Cisco’s 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index reveals global preparedness remains critically low
The findings highlight the urgent need for organizations to invest in robust cybersecurity strategies, enhance employee training on AI threats, and streamline security infrastructures to mitigate risks effectively.
Cisco has released its 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index, unveiling that only 4% of organisations worldwide have achieved a ‘Mature’ level of cybersecurity readiness. This marks a slight increase from 3% in 2024 but underscores a persistent global vulnerability to escalating cyber threats, particularly those amplified by artificial intelligence (AI).
The report highlights that 86% of organisations experienced AI-related security incidents in the past year. Despite this, only 49% believe their employees fully understand AI-related threats, and 48% think their teams grasp how malicious actors leverage AI for sophisticated attacks. This awareness gap leaves organisations critically exposed.
While 96% of organisations plan to upgrade their IT infrastructure within the next two years, only 45% allocate more than 10% of their IT budget to cybersecurity, down from 53% in 2024. Additionally, 86% of organisations face a shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals, with 53% reporting more than ten cybersecurity-related positions to fill.
The study reveals that 77% of organisations report that their complex security infrastructures, dominated by the deployment of more than ten point security solutions, hinder their ability to respond swiftly and effectively to threats.
Cisco’s Cybersecurity Readiness Index serves as a critical benchmark for assessing global preparedness against cyber threats. By evaluating organisations across five pillars – Identity Intelligence, Machine Trustworthiness, Network Resilience, Cloud Reinforcement, and AI Fortification -the index provides a comprehensive view of current security postures. The findings highlight the urgent need for organisations to invest in robust cybersecurity strategies, enhance employee training on AI threats, and streamline security infrastructures to mitigate risks effectively.
For a detailed assessment of your organisation’s cybersecurity readiness, Cisco offers a Cybersecurity Readiness Assessment Tool.
