DigiCert, a global trusted digital provider, today releases its annual cybersecurity forecast study for identity, technology, and digital trust that will shape the landscape in 2025 and beyond. These forecasts provide an assessment of the cybersecurity challenges and opportunities that companies will face in the coming months. The complete forecasts and perspectives of DigiCert for the new year can be found atDigiCert blog.
Prediction 1: Post-quantum cryptography takes off
2025 marks a crucial year when post-quantum cryptography (PQC) shifts from theoretical frameworks to real-world deployments. With imminent announcements from the US National Security Agency (NSA) and increasing compliance pressures, the adoption of PQC will rise, enabling industries to adopt quantum-resistant solutions.
Prediction 2: Chief Trust Officers take center stage
Digital trust is becoming a boardroom priority, leading to a continued rise of Chief Trust Officers (CTrOs) who will oversee ethical AI, safe digital experiences, and compliance in an increasingly regulated environment.
Prediction 3: Automation and crypto agility become a necessity
As the industry shifts toward shorter SSL/TLS certificate lifespans, automation and crypto agility will emerge as essential capabilities for organizations looking to maintain secure operations amid evolving standards.
Prediction 4: Content provenance goes mainstream
In an era of deepfakes and digital misinformation, the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) is ready to redefine how we verify digital content. Wait to see the C2PA content credential icon become common in images and videos to increase trust across all media platforms.
Prediction 5: Organizations will demand resilience and zero disruptions
CrowdStrike's interruption this summer highlighted the need for better testing of automated updates and greater digital trust. As IoT adoption grows, concerns about the security of wireless updates, especially for autonomous cars, are leading to calls for greater transparency in security practices. The EU Cyber Resilience Act, in effect in 2027, will drive stricter cybersecurity standards, promoting a safer and more reliable IoT ecosystem.
Prediction 6: AI-powered phishing attacks will increase
The proliferation of AI will fuel an unprecedented increase in sophisticated phishing attacks, making them harder to detect. The invaders will leverage AI to create highly personalized and convincing phishing campaigns, while automated tools will enable them to scale attacks at an alarming rate, targeting individuals and organizations with precision.
Prediction 7: New private PKI standards like ASC X9 will gain traction
The ASC X9 is ready to gain strength, as sectors such as finance and healthcare increasingly require customized security frameworks to meet strict regulatory demands and unique operational needs. Unlike the public PKI, ASC X9 offers greater flexibility by allowing customized policies and trust models, addressing critical areas such as data integrity and authentication. This ability to promote secure, scalable, and interoperable structures will make ASC X9 a preferred standard for organizations that prioritize trust and collaboration.
Prediction 8: The Cryptographic Bill of Materials (CBOM) gains traction
In response to growing cybersecurity threats, CBOMs will become a vital tool for ensuring digital trust by cataloging crypto assets and dependencies, enabling better risk assessments.
Prediction 9: The Era of Manual Certificate Management Ends
Manual certificate management, still common in nearly a quarter* of enterprises, will gradually be phased out as automation becomes indispensable to address shorter certificate lifetimes and more stringent security protocols.
Prediction 10: Organizations will continue to prioritize fewer suppliers
Despite concerns about single-vendor risks and a spike in venture capital funding for AI startups, companies will continue to consolidate vendors to simplify management, improve integration, and enhance overall security practices.
"The relentless pace of innovation is not only reshaping our digital lives — it is exposing new vulnerabilities faster than we can protect them, demanding a bold rethinking of how we approach cybersecurity," said Jason Sabin, CTO of DigiCert. The forecasts for 2025 highlight the urgent need to stay ahead of these vulnerabilities, driving quantum readiness, increasing transparency, and strengthening trust as the foundation of our rapidly changing digital ecosystem. DigiCert remains committed to shaping and safeguarding future digital innovation to stay ahead of the vulnerability curve.
For more detailed insights into DigiCert's 2025 security predictions, visit the DigiCert blog athttps://www.digicert.com/blog/2025-security-predictions.
