Gartner Top 10 Tech Trends for 2025 — Key Insights For Cybersecurity Professional
This research may not always be 100% accurate (which study is ?), but it is a good way to see where the industry is trending for the next few years. This is Gartner Top 10 Tech Trends for 2025 — Key Insights For Cybersecurity Professional.
It shows a future where AI-driven systems, new types of computing, and human-machine collaboration will shake up things in a big way.
For cybersecurity professionals, this evolution signals new opportunities and pressing challenges.
The Top Technology Trends for 2025, listed in no particular order, are:
Agentic AI
Post-quantum Cryptography
Spatial Computing
AI Governance Platforms
Ambient Invisible Intelligence
Polyfunctional Robots
Disinformation Security
Energy-Efficient Computing
Neurological Enhancement
Hybrid Computing
Here’s an in-depth look at these trends AND what they mean for Cybersecurity professionals.
1. Agentic AI
The ability of AI to move from back-and-forth prompting to action-based execution will be a massive game changer.
Autonomous decision-making or “Agentic AI” means these agents will operate independently within defined goals that users give them.
This could streamline threat detection and response for cybersecurity, as agentic AI can act autonomously on security alerts (L1 SOC Analysts might start getting nervous !)
However, with autonomy comes the risk of vulnerabilities leading to serious cyber threats if these systems are compromised.
Check out my earlier video on this:
2. AI Governance Platforms
AI security does not exist in a vacuum and needs a governance structure to work effectively.
As organizations increasingly rely on AI, governance platforms are going to be used to maintain model reliability, transparency, and accountability.
These platforms will not only boost customer trust but will also aid regulatory compliance.
For cybersecurity professionals, AI governance is pivotal in ensuring AI-driven security tools align with ethical standards.
I predict these tools will increase in popularity and allow organizations to gap their systems against standards like NIST and the EU AI Act.
3. Disinformation Security
This is no surprise, given the rate at which GenAI has been advancing.
Imagine an attacker blackmailing a company with the threat of spreading deepfakes about their executives to damage their brand and reputation.
The ability to protect organizations against maliciously false information being spread online will be in huge demand.
For cybersecurity teams, defending against disinformation will require innovative strategies, such as deploying disinformation detection tools and educating staff on identifying manipulated content.
Start updating those Cybersecurity Awareness slides ASAP !
4. Post-Quantum Cryptography
Once they become mainstream, Quantum computers will change everything, especially from a security perspective.
Due to the power of quantum computing, the cryptographic algorithms we rely on to protect our information will become obsolete.
Cybersecurity professionals must begin their journey toward post-quantum computing today to safeguard sensitive data against quantum threats.
The transition to quantum-safe encryption will demand a re-evaluation of current encryption protocols, emphasizing the need for cryptography professionals to future-proof digital infrastructure.
Check out my earlier video on this:
5. Ambient Invisible Intelligence
This is something I am quite interested in, honestly.
Ambient intelligence will integrate sensing technologies seamlessly into environments without active user control.
This sort of real-time tracking will undoubtedly lead to an amazing user experience but will also be a privacy nightmare.
For security teams, there is also the challenge of monitoring vast, dispersed networks of sensors.
Cybersecurity professionals must develop protocols that protect data privacy, prevent unauthorized access to sensor networks, and address the potential risk of environmental intelligence being exploited for malicious eavesdropping.
6. Energy-Efficient Computing
Sustainable computing has been gathering momentum these last couple of years but is now essential because of AI and the vast amount of computing power it needs.
With AI’s rapid growth, organizations must prioritize energy-efficient computing to manage the environmental impact.
Security professionals will play a critical role here, ensuring energy-efficient architectures do not sacrifice security standards.
As these computing solutions become commonplace, professionals must also stay vigilant against new attack vectors that may arise from these emerging architectures.
7. Hybrid Computing
While traditional hybrid computing, consisting of on-prem and cloud, is nothing new, Gartner's mention sounds more like science fiction than reality.
According to Gartner, “ AI that performs beyond current technological limits; autonomous businesses powered by higher levels of automation; augmented human capability allowing real-time personalization at scale and use of the human body as a computing platform.”
Cybersecurity teams already face challenges in securing hybrid setups, with attack surfaces spanning cloud, edge, and on-premises environments.
Teams must adopt a unified security approach, integrating cloud-native tools with traditional methods to safeguard these diverse systems from threats.
8. Spatial Computing
With virtual reality gaining traction, Spatial Computing will blue the lines between physical and digital realms.
Think of VR glasses being used by companies for training and corporate meetings OR for customers to make online purchases.
This trend introduces unique security concerns, such as protecting the privacy of digital overlays and preventing unauthorized access to virtual environments.
9. Polyfunctional Robots
This could be seen as the next evolution of AI from agent-based systems.
Polyfunctional robots represent a shift from task-specific machines to versatile, collaborative ones.
This could be a massive shake-up in industrial environments where more complex tasks will move towards automation.
As these robots enter workplaces, cybersecurity professionals must ensure that the data they collect and share is secure.
Since polyfunctional robots may interact with multiple systems and users, they require stringent access controls and robust data protection policies to prevent data breaches and unauthorized manipulation.
10. Neurological Enhancement
This should be familiar to anyone who has played games like Dues Ex, where characters can get “augmented” via machine implants.
I doubt we are anywhere near to this reality from a tech perspective ( not to mention people won't like computers writing information to their brains ! )
But once it happens, think of the information that can be absorbed within a short period.
The security concerns will also be massive!
Cybersecurity professionals will be essential in developing protocols to protect against unauthorized access to brain data, potentially including biometric encryption and specialized firewalls for neural networks.
What These Trends Mean for Cybersecurity Professionals
These trends indicate a future where cybersecurity must adapt to increasingly intelligent and autonomous technologies, diverse computing environments, and new forms of human-machine interaction.
For cybersecurity professionals, staying ahead requires continuous upskilling in AI governance, post-quantum cryptography, and multi-dimensional data protection strategies.
Additionally, it shows the need for ethics and governance in cybersecurity frameworks as these technologies reshape traditional roles and introduce new risks.
Here are key takeaways:
Embrace a Proactive Approach: Implementing quantum-safe encryption, disinformation security measures, and AI governance will be essential to staying ahead of emerging threats.
Focus on Privacy and Ethical Standards: With AI and neurological technologies gaining traction, maintaining ethical data collection and use standards is crucial. Cybersecurity must prioritize transparency and privacy to build trust with end-users.
Prepare for Hybrid and Complex Environments: Hybrid computing and ambient intelligence increase complexity, demanding holistic cybersecurity strategies that provide security across various computing environments.
Stay Adaptive and Future-Proof: Cybersecurity in the age of rapid technological advancement is a continuous process. As new threats emerge, professionals must be ready to pivot and adopt security measures that address current and anticipated risks.
In summary, Gartner’s 2025 trends are a great guide to the tech industry's direction in the next decade.
I am skeptical about some of the things mentioned in the study, but by studying these trends, cybersecurity teams can prepare for the new tech era that is about to come.
Good luck prepping for the next 3 to 5 years !
Taimur Ijlal is a multi-award-winning, information security leader with over two decades of international experience in cyber-security and IT risk management in the fin-tech industry.
Taimur can be connected on LinkedIn or on his YouTube channel “Cloud Security Guy” on which he regularly posts about Cloud Security, Artificial Intelligence, and general cyber-security career advice.
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