CISO Alert: Top Global and UK Cyber Security Priorities in 2025

The cyber threat landscape is no longer just evolving — it’s accelerating. Over recent weeks, ongoing conversations with CISOs across the UK and global markets have revealed a consistent theme: security leadership must adapt rapidly to new risks and growing complexity. From AI-driven insider threats to global espionage campaigns and critical infrastructure protection, the role of the CISO has become more strategic, people-focused and operational than ever before.

Here are five key insights shaping cyber security leadership in 2025.

1. Data Loss Is Now a Business Continuity Risk

A recent Proofpoint survey showed that 99% of Indian organisations reported data loss in 2024, with 90% expecting fresh attacks in the year ahead. This isn’t just an isolated market issue — it’s an indicator of a global shift toward systemic compromise.

Implications for CISOs:

• Treat data loss as a business continuity and operational resilience issue
• Run executive-level resilience exercises to test response and recovery
• Prioritise robust backup and restoration strategies
• Use tabletop scenarios to align technical teams and business leaders

The key takeaway is that prevention alone is not enough. Security leaders must now be able to withstand and recover from breaches while maintaining business operations.

2. Insider Threats Are Being Supercharged by AI

New research from Exabeam reveals that 64% of CISOs view insider threats – particularly AI-driven ones – as more dangerous than external attacks. AI agents operating under valid credentials are incredibly difficult to detect, especially when only 44% of organisations currently use behavioural analytics (UEBA).

What this means for security teams:

• Traditional IAM and DLP tools are no longer sufficient
• Introduce continuous behaviour monitoring with machine learning
• Enforce zero-trust access models across departments
• Align governance with HR, Compliance, and Security to spot anomalous behaviour early

Insider risk is no longer confined to disgruntled employees — AI-enabled tools now enable far more sophisticated misuse from inside the perimeter.

3. Salt Typhoon: Nation-State Threats Are Targeting Supply Chains

The FBI recently confirmed that “Salt Typhoon,” a Chinese state-sponsored campaign, has expanded operations to more than 80 countries, impacting 200+ organisations across telecoms, logistics and government sectors.

Strategic actions for CISOs:

• Include geopolitical risk briefings in board-level discussions
• Implement proactive threat hunting capabilities
• Segment and isolate critical business systems
• Prepare for persistent adversary tactics, not just one-off attacks

State-sponsored threats now affect commercial operations just as much as national security. Forward-thinking CISOs are already embedding these risks into wider business continuity planning.

4. CAF 4.0 and CNI Resilience in the UK

The UK continues to strengthen its defences across energy, transport and healthcare through the NCSC’s Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) v4.0. Notably, NHS England Trusts and hospitals using CAF — combined with network segmentation and offline recovery protocols — have successfully mitigated ransomware attacks without losing service continuity.

What this demonstrates:

• Cyber resilience is possible with the right frameworks and collaboration
• CAF 4.0 offers a practical structure to drive measurable improvement
• Security teams are protecting real-world outcomes — from patient data to public services

These efforts reflect the value of strong coordination between cyber teams, partners and frontline workers. It’s a clear demonstration that security leadership can deliver tangible public benefit.

5. The Modern CISO: Balancing Risk, Technology and People

Today’s CISOs are no longer just technical experts — they are business leaders responsible for resilience, risk communication and cultural transformation. Whether managing AI-powered threats, responding to global attacks or safeguarding national infrastructure, the CISO’s remit continues to expand.

The emerging leadership model combines:

• Technical acumen and strategic foresight
• People-first communication and cross-functional governance
• Continuous learning and real-time adaptation

This shift is not theoretical. It is being demonstrated by leaders actively mitigating risk, managing complexity and protecting public trust.

Conclusion: Cyber Security Leadership Is Now a Business Function

The cyber challenges of 2025 are broader, faster and more interconnected than ever. The CISO must now be a translator between technical threat intelligence and business risk — guiding the organisation through uncertainty with clarity, resilience and agility.

Need Talent That Matches Today’s Threat Landscape?

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Whether you’re building out your SOC team, recruiting for risk leadership, or seeking expertise in AI security or resilience strategy — our network is built to deliver.

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