This guest post was contributed by Cristian Rodriguez, Field Chief Technology Officer of the Americas, CrowdStrike
The adversary never rests, and neither can defenders. As cyber threats become more sophisticated and pervasive, 2025 will push traditional security approaches to their breaking point. With cloud intrusions soaring, identity-based attacks becoming more targeted and AI systems emerging as high-value adversary targets, organizations must act decisively. Speed, scale and simplicity are no longer optional — they are essential to outpace today’s threat actors and secure tomorrow’s digital frontiers.
Close the Gaps in Cloud Protection
The 26% year-over-year increase in cloud intrusions has made cloud security an urgent priority. But traditional tools that focus solely on the cloud are falling short. Adversaries are exploiting the complexity of hybrid environments, moving laterally between cloud platforms and on-premises systems to evade detection and achieve their objectives. The fragmented nature of disconnected point solutions only widens the gaps for attackers to exploit.
To counter these threats in 2025, businesses must prioritize complete visibility across their public clouds, private clouds, on-premises networks and APIs — all managed through a unified console. A holistic security platform that integrates runtime, posture management, identity protection and data security across hybrid environments will be essential for detecting and stopping adversaries before they cause damage.
Protect Identities to Stop Cross-Domain Attacks
Identity-based attacks have become a preferred entry point for adversaries: 79% of attacks to gain initial access are now malware-free. Stolen credentials allow attackers to infiltrate interconnected domains — cloud, endpoint, data and AI models — leaving minimal footprints and creating isolated anomalies that are hard to detect.
In 2025, defending against identity attacks will require unified visibility across the entire kill chain. Security leaders must enable cross-domain threat hunting that connects the dots between seemingly unrelated activities, catching unusual patterns in user behavior before they escalate. While automation plays a key role in early detection, it cannot replace the value of human expertise and advanced telemetry in solving the complex puzzle of cross-domain threats.
Safeguard AI Innovation
AI is revolutionizing industries, but it is also a growing target for cyberattacks. Adversaries are increasingly focusing on compromising AI services and large language models (LLMs), threatening the integrity of the data and applications that drive them. Misconfigurations, vulnerabilities and breaches in AI systems can have far-reaching consequences.
To foster secure AI innovation in 2025, organizations must adopt specialized technology and services that monitor AI environments, identify vulnerabilities and detect misconfigurations. This effort must be integrated into a broader cloud security strategy that protects infrastructure, applications and data. A unified approach will ensure the transformative potential of AI is realized without compromising its security.
The Path Forward
In the relentless battle against cyber threats, complacency is not an option. The adversary evolves daily, and defenders must do the same. In 2025, organizations that embrace adversary-focused, cloud-native platforms and invest in real-time, proactive defenses will lead the charge. Speed, intelligence and integration will define successful security strategies, enabling businesses to stay ahead of threats rather than react to them.
The mission is clear: Defend smarter, faster and at scale. Those who adapt will emerge stronger in an adversary-driven digital world. Those who fail to evolve will find themselves vulnerable to the increasingly sophisticated threats of tomorrow. About the author
Cristian Rodriguez is the Americas Field Chief Technology Officer at CrowdStrike, where over the past 10 years, has leveraged over 20 years of cybersecurity expertise to help organizations defend against sophisticated adversaries targeting the cloud, identities, and endpoints. Known for his dynamic speaking style and ability to translate complex technical challenges into actionable insights, Cristian is a trusted advisor to C-suites and security teams worldwide.Throughout his career, Cristian has played a pivotal role in advancing cyber defense strategies, from his early days as a consulting engineer for Fishnet Security (now Optiv) and Websense, to his work analyzing attacker tradecraft at Zimperium, and CrowdStrike. His work includes analyzing global threat trends, and empowering defenders to outpace adversaries. Cristian is also the co-host of the Adversary Universe Podcast, where he breaks down ecrime, hacktivist, and nation-state cyber attack tactics with humor and clarity.Beyond his professional achievements, Cristian is a passionate advocate for the human element in cybersecurity. He draws on his own journey of overcoming adversity—from growing up in poverty to becoming a leader in the field—to inspire others to turn challenges into opportunities for growth. He has been a keynote speaker at leading industry events where his blend of storytelling, technical expertise, and motivational energy leaves audiences informed and inspired.