Preemptive cybersecurity to command half of IT budgets by 2030, Gartner predicts

Gartner forecasts a dramatic shift towards preemptive cyber defence solutions by 2030, with half of IT security spending dedicated to AI-driven, anticipatory technologies amid surging cyber threats.

By 2030, preemptive cybersecurity solutions are projected to dominate IT security spending, capturing half of the total budget, a remarkable rise from under 5% in 2024, according to Gartner. This transformation signals a shift from the current reliance on traditional standalone detection and response (DR) systems toward more advanced, anticipatory mechanisms designed to neutralise cyber threats before they can materialise.

These preemptive technologies harness advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities, incorporating tools such as predictive threat intelligence, sophisticated deception techniques, and automated moving target defence. Gartner’s Managing Vice President, Carl Manion, underscored the urgency of this shift, warning that the reactive nature of DR-based cybersecurity will soon be insufficient against increasingly sophisticated, AI-enabled attackers. He stressed that organisations need to deploy countermeasures operating independently of human intervention to preemptively incapacitate adversaries.

The escalating complexity of the global attack surface grid (GASG) intensifies this challenge. Gartner predicts that documented cybersecurity vulnerabilities — known as common vulnerabilities and exposures (CVEs) — will surge by 300% to over one million by 2030, up from approximately 277,000 in 2025. This rapid growth highlights the futility of traditional reactive methods and the critical need for adoption of the Autonomous Cyber Immune System (ACIS), a forward-looking evolution of preemptive cybersecurity. ACIS frameworks, with decentralized and adaptive intelligence, promise a future where digital defence is dynamic, continuously evolving to counter emerging threats across the sprawling GASG.

This transition heralds a substantial change not only in technology but also in the cybersecurity market. Gartner forecasts a move away from broad, one-size-fits-all DR platforms toward specialised, domain-specific preemptive cybersecurity solutions—many powered by agentic AI and domain-specific language models (DSLMs). These specialised solutions will address discrete verticals, application types, and tailored threat actor techniques, offering more effective protection. Manion highlighted the importance of collaborative ecosystems, where interoperability and partnerships between niche vendors will be essential since no single company can cover the entire complex GASG landscape alone.

For example, specialised providers securing Internet of Things (IoT) devices in healthcare might need to integrate their solutions seamlessly with platforms protecting cloud-based electronic health records. Such interdependencies are set to spur technology alliances, joint go-to-market strategies, and the development of standardised APIs and data formats to facilitate coherent communication between diverse security solutions.

Wider industry analysis supports Gartner’s predictions. A related Gartner article reinforces that traditional detection and response strategies are inadequate against sophisticated AI-driven threats, echoing the call for organisations to embrace proactive defence. Gartner’s recent webinar further explores this shift as one of the top disruptive cybersecurity trends, emphasising the incorporation of preemptive security into long-term business and product strategies to drive resilience and innovation.

Discussions from other cybersecurity specialists, such as Skyhawk Security, align with Gartner by highlighting the transformative role of groundbreaking approaches like Simulation Digital Twins in facilitating this preemptive shift. TechNewsWorld also reports that Gartner foresees enterprise adoption of technologies to combat disinformation and secure digital interactions becoming widespread by 2030, further illustrating the broader context in which preemptive cybersecurity sits.

Security leaders are urged to prepare for this evolution by maintaining continuous foresight, leveraging their core strengths, and recognising that cyber defence is a relentless, ongoing process. The emphasis is on adaptation and embracing emerging technologies to stay ahead of increasingly capable AI-enabled cyber adversaries.

This tectonic shift in cybersecurity strategy promises to redefine how organisations protect their assets, services, and customers in an era defined by rapid digital expansion and intensifying threat landscapes. Embracing preemptive cybersecurity and the Autonomous Cyber Immune System framework will be paramount in securing a safe and resilient digital future.

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Source: Noah Wire Services