easily, reducing errors, mimicking the style of existing content and tailoring content to their target audience. People are using these tools in many ways, including producing messages, images, deep fake videos or audio.

Why does it matter?

The old indications of phishing like typographical errors, poor writing, and factual inaccuracies remain hallmarks of many scam emails, but relying on them alone to spot scams may result in a misstep. Cyber criminals can more easily produce high quality emails, or even videos or audio that mimic the real thing.

What can you do about it?

• Educate yourself and your team on warning signs, beyond those that are obvious.
• Learn about how criminals may use such as deep fakes to target your business in future.
• Review other steps you can take to help protect your business in case of a misstep or cyber breach.

Businesses need to protect all platforms

What’s happening?

People are using an ever-growing range of platforms to do business and communicate, from email to social media, SMS, messaging apps and many different cloud-based business solutions. AI enables cyber criminals to automate aspects of cyber attacks to consider vulnerabilities and data across a range of platforms.

Why does it matter?

A cyber security attack may hit you across an extended period of time and across multiple platforms. This means you need to consider your cyber security strategies holistically and think about all the touchpoints through which cyber criminals could engage with your business.

What can you do about it?

• Consider where your data is published online and if you can take steps to protect it.
• Apply security measures across all solutions you’re using for business communication.
• Make sure you understand cloud security and any limitations of solutions you’re using.

6 cyber security tips to help keep your business protected

Criminals are upskilling which makes it more important than ever to stay well-informed. That way you can ensure you have appropriate cyber security strategies in place and that you’re evolving them as threats change.

Cyber security checklist

Here’s an overview of key strategies to consider when reviewing your approach to cyber security.

1. Stay informed and aware

Consider cyber specific education programs for you and your team, such as Cyber Wardens which offers free cyber security training and resources.

2. Be proactive with password management

Passwords can still be a blind spot for many businesses. Adopting a proactive approach to password management and communicating it clearly across your team can help reinforce good practices.

3. Consider social media privacy

Being visible on social media is often an important part of a business marketing plan. It is possible, however, to apply social media privacy settings that let you control what information is shared and who can see your posts.

4. Switch on multi-factor authentication

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) can help strengthen your business security by helping protect your accounts against unauthorized access.

5. Protect your devices

Treat your devices as business devices not just personal devices, and protect them as such, even if you use them for a mix of personal and work use. Explore Telstra Device Security for Business powered by McAfee.

Check out our top tips to help keep your workplace mobile devices protected.

6. Apply automatic updates

Keeping your tech up to date by applying automatic updates can help save you time and protect you against evolving cyber security threats. Learn more about why automatic updates are important.

Read more about how to get the basics of cyber security right.

Stay alert and evolve as your business changes

Your business may have existing processes and solutions in place but it’s important to revisit these regularly. What was best for your business in the past may no longer be optimal if your business operations have evolved or new solutions are now available.

If you’re a new business

Make sure you’re thinking about how you use digital platforms as a business and not just an individual. Are you considering all business assets you need to keep secure, including how you’re protecting customer data in your business?

As your business grows

Think about formalising policies around cyber security for new staff who are joining your business and how you can educate everyone on potential risks. As your business grows, you’ll have more devices and touch points to keep secure so it’s important to revisit your approach.

When your business is established

If your business has an established set up, you may feel you have cyber security under control. Even so, it’s important to revisit what you’re doing as cyber security threats evolve and ensure your strategies and solutions have not become outdated. Assess yourself against the ASD's Essential 8 checklist to consider your level of maturity.

Find cyber security solutions and partners that are right for you 

Cyber security is a team sport and business owners have a key role to play. Many of the fundamentals of cyber security remain relevant, even as scammers become more sophisticated, but it’s always worth revisiting if there’s more you could do.

Stay across the latest trends and tips on cyber security and if you need help from a business expert you can request a call back from one of our Business Technology Centres who can help you tailor solutions that are best for you.