TCS outlines 2025 cybersecurity focus on GenAI & cloud

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has outlined its 2025 Cybersecurity Outlook, emphasising key technology trends and focus areas that businesses need to consider in the face of evolving cyber threats.

The company, known for its services in IT, consulting, and business solutions, highlights the role of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), cloud security, and supply chain resilience as crucial elements for organisations to navigate the current threat landscape effectively.

Ganesa Subramanian Vaikuntam, Global Head of Cybersecurity at TCS, commented on the dynamic nature of the cybersecurity field, stating, "With geopolitical shifts and evolving technology, global cybersecurity is undergoing a major transformation. GenAI is enhancing operational efficiencies, but organizations must equip themselves to counteract cyber threats. It is imperative for organizations to harness these advancements and implement GenAI-powered threat detection and response systems to stay ahead of the curve. In this era of evolving technologies, a robust and proactive cyber resilience strategy is not just an option, but a necessity for enterprises to effectively navigate and mitigate unforeseen cyber incidents."

Among the emerging trends, the influence of GenAI in cybersecurity is gaining attention. While GenAI is streamlining organisational operations, it is also being exploited by cybercriminals for sophisticated attacks including deepfakes and phishing. Hence, TCS advocates for the deployment of GenAI threat detection systems to combat these advanced threats.

The adoption of cloud computing continues to accelerate, necessitating robust security measures such as encryption, access controls, and continuous monitoring. TCS stresses the importance of maintaining proper configurations in cloud environments to prevent unauthorised breaches, especially in multi-cloud or hybrid settings.

Elastic supply chains are also highlighted as critical for maintaining operational integrity in 2025. With shifts in geopolitics and the complexity of partner ecosystems, organisations need proactive strategies to protect data and ensure compliance, thus preserving their operational continuity.

The development of new business models, driven by digital technologies and IoT, underscores the need for security by design. TCS anticipates that by 2025, ensuring the protection of IoT devices and securing business value chains will be vital to business growth in sectors like autonomous vehicles and connected factories.

In alignment with this outlook, Cybersecurity Mesh Architecture is seen as paving the way for Zero Trust security models. Zero Trust requires continuous authentication and minimal access permissions to mitigate threats, a trend expected to consolidate across major enterprises by 2026.

Furthermore, an "automation-first" approach to Managed Detection and Response is recommended, incorporating innovations such as SIEM, SOAR, and XDR. This strategy is anticipated to provide a strong defence against next-gen technologies, including quantum computing and 5G.

Finally, cyber resilience is underscored as essential, prompting organisations to revisit fundamentals such as regular backups and incident response plans. Encouraging a culture of resilience through simple practices like drills is seen as crucial to sustaining business operations amidst cyber disruptions.

TCS offers various cybersecurity services, from consulting and implementation to managed security solutions, aimed at addressing industry-specific challenges and protecting digital estates globally.