Monday Morning Impact – March 10

Published On: March 9, 2025Categories: Buzz

Gartner Identifies the Top Cybersecurity Trends for 2025

Gartner has rolled out a series of top cybersecurity trends for 2025, noting a heavy influence by the evolution of generative AI, digital decentralizing, supply chain interdependencies, regulatory change, endemic talent shortages and a constantly evolving threat landscape.

“Security and risk management (SRM) leaders face a mix of challenges and opportunities this year, with a goal to enable transformation and embed resilience,” said Alex Michaels, Senior Principal Analyst at Gartner. “Their efforts in achieving both are crucial to support their organization’s aspirations to not only innovate, but ensure their innovations are secure and sustainable in a fast-changing digital world.”

Among the top trends, Gartner says that GenAI is now the driving force behind data security programs. Most security efforts and financial resources are traditionally focused on protecting structured data such as databases, according to the company’s research. However, the rise of GenAI is transforming data security programs, shifting focus to protect unstructured data — text, images and videos.

Another key trend involves managing machine identities. Increasing adoption of GenAI, cloud services, automation and DevOps practices, has led to the prolific use of machine accounts and credentials for physical devices and software workloads. If left uncontrolled and unmanaged, machine identities can significantly expand an organization’s attack surface. According to Gartner, SRM leaders are under pressure to build a strategy to implement robust machine identity and access management (IAM) to protect against attacks, but it must be a coordinated enterprise-wide effort. A Gartner survey of 335 IAM leaders globally, conducted between August and October 2024, found that IAM teams are only responsible for 44% of an organization’s machine identities.

Gartner points to a third trend involving SRM leaders facing mixed results with their AI implementations, leading them to reprioritize their initiatives and focus on narrower use cases with direct measurable impacts. These more tactical implementations align AI practices and tools with existing metrics, fit them into existing initiatives, and enhance visibility of the real value of AI investments.

Next comes Cybersecurity Technology Optimization. According to a Gartner survey of 162 large enterprises, conducted between August and October 2024, organizations use an average of 45 cybersecurity tools. With over 3,000 vendors in cybersecurity, SRM leaders need to optimize their toolsets to build more efficient and effective security programs. Gartner recommends aiming for a balance that procurement, security architects, security engineers, and other stakeholders are satisfied with to maintain the right security posture. To achieve this, SRM leaders should consolidate and validate core security controls and focus on architecture that enhances portability of data.

Gartner clients can read more in “Top Trends in Cybersecurity for 2025.”

Channel Impact^®
Channel partners should closely examine these trends in contrast with their current service offerings. Additional means of adding value will likely be found.

Check Point Software Technologies and Wiz Partner on Cloud Security

Check Point Software has announced a strategic partnership with cloud security provider, Wiz, to address the issue of securing hybrid cloud environments. This collaboration bridges the longstanding gap between cloud network security and Cloud Native Application Protection (CNAPP) through a technological integration and strategic business alliance.

“This partnership between the parties was formalized in order to create a new security paradigm—combining Check Point’s cloud network security expertise with Wiz’s CNAPP leadership to deliver comprehensive protection across hybrid mesh environments,” said Nadav Zafrir, Chief Executive Officer at Check Point. “Together, we are transforming how organizations manage risk, enabling teams to collaborate with greater efficiency and control.”

Among the anticipated benefits, customers and partners should expect unified security insights from the integration of Check Point’s cloud network security controls with Wiz’s CNAPP risk platform, enabling cloud security teams to automatically prevent attacks, and access real-time network-driven insights. In addition, Wiz’s risk analysis feeds will integrate directly into Check Point’s platform, providing network security teams with actionable recommendations to optimize security coverage and configurations.

Check Point expects to reallocate resources and make further investments across its Cloud Security business, including Cloud Network Security, Web Application Firewall (WAF), GenAI and other key Cloud technologies.

“Bringing together Wiz’s leading CNAPP technology and Check Point’s expertise in cloud network security enhances visibility and prioritizes risks more effectively,” said Assaf Rappaport, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Wiz. “Our partnership is aimed to ensure that companies can seamlessly protect their network and cloud environments with an integrated, industry-leading solution while continuing to democratize cloud security.”

Channel Impact^®
The partnership promises to integrate best-in-class cloud network and CNAPP security through seamless technology integration and a strategic business alliance.

Thrive Acquires Secured Network Services

Thrive, a Boston-based provider of cybersecurity, cloud, and IT managed services, has announced the acquisition of Secured Network Services (SNS), a New Hampshire-based IT provider for organizations across industries, including healthcare, non-profit, and municipal government.

With the acquisition of SNS, Thrive expects to deepen its vertical industry knowledge, ensuring healthcare, non-profit, and government customers are backed with the latest industry insights to navigate these challenging landscapes.

“SNS’ similar philosophy of providing the highest caliber of technical expertise and unwavering dedication to customers greatly resonated with us,” said Bill McLaughlin, CEO of Thrive. “Coupled with their deep vertical knowledge, SNS will ensure we continue delivering the best technology solutions to businesses across industries.”

Thrive has completed eleven previous acquisitions over the past two years, most recently acquiring Michigan-based Safety Net and North Carolina-based The Longleaf Network. Along with geographic expansion, Thrive also received a strategic investment from Berkshire Partners and Court Square Capital Partners to continue scaling the capabilities of the company.

Channel Impact^®
Thrive’s objective is to deepen its presence and vertical industry knowledge in New England, bringing its global Security Operation Center and hybrid cloud solutions to SNS’ customers.

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