Cyber Security to be Top Investment for 2025: CIOs

Australian and New Zealand CIOs are planning to invest significantly in improved cyber security in 2025, according to a recent survey by analysts Gartner.

Some 88% of the region’s CIOs and technology executives said they would invest in heightened cyber security measures. 82% said it would be their top investment priority.

More Attacks, More Regulation

Gartner attributes this focus to greater government regulation, coupled with some of the largest cyberattacks seen in ANZ so far.

Speaking at the 2025 Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo on the Gold Coast, Gartner VP Brian Ferreira said “Organisations face greater scrutiny as they batten down the hatches to avoid becoming the next target or breaching stewardship. This continues to drive significant focus and investment towards cybersecurity and legal compliance into next year.”

The uncertain economic climate businesses have operated in recently has increased executive and board scrutiny on technology investments, he said.

Gartner’s survey found that increased focus on cyber security will attract investment away from previous ANZ CIO priorities of legacy infrastructure (43% of respondents), augmented reality, virtual reality and immersive technologies (17%) and next-generation compute technology (11%).

Heightened Focus

Consistent with their focus on cyber security, Gartner’s survey found that ANZ CIOs have a significantly heightened focus on ensuring compliance and minimising risks (92% - up from 57% last year).

“As Australian regulatory landscapes continue to evolve, ANZ CIOs are also facing more stringent laws to increase stewardship obligations,” Ferreira said. “It’s incumbent upon CIOs to steer their organisations towards a future marked by digital stewardship, responsible innovation, stringent compliance and active participation in shaping regulatory norms.”

Help for ANZ CIOs

Generic Systems Australia has many years of experience helping ANZ CIOs and IT teams protect their valuable data with class-leading Managed File Transfer solutions.

From the initial scoping of companies’ legacy data transfer approaches, through zero-cost Proof of Concepts and hassle-free Migration Services, we help ANZ companies stay focused on running their business without disruption as we transition them to more secure approaches.

If you’d like a to discuss how your organisation’s cyber security can be boosted by a cost effective Managed File Transfer solution, please feel welcome to contact me.  I’m always happy to have an obligation-free discussion.

At Generic Systems Australia, we’re your local experts in Secure Managed File Transfer.