Based on an independent Ponemon Institute survey, the report reveals 79% of respondents say their organization is making changes to its cybersecurity budget. Of these respondents, 71% say security budgets are increasing, with the average budget at $24 million. This correlates with the heightened volume of threat vectors, with 66% of respondents reporting cybersecurity incidents have increased significantly or increased in the past year, up from 61% in 2024.Download Optiv's 2025 Cybersecurity Threat and Risk Management Report: https://www.optiv.com/insights/discover/downloads/2025-cybersecurity-threat-and-risk-management-reportThe report also highlights a notable shift in how organizations determine their cybersecurity budgets, with 67% now using risk and threat assessments to inform budget decisions, up from 53% in 2024. This move toward data-driven decision-making comes as organizations increasingly turn to managed security service providers (MSSPs), with outsourcing to MSSPs jumping from 47% in 2024 to 58% in 2025, particularly for cloud security guidance."The data clearly shows a concerning trend: despite increases in cybersecurity budgets and resources, organizations continue to face more frequent attacks," said John Hurley, Optiv's chief revenue officer. "What's promising is the shift toward more strategic, data-driven approaches to budget allocation and the growing adoption of MSSPs to extend capabilities, particularly as organizations work to better understand their security vulnerabilities within the threat landscape."Additional key findings include:AI and Machine Learning Adoption Accelerating: Forty-six percent of respondents say their organizations use AI/ML to prevent cyberattacks, with 88% of these respondents incorporating generative AI at some level. The primary drivers for AI/ML adoption are improving operational efficiency (41%) and maintaining competitive advantage (40%).Forty-six percent of respondents say their organizations use AI/ML to prevent cyberattacks, with 88% of these respondents incorporating generative AI at some level

Services Focused on Strategy, Planning and ReadinessHANOVER, Md., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Optiv + ClearShark, a cybersecurity and IT solutions provider focused exclusively on serving the U.S. federal government, has launched FedRAMP Advisory Services to help organizations working with federal agencies securely align their cloud service offerings with the standardized approach.FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) is a government-wide program that promotes the adoption of secure cloud services across the federal government by providing a standardized approach to security and risk assessment for cloud technologies and federal agencies."With Optiv + ClearShark's vast portfolio, clients can leverage our world-class expertise in systems engineering, enterprise architecture, compliance, program management, product management, intelligence analysis and threat analysis as they move through the FedRAMP journey," said Daniel Wilbricht, president of Optiv + ClearShark. "Our customer-facing, vendor-agnostic approach within the federal space allows us to bring much-needed solutions like this to the market."Learn more about Optiv + ClearShark's FedRAMP Advisory Services: https://www.optivclearshark.com/services/advisory-and-compliance/advisory-compliance-services-vendors#tab-link-successful-strategy-0Optiv + ClearShark's FedRAMP Advisory Services help cloud service providers sell and operate their systems in a cost-effective manner while also meeting compliance standards. Benefits include:Strategy: Understanding FedRAMP, target audience and authorizationUnderstanding FedRAMP, target audience and authorization Planning: Performing a full gap assessment of where their technology and organizational processes are today and where they need to bePerforming a full gap assessment of where their technology and organizational processes are today and where they need to be Readiness: Training on passing the audit, spotting bad auditors and determining a go-to-market strategy"FedRAMP is probably the world's toughest cybersecurity audit, and we've seen a lot of companies make costly mistakes over the years trying to pass it," said John Allison, Optiv + ClearShark's senior director of federal advisory services. "We don't want anything to stand in the way of making government more secure, and that's why, by partnering with us, clients can rely on us to help them achieve FedRAMP authorization."FedRAMP Advisory Services is the latest offering by Optiv + ClearShark in a suite of cybersecurity solutions and services, including Zero Trust architecture compliance, AI and data intelligence and DevSecOps.For the latest news and updates from Optiv + ClearShark, visit optivclearshark.com/company/news/.Follow OptivLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/optiv-incFacebook: www.facebook.com/optivincYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/OptivIncBlog: https://www.optiv.com/explore-optiv-insights/blogOptiv Security: Secure greatness.®Optiv is the cyber advisory and solutions leader, delivering strategic and technical expertise to nearly 6,000 companies across every major industry. We partner with organizations to advise, deploy and operate complete cybersecurity programs from strategy and managed security services to risk, integration and technology solutions