Cyberattacks and cybercrime can disrupt, damage and destroy businesses, communities and lives. Security incidents can lead to identity theft, extortion and the loss of sensitive information, impacts that can significantly affect businesses and the economy. By one estimate, cybercrime will cost the world economy USD 10.5 trillion per year by 2025.3
But a more pertinent question may be: “Why is cybersecurity especially important right now?”
Today, cybercriminals are using new technologies to their advantage. For instance, businesses are embracing cloud computing for efficiency and innovation. But bad actors view this advancement as an expanding attack surface ripe for exploitation.
Bad actors are also leveraging the dark web. According to the IBM X-Force 2025 Threat Intelligence Index, sophisticated threat actors, including nation-states, are using the anonymity of the dark web to acquire new tools and resources.
They are demonstrating never-before-seen levels of coordination, automation and prowess—elevating risk from data breaches to widescale disruption.
