Hackers. Thieves. Infectious diseases.
These are the most sensitive security threats in 2025, according to experts.
“Right now, there’s a lot of uncertainty when it comes to security,” says Joe Cronin, CEO of International Citizens Insurance.
Even professionals get nervous. Security considerations are one of the most common reasons why business travelers reject business trips, according to the most recent SAP Concur Global Business Travel survey.
It’s going to be an interesting year to be on the road, say security professionals. And by “interesting” they mean “dangerous.”
So let’s talk about the new protection considerations in 2025 and how to do it safely next year. I’m also going to tell you how I’m preparing for one of the most dubious years since the pandemic.
Security experts say the coming year will bring new threats.
Cronin, CEO of International Citizens Insurance, has been following political unrest in recent months that may be just for travelers. This includes emerging tensions in the Middle East and election-related violence in other countries, adding that the United States. He predicts this will continue until 2025.
He says the best way of avoiding such uncertainty is to review the travel advisories issued by the U.S. State Department and then plan accordingly.
Let’s state the obvious. If you need to be safe in 2025, stay home. The global situation has been disruptive and is not getting safer. But there are tactics to mitigate some risks, according to professionals.
Look for comprehensive coverage that includes trip cancellation, medical evacuation and protection against natural disasters and political unrest. “Prepare for the unexpected,” advises Raymond Yorke, a spokesman for Redpoint Travel Protection, a travel insurance company. That means running a worst-case scenario before you travel and making sure you’re covered for any event.
This means working with a professional advisor or a company that handles threat mitigation. And don’t let them simply send you a link to more safety resources. Susan Sherren, who runs Couture Trips, offers her clients a pre-trip Zoom consultation shortly before their departure date. Additional data and frank discussions on crime assistance raised expectations. “Our customers leave home with a proactive mindset,” he says. And that kept them out of trouble.
It’s not just the same old cyber threats that worry experts. So is synthetic intelligence. “AI proliferation is an imminent threat,” says Harding Bush, associate director of security at Global Rescue. The reason: Tech scams, in addition to deepfake scams, Identity theft and misleading recommendations provided through bots can put users at risk, especially when booking their trips electronically or managing their itineraries.
John Rose, ALTOUR’s head of threats and security, says it’s the geopolitical landscape that worries him most. “That’s the biggest threat,” he says. It’s not just about the election cycles that have taken place or will take place around the world, but also about their conflicts. “Rose says “very, very careful” needs to be taken when making holiday plans for 2025 to account for the volatile geopolitical situation. In other words, 2025 may be the year to act more safely when it comes to security, especially when it comes to ForeignArray.
Where are the hot spots? Robert Siciliano, CEO of ProtectNowLLC. com, showed me the map. This is the Middle East, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Taiwan. And, of course, there is also the unpredictability of American politics.
“Now more than ever it’s important to have a broader awareness and pay special attention to the countries’ views towards Americans,” he added.
There are real-time threat assessment teams that can help. For example, World Travel Protection’s Travel Assist control portal and Travel Assist app provide its consumers with real-time updates on security threats, natural disasters, and fitness threats.
I planned my travels for 2025. And I admit that at one point I thought it might be a good idea to travel to certain parts of the world, or even stay at home.
I also fielded questions from nervous travelers on my customer advocacy site, who asked: Will it be approved? Is it to move somewhere?
I can’t afford to stop traveling, even if some of the destinations are not exactly State Department Level 1-certified. I spent some time in the Middle East during the Thanksgiving holiday and I’ll be in Southeast Asia this winter. In some of the places on my itinerary, I’ll really have to watch my back.
But if I’m allowed to stop, would I?
After asking the experts, I have a pretty smart idea of what to expect. Yes, travel will be disruptive in 2025. But if you plan ahead, do your homework, and pay close attention to new threats, it’s not too disruptive.
As Charlie Sultan, president of Concur Travel at SAP Concur, told me: “It’s about completely eliminating travel hazards. “
That’s true of travel in any year.
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