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By Zac Abdulkadir, President and CEO of Netready
April 14, 2025
After working hands-on with hundreds of businesses over the last 25+ years, I’ve learned one thing above all: the threat landscape never stays still. In 2025, attackers are faster, smarter, and better funded than ever before. They’re no longer lone hackers in basements, they’re organized crime syndicates, leveraging AI and automation to exploit every vulnerability in your digital footprint.
In this article, I’ll break down the most urgent cybersecurity threats we’re tracking this year—backed by real-world examples and insights from the frontlines. Whether you’re a local law firm or a growing retailer, these risks are closer than you think. The good news? With the right strategy, you can stay ahead of them.
Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) Is Going Mainstream
Ransomware attacks are no longer limited to large enterprises. In 2025, the rise of Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) means that even low-skilled cybercriminals can launch sophisticated attacks using pre-built toolkits sold on the dark web. These kits come with customer support, payment platforms, and even dashboards to track infected victims, making ransomware more accessible and dangerous than ever.
A manufacturing firm in the Midwest recently made headlines after attackers used a RaaS kit to encrypt their entire production system. The attackers demanded payment in cryptocurrency, threatened to leak proprietary designs, and exploited unpatched systems to gain entry—all within 48 hours. Their operations were down for nearly a week.
Takeaway: If your cybersecurity strategy still relies on traditional antivirus or reactive patching, you’re behind. Investing in EDR, 24/7 monitoring, and segmented backups is critical for resilience in the face of modern ransomware.
Deepfake Phishing and AI-Driven Social Engineering
In 2025, phishing has evolved into something far more convincing. With the help of generative AI and deepfake tools, attackers are now impersonating executives in video and voice formats, making social engineering attacks eerily realistic.
In one well-documented case, an executive received a Zoom call from what looked and sounded like their CFO, instructing them to wire funds to a third-party account. The facial expressions, voice tone, and even mannerisms were convincingly replicated using AI. By the time the deception was discovered, over $25,000 had been transferred.
Defense strategy: Deploy multi-factor authentication across the board and educate your staff to verify unusual financial requests through secure, secondary channels. Technology can be deceived, well-trained teams cannot.
Third-Party Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting vendors and service providers as an indirect way to infiltrate larger businesses. These supply chain attacks can have devastating ripple effects, often going unnoticed until significant damage is done.
One such incident involved a regional payroll provider whose platform was unknowingly distributing malware through a routine update. The compromised software allowed attackers to access sensitive HR and financial data across multiple SMBs. Investigations revealed that the provider had skipped essential security audits—highlighting the risk of unchecked third-party integrations.
What you can do: Regularly assess your vendors’ security posture, enforce segmentation between third-party services and critical systems, and make vendor risk assessments part of your compliance routine.
Cloud Misconfigurations and the Shadow IT Problem
Cloud adoption continues to accelerate, but so do the misconfigurations that expose sensitive data. In 2025, Gartner predicts that nearly all cloud security failures will be the customer's responsibility—not the providers.
At Netready, we worked with a client in the retail sector who had unknowingly exposed customer data through an unsecured S3 bucket. It was only during a routine compliance audit that our team identified the exposure—preventing a potential GDPR violation and public breach. What made it worse: the exposure came from a shadow IT initiative—an app that was spun up outside the IT team’s awareness.
Solution: Use Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) tools to detect misconfigurations in real time and establish policies to prevent unsanctioned apps from going live in production environments.
IoT and Operational Technology (OT) as Hidden Entry Points
From smart thermostats in offices to connected devices in manufacturing, IoT and OT devices are opening up new vulnerabilities in business networks. Most were never designed with cybersecurity in mind, making them low-hanging fruit for attackers.
A recent study by a cybersecurity think tank documented an attack on a logistics company where hackers used an unpatched smart scanner in the warehouse to pivot into the internal network. From there, they exfiltrated shipping schedules and financial data, costing the company hundreds of thousands in lost contracts.
Next steps: Inventory all connected devices, segment IoT from core infrastructure, and apply zero-trust principles to every network interaction.
Insider Threats and Credential Abuse
One of the most overlooked risks in 2025 continues to be credential abuse and insider threats. Former employees, contractors, or even well-intentioned staff with excessive access can pose serious security threat—especially in hybrid work environments.
We recently helped a financial services client in Pasadena after their internal audit revealed that a former contractor’s credentials were still active—and had been used to access sensitive records. While no data was stolen, it was a wake-up call. Our team immediately implemented identity governance policies and automated deprovisioning processes to close the gap.
Proactive measure: Use role-based access controls, regularly audit active accounts, and automate account revocation when someone offboards or changes roles.
Data Privacy Regulations Are Getting Tougher
Compliance expectations are no longer static whether you’re subject to CCPA, HIPAA, GDPR, or the emerging AI legislation. Regulators demand real-time visibility, ongoing risk assessments, and airtight audit trails.
For example, new guidance under CCPA 2.0 requires businesses to document not just what data they collect—but how it’s processed, stored, and protected from AI inference attacks. Fines for non-compliance are increasing, and the reputational damage from violations can be far worse than financial penalties.
Your move: Implement continuous compliance monitoring, automate policy enforcement, and align your practices with frameworks like NIST CSF and CIS Controls. It’s not just about checking boxes, it’s about proving you’re doing the right thing at all times.
Final Thoughts: Resilience Over Reaction
The cyber threats of 2025 aren’t just more technical; they’re more deceptive, persistent, and business-impacting. But with the right approach, businesses can go from vulnerable to resilient. At Netready, we believe the future of cybersecurity lies in intelligent prevention, rapid response, and continuous adaptation. From AI-driven threat detection to automated compliance and secure cloud migrations, we’re helping businesses stay protected and prepared.
If you’re unsure whether your current security posture is strong enough for what’s ahead, now is the time to find out.
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Zac Abdulkadir
President and CEO of Netready
With a career spanning more than 25 years, Zac Abdulkadir
is a recognized authority in cybersecurity and IT compliance,
dedicated to protecting businesses from evolving threats.
