IT Survival Guide for 2025 – Five Topics You Must Address

Cybersecurity is no longer a luxury but a necessity for all organizations across industries. If your organization does not prioritize cybersecurity like it does product development or finances, it will be in trouble in 2025. 

From cybersecurity threats to the integration of emerging technologies like AI and cloud computing, staying ahead of the curve is now more critical than ever–for both security and competition’s sake. 

Survival depends on a proactive approach that evolves as the threat landscape changes. The five tips in this blog apply to every business. Address them thoroughly in 2025 (and thank us later).

5 Cybersecurity Tips to Survive 2025

Adopting the right strategies can make all the difference. Cybercriminals are constantly evolving in sophistication and tactics – and so must your organization's approach to cybersecurity.

1. Use single sign-on more. From workstation logins to payroll, you should make your staff's lives more manageable with a single sign-on experience, with Microsoft 365 as your primary login tool. This also makes shutting off access to off-boarded staff much easier. We highly recommend you pair Microsoft 365 with Cisco's Duo for the best identity management and MFA experience.

2. Vet your IT and software vendors deeply. Require third-party audits. You can require this of the vendors you rely on, or you should understand that any vendor you work with can put you out of business. Third-party vendors are a huge risk to organizations and must be managed accordingly. FTC Safeguards Rule, HIPAA, and FINRA require this – it's time for your organization to start doing it. 

3. Understand your exit plan for IT and software vendors. This applies if they get bought out, close due to a breach, or surprise you with a massive price increase. Microsoft 365 can be transferred to other IT vendors, but what about private cloud hosting from your local MSP? You may be shocked to learn that leaving some private cloud providers could take weeks. This is why we preach and only implement Microsoft Azure cloud. Azure is universal and transferrable.  

4. Make phishing simulations and monthly security training a minimum requirement. The number one entry point of attacks is still humans clicking on malicious links. Ensuring staff recognize phishing attempts and conducting mandatory cybersecurity training are no longer excessive measures for overly cautious organizations. These steps should be the norm for essential security awareness. 

5. Control how your staff is using AI. If you do not have a policy for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your organization, assume your staff is pasting sensitive information into free solutions and selling that information. This, in and of itself, is a breach. If you want AI to write content for you, use a secure version. For example, the Microsoft 365 Copilot is private to your Microsoft instance.   

Cybersecurity Challenges in 2025

All the proactive measures in the world will not fully protect any organization. However, organizations stand the best chance with a proactive attitude and an adequate investment in preventative cybersecurity. Challenges will continue to present themselves: here’s what we expect to change and challenge across industries this year: 

• The growing sophistication of cyberattacks: Attackers are increasingly leveraging AI to create more targeted and evasive attacks.  

• The skills gap in cybersecurity: Difficulty finding and retaining qualified cybersecurity professionals.

• Integration of new technologies: Securing emerging technologies like IoT, edge computing, and cloud environment.

Future-Proofing Your Business IT

The key to surviving a cyberattack and keeping your business – employees, data, and entities — safe lies in preparation, adaptability, and vigilance. Understanding IT security and health predictors will help your organization pinpoint areas for focus and growth in 2025. 

Your data, clients, and reputation matter — that’s why our goal, on its most basic level, is to keep your business out of the headlines — negative headlines, that is. In the world of IT, it’s not about whether a breach will happen; — it’s about who and when — being prepared is your best defense.

Ready to future-proof your IT in 2025? Let’s chat.