Cybersecurity experts Rob Wright (Dark Reading), David Jones (Cybersecurity Dive), and Alissa Irei (TechTarget Search Security) recently came together to discuss the future of online security. Let’s take a look at their insights on major trends and new risks to help businesses better navigate the challenges on the horizon.
The evolution of AI-driven threats: Securing autonomous systems
The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) to boost productivity has created a double-edged sword. While organizations leverage these tools to boost productivity, cybercriminals are simultaneously refining methods to exploit them. The emergence of agentic AI, which refers to systems that can make their own decisions, creates a uniquely difficult problem. If not properly secured, these autonomous agents can be manipulated by attackers to execute malicious tasks without human intervention.
What’s worse is the weaponization of AI against human targets. Attackers are increasingly using deepfakes and synthetic media to execute advanced social engineering campaigns. These attacks impersonate executives and IT professionals with frightening accuracy, allowing them to bypass traditional technical defenses.
Identity is the new perimeter
With the rise of increasingly complex cyberthreats, businesses are moving away from traditional perimeter-focused security approaches and adopting more advanced identity and access management strategies. Experts predict that identity will soon replace the network as the core security perimeter, underscoring the growing importance of adopting zero trust frameworks.
However, with the growth of machine-to-machine communication, security protocols must extend beyond human users. Nonhuman identities, such as AI agents and automated systems, also need robust authentication. By rigorously validating every access request — whether from a person or a machine — organizations can protect their data and systems from compromise.
Supply chain vulnerabilities and third-party risk
Cybersecurity experts are bracing for a surge in supply chain attacks, where criminals exploit vulnerable, smaller vendors as entry points into major corporate networks. These breaches often result in catastrophic consequences, from paralyzed production lines to massive data leaks, much like the high-profile 2025 attack on Jaguar Land Rover.Â
To counter this threat, organizations must shift toward a proactive defensive strategy. Central to this approach is the use of software bills of materials, which allows security teams to verify software integrity and block malicious code before it penetrates the network.
From prevention to resilience
Businesses are pivoting toward cyber resilience, the ability to recover swiftly from attacks rather than solely trying to prevent them. The shift is driven by the realization that no system is entirely immune to cyberthreats, making rapid recovery essential for maintaining business continuity.
This evolution reframes cybersecurity as a matter of strategic risk management rather than an attempt to eliminate all breaches. By adopting a defensible and recoverable mindset, organizations are preparing for the unavoidable. They are implementing robust protocols designed to minimize damage and reinstate normal operations the moment an attack is detected.
Executive accountability and legal liability
Boards and executive leadership teams are increasingly treating cybersecurity as a fundamental business risk. This shift is happening because of mounting legal and regulatory pressures, especially concerning AI, which are expected to increase personal liability for executives.
With cybersecurity now a top operational priority, leaders are under immense pressure to prove their preparedness against cyberthreats. Boards will demand measurable outcomes, placing chief information security officers under greater scrutiny. Moreover, the evolving legal landscape means that executives who fail to adequately manage their organization’s cybersecurity risks could face personal legal consequences.
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