As businesses race to adopt generative AI and brace for the quantum era, cybersecurity leaders are facing a new wave of complex threats. The latest Thales 2025 Data Threat Report, based on a global survey of over 3,000 IT and security professionals, reveals that concerns over AI-driven attacks and quantum decryption are now at the forefront of corporate security agendas.
Generative AI: Fueling Innovation and Anxiety
The past year has seen an explosion in generative AI adoption, with nearly a third of organizations integrating these tools into their operations. While AI is unlocking new efficiencies and customer experiences, it’s also introducing fresh vulnerabilities. According to Thales, almost 70% of security leaders worry that the pace of AI development is outstripping their ability to manage risk.
“AI is a game-changer, but it’s also a moving target,” said Eric Hanselman, Chief Analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence 451 Research. “Many organizations are still figuring out how to secure these systems, especially as they become more autonomous and data-hungry.”
The report highlights three key AI-related concerns:
- Integrity: 64% of respondents are uneasy about the reliability of AI systems, especially those making critical decisions.
- Trust: 57% question whether they can fully trust AI outputs, given the risk of manipulated or biased data.
- Data Quality: As AI agents become more prevalent, the need for clean, secure data is more urgent than ever.
Security Budgets Pivot Toward AI Defenses
In response, organizations are shifting their security investments:
- 73% are allocating funds to AI-specific security tools, whether through new spending or by redirecting existing budgets.
- Companies are diversifying their approach, mixing solutions from cloud providers, established security vendors, and innovative startups.
AI security now ranks just behind cloud security in budget priority, reflecting its growing importance in the modern threat landscape.
Quantum Computing: Preparing for the Next Disruption
While AI dominates headlines, quantum computing is quietly emerging as a major concern. The Thales report found that:
- 63% of organizations fear quantum computers could eventually break today’s encryption.
- 61% worry about vulnerabilities in key distribution.
- 58% are aware of the “harvest now, decrypt later” threat, where attackers steal encrypted data today, hoping to decrypt it with quantum power in the future.
Todd Moore, Global VP of Data Security Products at Thales, warns that the clock is ticking:
“It’s encouraging to see three out of five organizations already prototyping post-quantum cryptography, but deployment timelines are tight. Falling behind could leave critical data exposed for years.”
Despite these efforts, only a third of organizations trust their telecom or cloud providers to manage the quantum transition, suggesting a need for in-house expertise and proactive planning.
Data Breaches: Fewer Incidents, Evolving Threats
There is some good news: the overall rate of data breaches is declining. Thales reports that 45% of enterprises have experienced a breach, down from 56% in 2021. Breaches in the past year dropped to 14%. However, the nature of attacks is shifting:
- Malware remains the top threat, followed by phishing and ransomware.
- Hacktivists have overtaken nation-state actors as the leading source of concern, reflecting a more diverse and unpredictable threat landscape.
Action Steps for Security Leaders
Given these findings, experts recommend several immediate steps:
- Invest in AI and quantum security: Don’t wait for regulations to catch up—proactively secure AI systems and begin testing post-quantum cryptography.
- Balance speed with caution: Rapid AI adoption is tempting, but skipping security reviews can create long-term risks.
- Strengthen data governance: Ensure the data feeding your AI is accurate, unbiased, and well-protected.
- Stay informed: Regularly review updates in AI and cybersecurity and cloud security to keep pace with evolving threats.
Looking Ahead
The Thales 2025 Data Threat Report is a wake-up call: as AI and quantum technologies mature, the security stakes are rising. Organizations that act now—by investing in the right tools, talent, and strategies—will be best positioned to thrive in this new digital era.
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