As technology continues to shape our world, the digital domain has also become a hotbed for security threats. The 2025 cybersecurity landscape is characterized by complex and rapidly evolving threats. This poses major challenges to individuals, companies and governments and requires robust solutions to ensure digital resilience, Zacks writes.
The growing digital ecosystem, powered by AI, IoT and working from home, expands the attack surface and complicates defense, especially as geopolitical tensions and cyber espionage increase. Generative AI plays a dual role in this: it accelerates innovations, but is also used for precise social engineering attacks. Gartner predicts that GenAI will be involved in 17% of all cyber attacks by 2027.
These threats require significant investments in security. Organizations focus on AI protection, privacy and infrastructure defense. According to Gartner, global cybersecurity spending will increase by 15% by 2025.
Take advantage of this trend with cybersecurity stocks
Increasing cyber risks make cybersecurity a crucial pillar for protecting sensitive data and essential infrastructure. Enterprises are looking for innovative solutions to strengthen their digital defenses, providing opportunities for specialist security technology companies to grow in this challenging landscape.
Four stocks stand out according to Zacks: Fortinet, Zscaler, Qualys and Okta. These companies are strategically positioned to benefit from rising demand for advanced cybersecurity in 2025. They combine strong growth prospects with a Zacks Buy recommendation.
Fortinet
Fortinet provides network security appliances and Unified Threat Management (UTM) solutions to enterprises, service providers and governments worldwide. Fortinet’s expertise and continued delivery of essential solutions help it maintain its strong position in the cybersecurity industry. It continues to win contracts, even with a high value. Fortinet focuses on expanding its UTM portfolio through product innovation and strategic acquisitions.
Zscaler
Zscaler provides comprehensive security services for enterprise networks, including web and internet security, antivirus, vulnerability management, firewalls, and user activity monitoring across cloud, mobile, and IoT environments.
The rising demand for cybersecurity due to data breaches and the growing need for access management in digital transformation and cloud strategies are driving business growth. The strong presence in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, pharmaceuticals, telecom and education provides stability despite macroeconomic challenges. In addition, expansion through strategic acquisitions of, for example, Avalor, Canonic Security and ShiftRight supports growth.
Qualys
Qualys provides cloud security and compliance solutions that help organizations identify security risks and protect their IT systems from cyber attacks. The company benefits from increasing demand for security products, driven by the rise of hybrid working and accelerated digital transformations. Qualys offers cloud solutions through the QualysGuard Cloud Platform, with products such as vulnerability management, policy compliance, web application scanning and malware detection.
Okta
Okta offers a wide range of access management solutions to businesses, nonprofits, universities and governments in the US and abroad. The cloud platform is secure and neutral, and integrates easily with almost any application, service or cloud environment. Okta is benefiting from the growing demand for identity verification. The Okta Identity Cloud platform consolidates existing applications and provides easy integration without compromising security or stability.
The customer base continues to grow. Okta ended the third quarter with 19,450 customers, an increase of 150 customers despite economic challenges. In addition, the number of customers with an annual contract value above $100,000 increased 8% year over year, underscoring the confidence in the company’s solutions.
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