Cybersecurity the biggest concern for incoming U.S. president, says poll results

YARMOUTH, Maine — With the U.S. presidential election swiftly approaching, the November News Poll asked readers which security issues will need to be addressed by the incoming administration in January. 

Security Systems News (SSN) first asked participants what would be the most important security issue facing the incoming president in 2025. 38.71% of respondents believe that cybersecurity threats top the list of most concern. "Cybersecurity challenges from major global powers and economic stability are all equal and significant challenges that will need to be addressed,” one SSN reader commented.  

The second-largest cause for concern to the incoming administration according to poll results was terrorism with 32.26%. “Our current open borders are the greatest threat,” another reader wrote. Third and fourth place in the poll went to supply chain vulnerabilities and school safety with 19.35% and 9.68% of votes respectively.  

Next, the poll asked which security technology will have the most impact in protecting the country over the next four years. Cybersecurity took the top spot once more with 58.06% of votes. AI and machine learning came in second with a respectable 35.48% of the vote, and 6.45% of readers voted for drones. No respondents believed that biometrics/facial recognition will have much of an impact in comparison. 

For our closing question we asked what will be the most critical factor that shapes the security landscape under the new administration. The majority of votes at 32.26% held that economic stability (inflation, recession risks, and supply chain vulnerabilities) will be the defining factor for the incoming president. 29.03% believe that it will boil down to the relationships and rivalries with major global powers such as China and Russia. The remaining votes were split evenly with 19.35% each to technological advances in AI and cybersecurity, and to the ongoing threat of domestic and international terrorism.