Global cybersecurity spending is set to soar to $213 billion in 2025, according to new projections from Gartner, underscoring growing investment fueled by increasing cloud security concerns, the adoption of AI, and a widening cybersecurity skills gap.

This marks a significant jump from the $193 billion expected in 2024. The upward trend continues, with Gartner forecasting spending to climb to $240 billion by 2026. In the UK alone, end-user cybersecurity spending is projected to rise 30%, reaching $13.3 billion.

Speaking to ITPro, Ruggero Contu, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner, attributed the investment surge to a mix of escalating cyber threats, regulatory compliance demands, and the expanding footprint of artificial intelligence. Enterprises are heavily investing in security software, with budgets expected to grow from $95 billion in 2024 to $121 billion by 2026.

A key focus for organizations is strengthening cloud security, especially around AI workloads. Contu emphasized that security spending varies depending on an organization’s cloud maturity and adoption stage, covering everything from app development to third-party app testing and securing AI configurations.

On the services front, global spending on security services—which includes managed services and third-party vendor support—is anticipated to rise from $77 billion in 2024 to $92.7 billion by 2026. Contu identified the cybersecurity talent shortage as a primary reason companies are turning to managed service providers (MSPs) and managed detection and response (MDR) firms.

A recent CyberSmart study confirms this shift, with more organizations relying on external partners to bridge internal expertise gaps. Even companies with advanced cybersecurity frameworks often require highly specialized skills, particularly in the fast-growing field of cyber-physical systems security for operational technology (OT).

Contu noted, “Cyber-physical security is a complex space that demands expertise across both cybersecurity and industrial systems—making it one of the most demanding areas for growth in the coming years.”

Stay ahead of emerging cybersecurity threats. For the latest insights and updates on cloud security, follow SOC News.

News Source: ITPro.com