A recent survey of CIOs and senior B2B software buyers by Bain & Company found that economic uncertainty is the top pressure on IT budgets, with more than 60% scrutinizing tech spending more closely than a year ago. Many have dialed back growth expectations, and over 40% said tariffs could have a minor effect on software spending, with over 10% in the US predicting a major impact. However, AI spending is a notable exception to this pullback. Over 80% of executives plan to increase their AI investments in 2025, drawing from both new and existing budgets, even though many are still developing their overall AI strategy. Among the developments in AI, it appears that interest in Agentic AI is the highest. This infographic provides a realistic update on what do CIOs really think about agentic AI. View this graphic here.
Most technology firms publish their annual crystal balls during the fall and so it would appear the release of a new technology trends report now is unusual. Nevertheless, the McKinsey Technology Trends Outlook 2025 is worth reading as it highlights 13 frontier technology trends that are rapidly transforming global business amid rising global competition and increasing computing demand. It also highlights the latest technology breakthroughs, talent trends, use cases, and their potential impact on companies across sectors. The trends are organised across 6 key themes, namely The rise of autonomous systems, New human–machine collaboration models, Scaling challenges, Regional and national competition, Scale and specialization are growing simultaneously, and Responsible innovation imperatives. Download this report here.
As companies adopt AI technologies to enhance corporate performance, it is inevitable that ethical issues affecting their employees, partners and clients would arise.
Transforming AI from an ethical risk to a responsible force multiplier requires intentional design, ongoing human oversight, ethical training, and transparent governance frameworks. These measures help harness AI’s benefits while minimizing harm like discrimination, privacy violations, and unaccountable decision-making
"What Can Businesses Do About Ethical Dilemmas Posed by AI?, an article published by SecurityWeek, identifies the top ethical dilemmas surrounding AI and offers a number of best practices to tackle these dilemmas. Have a read here.
You might have been bombarded by messages about some or all of these overhyped technologies by now.
An article from CIO.com entitled "The 10 Most Overhyped Technologies in IT" discusses how many new technologies generate significant excitement among IT leaders but often do not meet the high expectations set by the initial hype. CIOs emphasize the importance of understanding each technology's practical limitations and potential drawbacks, rather than being swayed solely by buzz and promises of transformation. The key advice is to right-size expectations and avoid adopting technologies just for their novelty, focusing instead on strategic implementation that aligns with real business needs. Read more here.
Companies are replacing their workers with AI. The work of artists and writers is being used without permission to train AI systems. The data centers powering AI often rely on fossil fuels cause pollution and health concerns. AI-generated social media content bombard our screens relentlessly every day. Meanwhile, billions of dollars are being poured into new AI investments with no ROI in sight - valuable money that could have been channeled to fund other worthwhile causes.
As generative artificial intelligence tools continue to proliferate, pushback against the technology and its negative impacts grows stronger. "The AI Backlash Keeps Growing Stronger", an article published by WIRED, identifies a complex mix of economic, ethical, environmental, and cultural anxieties as society grapples with the rapid rise of generative AI technologies and their transformative effects.
Imagine AI agents working autonomously to perform complex tasks by mimicking human decision-making through interaction with external systems for your team. Sounds good?
While agentic AI offers powerful automation benefits, it also presents a complex and evolving security challenge. CISOs must understand and address these new attack surfaces through careful agent selection, robust oversight, strong security controls, and cautious adoption to safely leverage agentic AI in their organizations. "The Wild West of Agentic AI – An Attack Surface CISOs Can’t Afford to Ignore" , an article published by SecurityWeek, examines the benefits and risks that Agentic AI brings. Have a good read.
What should a new CIO do in his/her first 100 days?
This is perhaps a top question on the minds of many new CIOs.
Thankfully, Bain & Company has provided an infographic that highlights the critical actions new CIOs should take to establish a strong foundation and strategic direction early in their tenure. With the CIO role becoming increasingly strategic, the first 100 days are pivotal for setting the pace and building momentum. It is a make-or-break period where new CIOs must demonstrate leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to execute effectively to shape the future of the organization’s technology landscape.
Here's the infographic.
The combined SANS CISO Scorecard and Cloud Security Maturity Model poster provides a comprehensive framework designed to help cybersecurity leaders assess and advance their cloud security posture and leadership capabilities. This poster is a practical tool for CISOs to systematically evaluate their performance and enhance their cloud security capabilities, ensuring a structured approach to managing risks and aligning security with organizational goals in the cloud era. Download this infographic.
How does one steal from the world’s most secure banks and government facilities - without breaking a single law?
This book is a gripping and often humorous account of the author's work as an ethical hacker and social engineer. FC aka Freakyclown, an elite penetration tester with over 20 years of experience, shares vivid real-life stories of testing physical security at some of the world's most secure banks, government facilities, and companies by attempting to "steal" money, data, and other valuables—without breaking any laws. Overall, How I Rob Banks is recommended for anyone interested in cybersecurity, physical security, or thrilling true stories of espionage and penetration testing, blending practical security insights with Ocean’s 11-style intrigue.
The Hackers News is offering a FREE copy of this eBook (worth $25) for a limited period now. Get your copy here.
Is Artificial intelligence (AI) hype or reality?
The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) reveals that despite widespread AI investments and pilots, only 22% of companies have moved beyond proof-of-concept to generate value, and a mere 4% create substantial value from AI, including generative AI (GenAI). BCG addresses these questions in this report:
How do AI leaders differentiate themselves from the other organisations?
Which core business functions and market sectors does AI generate the most value for now?
What is the impact of AI on business metrics?
BCG suggests a seven-step playbook for companies to unlock AI value. Substantial AI value comes from strategic focus on core business processes, ambitious leadership, selective scaling, and balancing technology with human and process factors. Leaders who master these aspects outperform peers significantly and create lasting competitive advantages. Get this report here.
The article "A CISO's Guide to Reporting on Cloud Security (Without Putting Everyone to Sleep)" by Sarah Elkaim offers practical advice for CISOs on effectively reporting cloud security metrics to stakeholders, especially boards, without overwhelming them. Reporting is critical not only for demonstrating security but also for validating the security program’s value by showing how efficiently threats are detected and resolved, risk is reduced, and resources are used wisely. Elkaim offers a valuable list of essential metrics for CISOs to track. Presenting real incident case studies alongside metrics makes reports more tangible and relatable for stakeholders. Reporting should show how security efforts enable faster innovation and reduce disruptions, linking security to broader business goals. This is a recommended read for all CISOs and cyber leaders. Read the full article here.