Rising Cybersecurity Concerns For 2025: Indusface Highlights Key Threats and Solutions

Cybersecurity concerns are surging as cyberattacks increased by 26% in Q3 2024, with businesses bracing for intensified threats in 2025. Indusface, a leading Application Security SaaS company, identifies three major threats—software vulnerability exploitation, malware, and DDoS attacks—while providing actionable insights to mitigate them. 

The rise in cyberattacks has become a significant concern for organisations worldwide, with a sharp 26% increase reported in the third quarter of 2024 alone. As businesses gear up for 2025, cybersecurity experts are calling for urgent action to stay ahead of these escalating threats.

Indusface, a leader in Application Security SaaS, has identified three pressing cyber threats expected to dominate the coming year: software vulnerability exploitation, malware, and DDoS attacks. This report provides a detailed analysis of these challenges, alongside expert recommendations for businesses to strengthen their defences.

The growing threat of software vulnerability exploitation

Indusface’s State of Application Security report revealed a 124% surge in attacks targeting software vulnerabilities in the last quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. The widespread availability of tools such as ChatGPT has made it easier for novice cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for malicious activities.

Zero-day attacks, which target unpatched software, are becoming increasingly prevalent. This tactic, often employed by ransomware operators, is predicted to intensify further in 2025.

Venky Sundar, Founder and President of Indusface, emphasised the importance of proactive measures: “Tight integration between WAF and DAST platforms is the first step to prevent these attacks. With that, you will understand how many vulnerabilities are open and how many need protection. Once you have that view, invest in managed services so that the vulnerabilities can be virtually patched.

Ensure that your managed services provider has SLAs for virtual patching while also guaranteeing minimal false positives. That way, you can patch these vulnerabilities on code at a later date while you are protected at the WAF.”

Malware: A persistent threat

In 2024, 75% of organisations reported being targeted by ransomware attacks, a significant increase from the previous year. Malware continues to dominate as a preferred attack vector for cybercriminals, posing a serious risk to businesses worldwide.

Strategies to combat malware
To counter malware threats, Indusface advises businesses to adopt a multi-layered defence approach:

• Endpoint Security Solutions: Investing in antivirus software and training employees to recognise phishing attempts.
• Web Application Protection: Safeguarding applications through solutions like Web Application and API Protection (WAAP).
• Regular Software Updates: Ensuring all software is patched promptly to eliminate vulnerabilities.
• Backup and Recovery: Preparing for worst-case scenarios by backing up critical data and ensuring swift recovery.

Venky Sundar highlighted additional vulnerabilities related to applications: “An additional entry point for malware could be applications. Hackers can easily upload malware through forms that allow file uploads on websites, or they could exploit an injection vulnerability to inject malicious code. Deploying a web application and API protection solution will help you prevent malware infection on applications.”

The rise of DDoS attacks

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks have become a formidable challenge for businesses, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Indusface data shows that six out of ten websites experienced a DDoS attack in Q3 of 2024. For SMEs, the impact is even greater, with 175% more attacks reported compared to enterprise applications.

Understanding DDoS attacks
DDoS attacks overwhelm a target with excessive traffic from multiple compromised systems, disrupting or shutting down services. The consequences for businesses can be severe, especially for eCommerce platforms, which risk significant revenue losses and potential shutdowns.

Proactive defence mechanisms
To mitigate the risks of DDoS attacks, businesses are encouraged to strengthen their network infrastructure. Suggested measures include:

• Traffic Filters and Rate Limiting: Basic defences to manage and block malicious traffic.
• DDoS Mitigation Tools: Advanced solutions like AppTrana WAAP use AI and machine learning to analyse traffic patterns and detect malicious activities in real-time.

Venky Sundar provided further guidance: “To defend against these attacks, start with a robust network infrastructure capable of handling heavy traffic. Implement basic defences such as traffic filters to block malicious packets and rate limiting, which can help initially.

DDoS mitigation tools like AppTrana WAAP utilise AI and machine learning algorithms to analyse traffic in real time. By continuously learning from patterns and anomalies, they can effectively adapt to shifting attack patterns, detecting and blocking malicious traffic faster and more accurately than static defences.”

Cyber threats are growing rapidly, making it essential for businesses to protect their systems and data. Indusface highlights the need for strong security measures, employee training, and preparation for worst-case scenarios. With 2025 around the corner, adopting effective cybersecurity practices is more important than ever.