Be Prepared – 2025 Cybersecurity Trends

Be Prepared – Cybersecurity Trends for 2025. What’s Hot and What’s Not

The new year is almost upon us, and by the time you read this article, it may already be here. As we anticipate the opportunities 2025 will bring, it is equally crucial for business owners to assess the cybersecurity challenges facing their businesses and the country as a whole.

From well-known threats like malware and ransomware, which are rapidly evolving, to newer concerns such as IoT hijacking and AI-driven cyberattacks, the wave of online criminality continues to escalate. 

Here are some of the key cybersecurity trends and risks to be aware of in the coming year.

AI-driven cyberattacks present a new threat

The rise of generative AI applications, such as ChatGPT, is transforming the way businesses operate worldwide, and cybercriminals are taking notice.

  • One of the primary uses that online criminals have found for generative AI is the creation and refinement of phishing messages, making them appear exceptionally convincing. 
  • As a result, traditional warning signs of phishing, such as poor grammar or spelling mistakes, are no longer reliable indicators.

To mitigate this risk, it is essential to verify any communication requesting payments or containing suspicious links with the sender before taking any action.

Hackers target IoT devices

The Internet of Things (IoT) is growing significantly, with an estimated 18.8 billion smart devices in use worldwide.

Unfortunately, cybersecurity for IoT devices is often overlooked, leaving them vulnerable to hacking. 

A single unsecured IoT device can serve as an entry point for criminals, potentially compromising an organisation’s entire network.

As IoT adoption continues to grow, we anticipate a rise in IoT-related attacks in 2025. Businesses must prioritise securing these devices to prevent exploitation.

Combating cybersecurity threats with zero-trust architecture

As new threats loom on the horizon in 2025, business owners are taking action to secure their data. 

In addition to traditional measures such as updated antivirus software and reliable firewalls, advanced strategies like cloud storage, multifactor authentication, and total data protection  (TDP) have become essential.

  • At the forefront of these strategies is zero-trust architecture, which requires network users to verify their identity using secure login credentials before accessing sensitive files.
  • If your organisation’s security protocols allow users to upload, download, or modify files without thorough identity verification, the zero-trust approach mandates immediate changes to these settings. 

This method ensures that only authorised users can access your company’s critical data.

Looking ahead to a safer 2025

Soteria Cloud wishes all its clients a prosperous 2025, in the knowledge that our team remains committed to making the new year even safer from a data security perspective. In today’s digital landscape, investing in cybersecurity in 2025 is critical both for the sustainability and growth of your business.

Powered by Acronis, our platform combines advanced security measures with seamless backup processes and our team of fully certified Acronis professionals is ready to guide you as you take action today to secure your data tomorrow.

To learn more about our products, including TDP, and how they can safeguard your files. Call us on +27 (0) 87 943 2288, email sales@soteriacloud.com or visit our product page today to review our options.

5 Key Security Controls for IoT Devices

Cybersecurity should be at the forefront of every business owner’s mind. How often do you think about the devices connecting to your network and consider that they might put your systems and data at risk? How do you even begin to keep networks safe, especially as it seems that every device nowadays appears to be an IoT device? When last did you think about the security impact of using the Internet of Things (IoT) devices?

And consider this. Any hardware device that is embedded with sensors, software, and technology, that allows it to connect to other systems and devices over the internet and exchange data is a hackable IoT device.

protecting your networks, devices, and data is your responsibility

With a global shift toward remote working, cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important. While you can limit and control the use of devices and online behaviour at your work premises, it’s a little more complicated if your staff members are on the go or working from home.

Don’t wait for something to go wrong before you make cybersecurity a responsibility.

When smart devices connect to networks and cause disruption, it’s already too late.  As a business owner, you may not know where to start but there are several ways that you can protect IoT devices, the systems they connect to, and sensitive data.

how to best protect IoT devices & connected networks

Protect your business from cyberattacks by keeping staff up to date on cybersecurity measures and updates IoT devices and networks in the following simple ways:

  • Change the default password

Devices and routers come with default passwords – if you have never changed that password, your network and devices are at serious risk. IP addresses and default passwords are readily available on the internet. There’s no time like the present to change that password!

  • Regularly accept and install updates

Often, software companies and network system manufacturers release updates (also known as patches) that aim to improve the security features of their existing products. Ensure that you regularly install the updates/patches available to ensure that you always have the latest security components. Every time you skip or delay an update, which we all have a tendency to do, you are putting your system security at risk.

  • Set up limitations to avoid flat networks

Flat networks are networks that don’t have any segments or separations imposed. Instead, all devices have access to the same data and system controls. Of course, if an infected or risky device connects to the network, they have access to everything – which puts data at risk. It’s important to set up your network so that IoT devices don’t have access to data and that each staff member is limited in terms of what his/her devices can access on the network.

  • Carry out periodic network inventory

You or your IT manager should regularly do an inventory check of the devices connected to the network. Ensure that they are authorised devices and that you know what they are doing on the network. Often, businesses overlook possible threats because they assume all connected devices are meant to be there. Months can pass while a device gathers information without anyone even noticing it. If you cannot confirm the authorisation of a device on a network, it shouldn’t be there.

  • Set Bluetooth devices to “non-discoverable” mode

Bluetooth devices are notorious for cybersecurity weaknesses. Hackers target Bluetooth connections because of this. You should set all Bluetooth devices connecting to the system to “non-discoverable” mode for increased security.

last word

While there is no “one size fits all” cure for cybersecurity threats, there are always things you can do to protect the integrity of your networks and keep your IoT devices and data safe. If you’ve had a security risk with an IoT device before, you know just how much damage it can do to your business. Don’t be caught out without the right measures in place – get your online backup package sorted today.

Surprisingly Hackable IoT Devices

If you are currently deeply enfolded in the convenience of connected IoT (Internet of Things) devices in the home, you’re possibly not prone to thinking about considering the risks that they can pose.

Just as the IT infrastructure in your office can be hacked, so to can your home IoT devices be attacked by the very same cybercriminals. Your high tech, connected vacuum cleaner or baby monitor, your smart window dressings or home security system, these smart devices can all be used to steal your personal information or even spy on you via the embedded device cameras.

At the RSA Conference this year, a variety of surprisingly hackable IoT devices were thrown into the spotlight, making more than just a few of the onlookers a bit uncomfortable.  And yes, you guessed it; a baby monitor and vacuum cleaner made the list!

Why are connected IoT Devices so Hackable?

The risk starts when a device connects to your network. All networks have vulnerabilities and it just takes a clever cybercriminal to hack into your device and use it for all manner of evils. Your device could start listening to you and capture this information for a criminal. The camera can be used to determine whether or not you are in the home or even see where you hide precious items. You could even find that your entire network gets jammed up and a hacker demands a sum of money to return your life (and devices) back to normal. The options are aplenty!

Which IoT Devices are the Most Hackable?

When you think of IoT, it’s likely that your mind immediately goes to your internet-powered devices such as your laptop, mobile phone, tablet and similar, but the reality is that IoT is so much more than just these devices. Below are a handful of IoT devices you might never consider could be used to hack into your personal information.

  • Car remote – it can be hacked, jammed, cloned, and used to steal your car;
  • A built-in vehicle GPS system – this can unlock your car, locate your car, and even drive your car;
  • CCTV cameras – can be used to gather sensitive info in offices and homes such as passwords on computer accounts and the PIN for the alarm system;
  • Wireless printers – hackers can get access to all documents printed and scanned on the device;
  • Smart televisions – built-in cameras can be used to spy on the home and linked accounts can be accessed;
  • Smart fridges – can be used to gather data on family emails via the linked device camera.

But what does this all mean? The list above contains so many items that most of us take for granted. Inter-connected devices that simplify our lives. Does it mean that we have to disconnect all our convenient smart home devices and revert back to a DIY era or the “stone age” again? No, it certainly doesn’t. What it means is that you have to be safe while using these devices.

How to ensure that your IoT devices are safe

Instead of retiring your IoT devices prematurely, start working on having a more aware and cautious approach to using your connected devices. Here are a few things that you can implement to ensure that your IoT devices are providing you with the conveniences they promise, without the threats and risks.

  • Regularly update your devices to the latest version of software.
  • Install security patches and fixes as soon as they are released.
  • Research the various security risks that each of your connected devices presents (Google is great for this).
  • Make sure that your network username and password are secure and different from any other passwords. Be sure to change them often.
  • Don’t keep sensitive data stored on any connected devices. If you have info and data you would like to save, back it up to the cloud.

As a responsible IoT device owner, there is every reason to believe that you can avoid the risks associated with such convenience. You know what they say though…the cost of IoT convenience is your privacy!

IoT scores big question mark as World Cup Soccer enthusiasts argue the point of VAR

If you were following the 2018 Soccer World Cup, you would in all likelihood have noticed that sometimes, referees can miss injustices on the field. And while techies all over the world are saying that technology can be used to reduce these oversights, other sports enthusiasts claim that bringing technology into it will destroy the ‘beautiful game’s’ charm. Continue reading IoT scores big question mark as World Cup Soccer enthusiasts argue the point of VAR