Intelligent CIO North America Issue 52 | Page 41

FEATURE : 2025 CIOS ’ PRIORITY
CIOs also need to keep an eye on the rapid development of quantum cloud computing services . While these services are not yet a threat to encryption , their evolution highlights the urgency of building a quantum-ready cybersecurity strategy to protect against future vulnerabilities .
Morey Haber , Chief Security Advisor , BeyondTrust
Another priority is identity security . Modern cyberattacks increasingly target identity rather than systems , requiring a shift from endpoint protection to robust identity verification practices . Continuous verification and improved identity management protocols will be critical to safeguarding privileged access .
Additionally , CIOs must address the complexities introduced by AI .
CIOs must prioritize several key areas in the New Year . A significant focus will be on quantum computing and the associated risks . As quantum computing becomes more capable , traditional encryption methods will face unprecedented threats . CIOs should begin adopting NIST ’ s postquantum encryption standards to future-proof their organizations , especially in critical industries like finance .
While AI has enabled advancements in automation and threat detection , it has also lowered the barrier for attackers . As AI evolves , CIOs should balance the potential benefits with the risks , ensuring that security investments do not overwhelm their teams with unintegrated tools .
Finally , infrastructure and system upgrades will be a pressing concern as Microsoft ends support for
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