New cyber attack techniques and scary headlines with companies being hacked emerge almost daily, putting IT teams in constant reactive mode.
However, by stepping back to understand the most prevalent threats, the vectors they use to infiltrate networks, and having research-backed mitigations, network security teams can transform from being caught off guard to staying one step ahead of attackers.
In this post, we’ll overview five network security threats that all IT leaders should be aware of in 2025 and provide some tips for keeping things tight.
1. Ransomware
You’ve likely heard about nasty ransomware attacks crippling hospitals, schools, businesses, and even whole city systems lately. It works by encrypting crucial files and data until the victim pays up. Once it infiltrates a network, removing ransomware without paying the criminals is tricky. And these attacks are on the rise as attackers refine their tools and distribution methods.
A single infected device can provide entry to ransack your entire infrastructure. Phishing emails with malicious links or attachments are the primary way ransomware spreads (but more on this in the next point).
The impacts go beyond just the ransom payment itself, too. Downtime, recovery costs, and PR damage from an attack can hobble an organization for months. So, while complete prevention is complex, having some key safeguards in place is critical:
- Backup Critical Data Often: Maintaining regular backups isolated from your network acts as the last line of restore defense if infected. Just be sure to test restoring, too. This is one of the best ways to secure enterprise data.
- Layer Security Defenses: No single tool catches everything. Use email filtering, endpoint protection, network monitoring, and access controls to cover more ground against threats.
- Patch Frequently: Ransomware often exploits known software vulnerabilities to spread. Staying on top of system updates and patches closes common attack vectors.
Ransomware might seem overwhelming, but remember the basics – awareness, preparedness, and layered security put you well ahead of most organizations.
2. Phishing Attacks
Phishing was briefly mentioned under ransomware, but it deserves its spotlight. Cybercriminals’ attempts to trick your employees via deceptive emails, texts, phone calls, and even fake websites never seem to slow down, thanks to how reliable human emotions are to exploit.
And here’s why phishing succeeds even in 2025 – it cultivates a false sense of urgency or trust to prompt victims to share passwords, links, and sensitive data before they realize something is amiss. Even tech-savvy folks can be fooled once in a while.
Attackers have become extremely convincing with personalization and spoofing of legitimate businesses. Some even threaten serious consequences if you don’t take immediate action, using fear to cloud better judgment. But you can help keep your people from getting hooked by:
- Enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Even if credentials are stolen or shared, MFA blocks access without the extra login code from your employee’s smartphone, for example.
- Monitoring Links/Attachments in Emails: Manually reviewing any web links and attachments before users open them helps catch sneaky ones missed by filters.
- Limiting Personal Info Access: Phishing content often includes personal details for familiarity. Restricting what employee info is publicly accessible cuts this down.
- Conducting Simulated Phishing Tests: Mimic actual attempts for employees to practice spotting suspicious warning signs without consequence.
With stronger technical defenses and continuous user education, your organization can stay an unattractive target of phishing attacks over time.
3. Misconfigured Cloud Services
Migrating services and infrastructure to the cloud provides many advantages—flexibility, savings, and uptime. But it sure opens up your attack landscape if you aren’t fully secured!
Cloud platforms involve shared security responsibility between you and the providers. So, leaving just a single storage bucket, database, or server misconfigured can easily jeopardize data or undermine defenses.
And here’s where organizations typically trip up—they misunderstand their part in keeping cloud environments locked down tight. But cloud providers handle the physical hardware protection—you secure everything else on top!
- Limit Access: Adopt a ZTNA (zero-trust network access) approach with MFA and strict least-privilege permissions.
- Assess Configurations: Continuously check for and remediate any open resource or policy gaps.
- Encrypt Data: Use platform-provided or third-party encryption mechanisms for sensitive cloud data like financials.
- Understand Shared Responsibility: Be crystal clear on what security enforcements the provider handles vs you to fill all gaps.
Adjusting your security strategy to confront threats from all sides in a cloud-based world requires effort. But with improved visibility and strong governance, your organization’s cloud presence can thrive safely and securely well into the future!
4. Compromised Credentials
Here’s another big one to protect against – stolen employee account credentials. Whether obtained through spyware, a password leak, or, yes…more phishing – compromised login information allows attackers quiet access to infiltrate systems and data covertly.
Employees also reuse the same credentials across multiple apps, sites, and devices without considering how risky this is. So, a single stolen password often unlocks doors across your entire digital infrastructure!
Once inside, cybercriminals can stealthily move laterally further into the network, escalating privileges or planting backdoors for later access. The costs of compromised credentials extend far beyond just resetting passwords.
Some things you can implement right away to reduce exposure:
- Passphrase Requirements: Length and complexity rules for passwords slow guessing attempts when leaked.
- Password Managers: Generate and safely store strong, unique credentials for each system.
- Multi-Factor Authentication: Add an extra identity confirmation layer before allowing access.
- Account Activity Monitoring: Watch for anomalies indicating compromised accounts.
- Access Revocation: Quickly de-provision compromised accounts with automated workflows.
Compromised credentials remain the digital equivalent of leaving spare keys out for thieves. But with the proper precautions, your doors can stay locked up tight!
5. Insider Threats
Now for a different threat—the risky people already inside your organization, whether intentional or not: disgruntled employees out for revenge, careless workers oblivious to policy, new hires looking to steal data, and more.
Insiders don’t need sophisticated hacking skills when access is built right into their roles, and their intentions are often hard to detect in advance. However, even well-meaning employees can accidentally expose data through improper sharing or online behavior. Fighting this requires balancing trust with verification. Steps you can take include:
- Least-Privilege Access: Only grant access to systems and data necessary for an employee’s responsibilities.
- Activity Monitoring: Watch for suspicious data access, transfers, or modification anomalies.
- Secure Process Training: Establish expectations and policies and provide repeated education on handling sensitive information appropriately.
- Background Screening: Vet new hires thoroughly before coming aboard to uncover any red flags around trustworthiness.
Remember, your team is your first line of defense…or weakness! Setting clear security expectations while supporting honest voices in reporting issues is key to reducing insider-enabled incidents.
Final Word
The risks can feel daunting for organizations, from ransomware and email compromise to insider threats.
But by expanding visibility into your systems, staff, and partners and then proactively addressing the right mix of administrative, technical, and policy-based defenses suited for your unique needs, you’ll remain resilient even as the threat landscape continues evolving.
