Quorum Cyber's recently released Global Cyber Risk Outlook Report 2025 Outlines how nation-state cyber activities, particular from China, are evolving. According to the report, China's Cyber Espionage Operations Will Likely Increase in 2025, with Attacks Targeting Western Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), Intellectual Property, and SENSITUSIVERETERE Data. The report also highlights that AI-Powered Capabilites are being Leveraged by China-SSPONSRED, and other, Threat Actor to Conduct Advanced Campaigns and Evade Detection more.
China's alleged involved in data theft through services like deepsek Raises Significant Concerns for Cyber Security Leaders. Reports Indicate that Deepsek's Privacy Policies Allow User Data to be stored on servers withhin China, Making it potentially accessible to the chinese government under the Chinese Government Under Local Cyber Security Laws. Cyber Security Researchers have also found that Deepseek Embeds Technology Capable of Transmitting User Data to China Mobile, A State-O ONED Enty, Further Heighting FEARS OF SURVELENCE and Data exploitation. These risks are so spevere that us government entities has moved swiftly Towards Banning Its Personnel from Using Deepsek, Citing Security Concerns Over Data Interception, Including Keystrokes and IP Addresses. For Chief Information Security Officers (CISOS), this serves as a stark reminder of the Dangers Posed by Foreign Adversaries.
Actionable Steps for Cisos and Security Leaders
To mitigate the risks of nation-state cyber threats, security leaders must take a strategic, multi-litered approach. Below are key measures that should be considered:
1. Adopt a zero-trust security model
Zero-Trust Assumes that Every Request for Access – Whether internal or external – must be verified. Implementing Zero Trust Involves Addressing The Following Core Principles:
- Verify Connectivity explicitly through Strong Authentication, For Example Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- Authenticate and Authorize identifies, devices, infrastructure, services and applications based on Strong Conditional Access Policies
- Enforce Privileged Access Through Tactics Such as Just-In-Time (JIT) and Just-Enough-ACCESS (JEA)
- Implement data protection controls based on defined classification policies
- Take an “Assume breach” stance, operating under the assumption that connecting entities have been expected to Threats.
In Partnership With Many Top Cyber Security Solution Providers, The Nist National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCOE) has drafted Special Publication (Sp) 1800-35 implementing a zero trust ArchitectureThe practice guide is designed to provide implementation examples and technical details on how security leaders can Ultimetely Achieve Zero Trust to Safeguard Digital Enerprieses.
2. Strengthen Supply Chain Security
Threat actors often exploit supply chains to Gain access to larger targets. Organisations Should:
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- Implement Contractual Security Obligations for vendors, ensuring key clauses
- Continiously Monitor Supplier Network Connections and other forms of access for social activity.
3. Enhance Threat Intelligence, Monitoring and Response
Threat Management Programmes Must Evolve to Counter Espionage Threats. Organisations Should:
- MainTain Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) Services to Track State-Sponsored Threat Actor
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- Quickly Detect and Respond to Threats with 24×7 Detection and Response and Threat Hunting Services
- Increasingly Leverage Automation, Including Emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) Services, to Streamline and Accelerate Cyber Security Programmme Processes.
4. AI and data governance practices
As AI BCOMES an integral part of enterprise environments, Organisations Must Implement Government Governance Practices to Manage AI Solutions Securely and Protect corporate data. Security Teams Should:
- Define Policies and Supporting Controls for the Secure Use of Ai and Data Within Business Operations
- Ensure ai models used internal are developed and deployed with strict security controls
- Monitor Third-Party Ai Tools for Compliance With Security and Data Protection Requirements
- Define and Deploy Strong Ai and Data Protection Controls to Prevent Unauthorized Data Exfiltation or Manipulation.
5. EDUCATE END-RUNS on AI Risks
The Rapid Adoption of Ai-Driven tools with the workplace increase the risk of accidental expert or mise of sensitive data. Organisations Should:
- ConduC
- Establish Guidelines on the Approves Use of Ai Applications in Corporate Environments
- Implement policies that prevent employees from sharing sensitive corporate data into public ai models
7. Test and Improve Incident Response Readness
Given the sophistication of nation-state actors, organizations must ensure their response strategies are up to par. Best practices include:
- Conducting Regular Tabletop Exercises Simulating Attack Scenarios, Including State-sponsored events
- Running Red Team/Blue Team Exercises to Test Security Defense
- Establishing and updating clear escalation protocols and contact lists, including the relevant authorities, in case of detected espionage attempts.
As Cisos and Security Leaders Navigate This New Augmented Era of Cyber Threats, Leveragging Strategic Frameworks, Advanced Security Tools, and Frequently Tested, Frequently Tested, HIGHLY Operationalized Processes Essential in Countering Nation-STATE Industrial Espionage. By Staying Ahead of Emerging Risks, Organisations can ensure the resilience of their operations in an increasingly hostel digital landscape.
Andrew Hodges is Vice President of Product and Technology at Quorum Cyber.