The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released its Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025 report, emphasizing the urgent need for organizations to rethink their cybersecurity strategies due to increasing global complexity. Key challenges identified in the report include rapid technological advancements, geopolitical tensions, and vulnerabilities in interconnected supply chains. Notably, 54% of large organizations cited supply chain risks as a significant barrier to achieving cyber resilience [e74209a6].
The report also highlights a growing concern among CEOs, with over a third expressing worries about cyber espionage and intellectual property theft. While 66% of organizations anticipate that artificial intelligence (AI) will significantly impact cybersecurity, only 37% have implemented security measures for their AI tools [e74209a6]. This gap in preparedness underscores the challenges organizations face in adapting to the evolving threat landscape.
Furthermore, the cyber skills gap has widened, increasing by 8% since 2024, leaving two-thirds of organizations without the necessary talent to effectively combat cyber threats [e74209a6]. The report advocates for a shift from traditional cybersecurity measures to a focus on cyber resilience, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors.
In light of recent events, such as the cyberattacks that targeted Costa Rica in 2022, the economic implications of cyber threats have become increasingly clear. Minister Paula Bogantes Zamora has called for regional collaboration to enhance cybersecurity defenses [e74209a6]. This aligns with findings from the 2024 KPMG U.S. CEO Outlook Survey, which indicated that 69% of CEOs plan to increase their cybersecurity spending, reflecting a growing recognition of the need for robust defenses against these rising threats [d227396e].
As organizations navigate these complexities, the integration of AI into cybersecurity strategies will be crucial. While AI presents opportunities for enhancing security measures, it also introduces new risks, with 86% of cybersecurity leaders acknowledging potential vulnerabilities associated with AI tools [7af99812]. The collaboration among the cybersecurity community, government, academia, and the private sector will be essential to effectively address these challenges and strengthen the workforce's skills [c72fbbd8].