Cybersecurity in 2025
A Race Against Time
Cybercrime – A Global Threat
On January 15, 2025, SquardTech Research & Insights published its latest Cybersecurity Risk Barometer. The results are clear: For the fourth consecutive year, cyber incidents such as data breaches, ransomware attacks, and IT outages rank at the top of the list of the most significant business risks worldwide. This alarming trend reflects the challenges of an increasingly digital world where technological advances and geopolitical tensions expose companies of all sizes to greater risks.
The Economic Impact
Cybercrime is projected to cause an estimated $12 trillion in annual damages by 2025 (Forrester forecast), making it the third-largest economic force globally—surpassed only by the US and China.
Unlike legitimate economies, this “dark economy” thrives on theft, extortion, and sabotage. Of particular concern is the increasing professionalization of cybercrime, fueled by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the rise of Cybercrime-as-a-Service (CaaS).
The "Big Four" State-Sponsored Cyber Threats
In the cybersecurity world, the “Big Four” refers to the four main state-sponsored cyber actors: China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
These nations leverage cyber operations as strategic tools to achieve political and economic goals.
Country Cyber Strategy
1 . China Focuses on economic espionage, stealing intellectual property to boost national technology and economic power.
2 . Russia Promotes political instability through cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and critical infrastructure attacks.
3 . North Korea Funds government operations via cybercrime, including cryptocurrency theft (estimated to account for 50% of export revenue).
4 . Iran Uses cyberattacks for retaliation and regional influence, especially by targeting critical infrastructure.
These actors operate ruthlessly and professionally, using cutting-edge technologies.
A coordinated global response is needed to counter these threats.