Top HP cybersecurity predictions for South Africa in 2025

Cyber threats are growing more sophisticated, making cybersecurity an urgent priority for individuals, businesses, and government institutions.

In South Africa, recently documented high-profile attacks—such as the R165 million hack of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) by the hacking group N4aughtySec and the data breach of Cell C by RansomHouse—highlight the increasing risks.

However, hackers aren’t only targeting large organisations. Individuals and small businesses are also prime focuses of malicious actors.

To help South African individuals and businesses protect against malicious digital activities, HP has compiled several predictions for how the cybersecurity industry will evolve, as well as how South Africans must respond to this.

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How Attackers Are Using AI to Outsmart Defences

Cybercriminals are not just targeting AI systems—they are also leveraging AI to supercharge their attacks. AI is being used to write attack scripts, uncover system vulnerabilities, support malware development, and analyse stolen data with unprecedented speed and efficiency.

One of the biggest emerging threats is AI-assisted phishing. Attackers can now generate highly convincing, multilingual, and personalized phishing emails, making it more difficult for users to distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent messages. The ability to craft hyper-targeted lures will increase phishing success rates, making traditional cybersecurity awareness strategies less effective.

Additionally, AI-powered attack automation lowers the barrier to entry for cybercrime. More individuals, including those without advanced coding skills, will be able to launch complex attacks, significantly increasing the number of cyber threats businesses and individuals face. As AI-powered attacks become faster, more adaptive, and harder to detect, cybersecurity defences must evolve in response.

The Need for Smarter, More Resilient Security Solutions

To combat the rise of AI-powered threats, businesses must adopt advanced security solutions. Protection must extend beyond servers, computers, and smartphones—devices like printers will also require continuous and active system monitoring.

Endpoints must feature rapid malware detection capabilities and the ability to self-heal when targeted by AI-driven attacks. This will be crucial for both companies and governments seeking to protect sensitive data from malicious actors.  Isolation technology also offers unique protection against social engineering attacks by containing risky activities and wrapping around applications that contain sensitive data. HP offers this with Sure Click Enterprise & Sure Access Enterprise.

Why Security Assurance is the New Standard for Technology Providers

Technology providers must offer greater assurances regarding the security of their hardware, software, and systems. Governance, risk, and compliance will become core priorities, as failure to meet security expectations could lead to significant business losses.

Customers will demand verification tools to assess and manage device hardware and firmware security, necessitating a new approach to technology procurement processes.

Balancing Personalization and Security in Employee Experiences

Organizations will face growing demand for personalized employee experiences. Modern professionals expect tailored workspaces, seamless access to essential technologies, and flexible work environments—without compromising security.

Technology providers that successfully balance personalization with robust security will emerge as industry leaders.

Zero-Trust and Hardware Protection Are Critical

IoT is already integral to the professional world and will continue to expand in the coming years. While these devices enhance operational efficiency, they also significantly enlarge the attack surface.

To mitigate risks, IoT providers must implement hardware-enforced security and robust protection on a per-device basis. Additionally, zero-trust architecture will be essential, ensuring a layered approach to security while reducing vulnerabilities.

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