Geopolitical risks, new tech and skills gap make cyberspace more complex: Report

A new report indicates that the rapid advancement of emerging technologies, geopolitical uncertainties, evolving threats, regulatory challenges, vulnerabilities in supply chain interdependencies, and a growing cybersecurity skills gap are contributing to an increasingly complex cyber environment, which could have significant implications for organizations and nations. This growing complexity will further exacerbate cyber inequalities, deepen the divide between developed and emerging economies, widen industry disparities, and expand the gap between large and small organizations.

The "Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025" report, released by the World Economic Forum, states that cyberspace is more complex and challenging than ever before, attributing this to the rapid pace of technological advancements, the increasing sophistication of cybercriminals, and deeply interconnected supply chains. The report emphasizes that leaders need the necessary insights to navigate these challenges and strengthen cyber resilience.

Jeremy Jurgens, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, stated, "Collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders is essential to ensure that everyone can benefit from digitalization." He added that the "Global Cybersecurity Outlook" provides leaders with the necessary insights to navigate these challenges and strengthen cyber resilience.

The report also identifies key factors driving the accelerating complexity and unpredictability of the cyber environment, as well as the cumulative impact of these factors on the cybersecurity posture of organizations and nations. These factors include: the interdependence of supply chain risks, geopolitical tensions, security in the age of intelligence, the evolution of the threat landscape, regulation, and workforce challenges. Notably, the report indicates that 54% of large organizations consider supply chain challenges to be the biggest obstacle to achieving cyber resilience, while one-third of CEOs list cyber espionage and theft of sensitive information/intellectual property as their top concerns.

Paul Daugherty, Global Lead for Accenture Security, said, "Cybersecurity threats are more complex and unpredictable than ever before and can directly impact an organization's financial stability. The disruptive power of AI, combined with supply chain vulnerabilities and geopolitical tensions, requires a more proactive and collaborative approach to ensure that all industries have a strong cyber resilience posture." The report calls for a shift in perspective from cybersecurity to enhancing cyber resilience, which is the ability of organizations to mitigate the impact of major cyber events on their goals and objectives. Furthermore, the report highlights the importance of assessing cyber risks from a socio-economic perspective, which is crucial for organizations and nations to effectively allocate resources and strengthen their ability to defend against cyber threats.