Report: Cybersecurity will remain a priority for ANZ CIOs in 2025
A new Gartner survey has revealed the top technology investment trends for the coming year: 88 percent of CIOs will drive cybersecurity spending.
Cybersecurity will be the top focus of CIO spending in 2025, according to new survey data released by Gartner today (September 10).
The Gartner CIO and Technology Executive Survey 2025 surveyed 109 CIOs in Australia and New Zealand out of a global total of 3,186 respondents.
According to the survey, 88 per cent of ANZ CIOs named cybersecurity as their top concern for 2025. Data analytics, cloud and generative AI follow closely behind by just a few percentage points each.
“With increased government regulation, coupled with some of the largest cyber attacks we’ve seen in New Zealand this year, organizations are facing increased scrutiny as they batten down the hatches to avoid becoming the next target or breaching the administration,” Brian Ferreira , vice president of EXP advisory services at Gartner, said in a statement.
“This continues to drive significant focus and investment towards cybersecurity and legal compliance over the coming year.”
GenAI made its first appearance in this year’s survey, but Ferreira said he wasn’t surprised by this year’s result.
“While it was not included in last year’s survey, it is no surprise that GenAI has shot to the top of the technology investment list for the coming year as organizations continue to navigate realizing the business value that GenAI can offer as enthusiasm wanes,” Ferreira said. .
“They also face stricter laws to increase management obligations.”
Eighty-two percent of CIOs also see cybersecurity risk management as a key priority for 2025.
However, for every area where spending is likely to increase, ANZ CIOs are also looking to save elsewhere. 43 percent of respondents will reduce spending on legacy infrastructure, 17 percent will reduce spending on augmented technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality, and 11 percent will slow investment in next-generation computing technology.
There has also been a perhaps unsurprising increase in the number of CIOs focusing on minimizing risk and managing compliance. In 2023, fifty-seven percent of CIOs focused on compliance and risk over the next year. However, in 2024, ninety-two percent of CIOs will be concerned about managing those results.
“As the Australian regulatory landscape continues to evolve, it is up to CIOs to lead their organizations towards a future marked by digital governance, responsible innovation, strong compliance and active participation in shaping regulatory rules,” Ferreira said.
