WEF Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025: Supply Chain Risks and Geopolitical Tensions Top Concerns for Businesses

(IN BRIEF) The Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025 report from the World Economic Forum highlights the rising complexity of cybersecurity challenges, particularly in supply chains, geopolitical instability, and AI-driven threats. It reveals that 54% of large organizations view supply chain interdependencies as a key barrier to cyber resilience. Geopolitical tensions have led to heightened concerns about cyber espionage and intellectual property theft. Additionally, the skills gap and fragmented regulations pose ongoing challenges. The report stresses the need for a shift towards enhanced cyber resilience, urging collaboration across sectors to address these growing threats.

(PRESS RELEASE) GENEVA, 13-Jan-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — The World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025 report, released today, underscores the increasing complexity of the cybersecurity landscape, driven by emerging technologies, geopolitical uncertainty, and growing risks from interconnected supply chains. With the rapid advancement of digital tools, organizations and governments face mounting challenges that demand attention to cybersecurity resilience. Key findings point to growing barriers in safeguarding cyber environments, with 54% of large organizations identifying supply chain interdependencies as a leading obstacle to achieving effective cyber resilience.

The report highlights a shifting perspective on cybersecurity risks, noting that geopolitical instability has heightened concerns over cyber espionage and the theft of sensitive intellectual property. A third of CEOs now list these threats as their top priority. Meanwhile, the rising complexity in cyber systems exacerbates inequity, with emerging economies, smaller businesses, and certain sectors particularly vulnerable to the growing divide in cybersecurity capabilities.

Jeremy Jurgens, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, commented on the findings: “The challenges in cyberspace are more daunting than ever, fueled by rapid technological advancements, an increasingly sophisticated cybercriminal landscape, and the vulnerabilities introduced by global supply chains. Our report provides crucial insights for leaders to navigate these complexities and bolster cyber resilience.”

A key area of concern identified in the report is the interdependency of global supply chains, with 54% of large organizations viewing it as the most significant barrier to resilience. Additionally, the ongoing geopolitical tensions have impacted the cybersecurity risk perception, with CEOs prioritizing the threat of espionage and intellectual property theft. Furthermore, AI-driven security risks are highlighted as a growing concern, with many organizations struggling to implement sufficient safeguards as they adopt AI technologies for cybersecurity.

The evolving threat landscape is marked by a high level of sophistication, with AI-powered threats enabling actors to conduct more widespread scams, social engineering, disinformation campaigns, and ransomware attacks. Approximately 47% of organizations cited concerns over adversarial advancements powered by generative AI as their primary challenge.

Regulatory fragmentation and the increasing cybersecurity skills gap also feature prominently in the report. While regulations are crucial for resilience, 76% of cybersecurity leaders report that varying regulations across jurisdictions create compliance difficulties. Meanwhile, the cyber skills gap has continued to widen, with two-thirds of organizations lacking the necessary talent to meet their security demands.

Paolo Dal Cin, Global Lead at Accenture Security, emphasized the importance of a security-first mindset, stating, “The intersection of AI disruption, supply chain vulnerabilities, and geopolitical tensions demands a proactive and collaborative approach to cybersecurity. Business leaders must view cybersecurity as an enabler to navigate these complex challenges and ensure resilience across all industries.”

The report calls for a shift from traditional cybersecurity strategies to a focus on enhancing cyber resilience—organizations’ ability to minimize the impact of major cyber incidents. This approach, coupled with a socioeconomic perspective on cyber risks, is vital for effectively allocating resources to bolster resilience against growing cyber threats.

Paula Bogantes Zamora, Minister of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications of Costa Rica, shared insights from her country’s experience, stating, “The 2022 cyberattacks on Costa Rica were a wake-up call. They underscored the critical need to view cybersecurity as an investment for the future, not a mere expense. Collaboration with regional neighbors has been pivotal in enhancing resilience across Costa Rica and beyond.”

The Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025 provides leaders with essential insights into the escalating complexities of cybersecurity, stressing the need for collaborative efforts to secure the interconnected networks vital to the global digital economy. It also addresses the economic ramifications of cybersecurity and the pressing need for leadership to prioritize cybersecurity as a fundamental business enabler.

The World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2025, taking place from 20 to 24 January in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, will bring together global leaders to discuss pressing issues, including cybersecurity, under the theme Collaboration for the Intelligent Age. The meeting will focus on areas such as reimagining growth, safeguarding the planet, and rebuilding trust in a rapidly advancing technological era. For more details, follow the meeting on social media using #WEF25.

About the Annual Meeting 2025

The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025, taking place in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, from 20 to 24 January, convenes global leaders under the theme Collaboration for the Intelligent Age. The meeting will foster new partnerships and insights to shape a more sustainable, inclusive future in an era of rapidly advancing technology, focusing on five key areas: Reimagining Growth, Industries in the Intelligent Age, Investing in People, Safeguarding the Planet, and Rebuilding Trust. Click here to learn more.