The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently released Global Cyber security Outlook 2025 highlighting the growing complexities in cyber landscape which is compounding in nature.

In association with Accenture, WEF explores major findings that put cyber security in tight spot about its growing complexities due to factors, which is intensified by geopolitical tensions, emerging technologies, supply chain interdependencies and growing sophistication of hacker’s activities.

Few reasons are underlined citing reasons for growing more complexity in cyber threats.

As per World Economic Forum (WEF) Industrial organizations operate at the intersection of IT and OT, making them particularly susceptible to cyber attacks.

The WEF report underscores several factors driving increased cyber complexity, such as:

• Geopolitical tensions: Heightened cyber espionage and nation-state attacks targeting critical infrastructure.
• Sophisticated threat actors: Cybercriminals are leveraging AI to automate and scale attacks.
• Regulatory pressures: Organizations are facing a maze of global cybersecurity regulations, such as Europe’s NIS2 Directive and U.S. critical infrastructure mandates. (read more on NIS2 Directives: https://intruceptlabs.com/2025/01/new-regulations-directives-to-boost-cyber-defense-dora-nis2/)
• Skills shortages: The current scarcity of skilled cybersecurity professionals creates further risks. 

To effectively address emerging threats, industrial organizations must embrace comprehensive and proactive strategies that anticipate potential risks, mitigate vulnerabilities, and adapt to the evolving cyber security landscape.

Greater Industrial risks

The industrial environment demands they have updated systems in the OT environments which often lacks robust IT systems in place that is moving aways and replacing from traditional IT systems that can support AI driven tools as well. This will subsequently make the industrial systems equipped to fight AI driven threats and navigate cyber complexities.

Addressing vulnerabilities and leveraging opportunities, organizations can strengthen their resilience and stay ahead of emerging risks. Here are key lessons from the report:

1. Prioritize OT security amid geopolitical tensions to protect critical infrastructure

Geopolitical instability has become a significant driver of cyber threats, with critical infrastructure like energy, water, and transportation being prime targets. The WEF report highlights how state-sponsored cyberattacks, as seen during the Ukraine conflict, disrupted essential services and compromised national security. For industrial organizations, the lesson is clear: implementing OT cybersecurity strategies to secure systems against advanced persistent threats (APTs) is paramount.

• Manage supply chain dependencies and third-party risks to enhance resilience

The increasing complexity of global supply chains poses challenges for maintaining cyber resilience. According to the report, 54% of large organizations identified third-party vulnerabilities as the biggest barrier to resilience. Industrial entities must implement robust OT cybersecurity strategies, including vendor risk management, including the use of Software Bills of Materials (SBOMs) to ensure transparency and security in their supply chains.

• Asses all AI tools and related-vulnerabilities before deployment

While AI offers transformative benefits, it also introduces vulnerabilities. Threat actors use generative AI to craft sophisticated phishing campaigns and deepfake-enabled fraud. According to the report, only 37% of organizations are assessing AI tools for security before deployment. Industrial sectors must integrate OT cybersecurity strategies into governance frameworks to manage these risks effectively.

• Overcome regulatory compliance challenges by aligning with global frameworks

Global cybersecurity regulations aim to improve resilience but often introduce complexity due to fragmentation. The report reveals that 69% of organizations struggle with overlapping compliance requirements. For industrial players, aligning with frameworks like ISO 27001 and NIS2 can provide structured guidance to navigate regulatory landscapes effectively.

• Cyber security Skill gap

The cyber skills gap remains a critical issue, with two-thirds of organizations reporting talent shortages. Industrial organizations need to integrate cyber security training into operational roles and collaborate with academia and government bodies to cultivate talent pipelines.

Closing the complexities with stringent policies is what the WEF report recommends.

• To address complex cyber threats the WEF report emphasizes the importance of public-private partnerships, information-sharing networks, and international cooperation. Initiatives such as the EU Cyber Resilience Act and partnerships with organizations like CERTs and ISACs can significantly enhance ecosystem-wide security.
• Addressing the cyber skills gap involves upskilling existing employees and fostering a culture of security awareness. Industrial organizations can partner with academic institutions to develop specialized training programs focused on OT cybersecurity.
• Cybersecurity should be a board-level priority, integrated into every operational facet. Cross-functional teams that align IT and OT strategies can better address evolving threats. For example, regular risk assessments and penetration testing of OT systems can identify vulnerabilities before they are exploited.
• Addressing the cyber skills gap involves upskilling existing employees and fostering a culture of security awareness. Industrial organizations can partner with academic institutions to develop specialized training programs focused on OT cybersecurity.
• Compliance with global standards such as NIS2 and CIRCIA not only ensures regulatory adherence but also enhances resilience. By aligning cybersecurity strategies with governance structures, organizations can streamline compliance processes and reduce resource strain.
• Organizations should implement anomaly detection tools and AI-driven cyber security measures to safeguard OT networks from malicious activities. For example, predictive maintenance tools powered by AI should be rigorously tested for security vulnerabilities before deployment.
• Organizations should enforce vendor compliance, conduct regular audits, and use tools like SBOMs to monitor third-party dependencies. Continuous monitoring and real-time visibility across the supply chain can help detect and mitigate risks early.

IntruceptLabs is dedicated in helping organizations to run fast, be secure from challenging in present day when systems are AI driven and digitally curated. It’s difficult to keep up when cybercriminals are persistently looking for new ways to expose security risks. Organizations who have strong cyber strategy and ready to use mature products to safe guard data, networks, firewalls or it will find that constantly they are in a reactive mode, raising hundreds of support tickets to figure out why something is broken.

At Intrucept we have INTRUCEPT’s SAST Tool to help developers find security vulnerabilities in the source code before an application is deployed. By scanning for issues like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and buffer overflows, the tool enables organizations to address vulnerabilities early in the development process.

• The INTRUCEPT SIEM tool helps organizations comply with NIS2’s requirements for continuous monitoring and incident detection.
• The SIEM Tool provides financial institutions with the real-time visibility needed to quickly detect and respond to cyber security incidents, ensuring operational resilience. 

References: https://industrialcyber.co/news/5-key-ot-cybersecurity-strategies-from-the-wef-global-cybersecurity-outlook-2025/