Cybersecurity in 2025: Focus where it matters

Cybersecurity has never been more important – or more complex. For most organisations, it's no longer just about firewalls and patches. As workplaces become more digital, the security conversation has shifted to data, privacy, cloud and, increasingly, artificial intelligence (AI). How organisations handle these areas will determine whether they build trust or risk losing it.

Data security: your organisation's vault

Think of your organisation's data as a vault or a safe deposit box. Inside are your most valuable assets: customer records, employee details, intellectual property. Like any vault, it needs multiple layers of protection. The lock matters, but so do the guards, the cameras and the routine checks that ensure nothing slips through unnoticed.

When organisations get this wrong, they're not just losing data; they're losing trust. ELMO's Employee Sentiment Index Research highlights the stakes, with 51% of employees reporting they worry about theft of their personal information at work, while nearly a third fear falling victim to phishing. 

At ELMO, ISO 27001:2022 certification helps us strengthen those layers of protection. The updated standard adds greater emphasis on areas like threat intelligence, cloud services and data leakage protection. These are essential controls for any business that wants to keep its "safe deposit box" truly secure in today's threat landscape.

Privacy: The rules of the road

Privacy requirements can sometimes feel like red tape, but they're better understood as the traffic lights of the digital world. Laws like GDPR, and their local equivalents, keep everyone moving safely. But following the rules isn't just a job for the legal team. Every employee needs to understand why privacy matters, otherwise, you'll always have a reckless driver on the road.

Shadow IT and phishing: closing the back doors

External threats aren't the only concern. Shadow IT - employees using unapproved apps or devices - opens back doors you may not even know exist. Our research found that 26% of employees admit to using unapproved tools at work. That's one in four employees introducing potential vulnerabilities.

Phishing remains another constant threat. Nearly a third (31%) of employees don't know how to protect themselves against phishing, making education essential. At ELMO, prevention is baked into our culture: monthly phishing simulations, mandatory awareness training, and a Slack channel where staff share real-world scams. Building this kind of awareness helps employees act as the first line of defence, not the weakest link.

Responsible AI: Why every co-pilot needs a pilot

AI is quickly becoming the next big cybersecurity battleground. It's a powerful co-pilot, able to automate tasks and surface insights, but no one wants to fly in a plane without a human pilot in the cockpit. AI can assist decision-making, but human oversight is always essential.

Governance is what keeps AI in its lane. A sound framework ensures:

• Explainability – knowing why the AI agent made a recommendation.
• Fairness – testing for bias, just as you'd test an autopilot system.
• Oversight – humans remain accountable for decisions.
• Appropriateness – using AI only when it's the right tool for the job.

The new ISO/IEC 42001:2023 standard - sometimes cleverly described as "ISO 27001 for AI" - offers organisations a clear playbook for adopting AI responsibly, ethically and transparently. At ELMO, we see standards like 42001 as vital for building trust with customers and regulators, while ensuring AI augments rather than replaces human judgment.

Governance: the playbook that brings it all together

Whether it's protecting data, managing cloud security, or keeping AI in check, governance is the playbook that ties everything together. It defines accountability, clarifies ownership, and ensures risks are managed consistently. Done well, governance builds trust with employees, regulators and customers alike.

Leading with confidence

Cybersecurity isn't about chasing the latest shiny tool; it's about focusing on what matters and putting the right guardrails in place. For organisations looking to strengthen their cyber resilience, the priorities are clear:

• Protect your data like it's a vault.
• Follow the privacy rules of the road.
• Close back doors from shadow IT and phishing.
• Keep AI as a co-pilot, not the captain.

With the right strategic approach and tools, organisations can turn today's cyber risks into opportunities to strengthen trust, resilience and innovation.