News Poll: AI, cyberattacks at the forefront of threats in 2025

YARMOUTH, Maine — AI and cyberattacks have dominated headlines for the past few years, and the trend looks to continue into 2025, according to the results of the latest SSN News Poll. 

The vote for the most significant security threat in 2025 was split between cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure and AI-driven phishing and social engineering, with both garnering 41.18% of votes. The remaining votes went to insider threats and employee negligence, and supply chain vulnerabilities. 

“(An) increase in AI-based attacks and an increase in government regulation governing AI use in public and private sectors,” one respondent predicted. 

Unsurprisingly, AI is also expected to see the largest increase in investment in 2025, according to 37.5% of respondents. Cloud security / digital infrastructure was the other popular pick with one-quarter of votes, and physical access control and data privacy / identity management followed behind at 18.75% and 12.5%, respectively. 

Very few respondents, however, believe that the industry will be investing in the integration of cybersecurity and physical security measures. 

“AI threat detection and intervention moves to the forefront,” wrote one respondent. 

In the lead for the biggest challenge facing organization in 2025: Keeping up with emerging technologies (35.29%), employee training and security awareness (23.53%), and handling complex regulatory compliance and attracting and retaining skilled industry professionals (both 17.65%). 

One respondent’s prediction addressed a different issue: a perceived weakness in monitoring practices.  

“False alarm solution by law enforcement = VR/ verified response,” they wrote. “No police response to calls from remote-monitoring firms, unless verified threat of felony in action...Trending across the country.... not sharing change with alarm site subscriber... ignoring known solutions...expect lots of attrition and related destruction of market value.”