Colin Patton, Operations Director, Leaf IT, outlines how the cybersecurity provider is adapting its cyber portfolio in 2025

ACTIVITY

Leaf IT is a multi-award-winning managed IT and cybersecurity provider, trusted by organisations across Ireland and the UK.

With over two decades of experience, we deliver secure, scalable solutions tailored to each business.

Our offering includes managed detection and response (MDR), SIEM, 24/7 Security Operations Centre services, Microsoft 365 security and Zero Trust secure remote access.

We provide full protection across infrastructure, cloud, networks, applications and users.

We deliver visibility, control and peace of mind. As a ConnectWise Pinnacle Partner, we’re recognised among the top-performing providers (5 per cent) globally.

What sets us apart is our ability to simplify complexity, reduce risk, and act as a strategic partner to allow clients to focus on what they do best.

UPGRADES

In 2025 we enhanced our cyber portfolio with two key additions:

■ Vulnerability Management – this allows us to continuously scan, identify and remediate critical vulnerabilities across endpoints and servers.

■ SaaS Security for Microsoft 365 – this enables us to implement best-practice policies across client M365 environments, improve secure scores and proactively remediate configuration risks.

We’ve also enhanced our Zero Trust approach — ensuring secure, context-aware access for users regardless of device or location, which is vital for today’s hybrid working environments.

These additions reflect our commitment to staying ahead of the threat landscape and expanding the protection we offer our clients.

THREATS

Gone are the days when only big-name businesses were targeted.

Today’s cybercriminals are indiscriminate, often targeting SMEs with the same sophisticated tools used against global brands.

One common scenario involves a phishing email designed to steal login credentials.

If a staff member hasn’t received proper awareness training and falls for the scam, attackers can gain access to their account and send malicious emails from a trusted address.

This damages client relationships, erodes trust and can have a ripple effect across supply chains.

Reputational damage is a major casualty of cyber attacks — which is why a proactive cybersecurity strategy, paired with a well-defined incident response plan, is crucial for Irish businesses today.

OUTLOOK

We’ve seen strong growth this year, driven by increasing demand for MDR services, Microsoft 365 security optimisation and hybrid cloud consultancy.

As cyber threats continue to rise, businesses are investing more in robust, scalable protection — and we’re proud to be their trusted security partner.

The threat landscape will continue to evolve, with AI-powered attacks and advanced social engineering tactics becoming more widespread.

To stay secure, more organisations will adopt Zero Trust architecture — ensuring users only access what they need, when they need it.

We expect continued investment in security automation, MDR and user training, as well as a stronger regulatory environment around data protection and cyber resilience.

It’s clear that cybersecurity is no longer optional — it’s an essential part of business continuity and brand protection.

TRENDS

We’ve seen threat actors become more aggressive and creative, particularly with the use of AI.

Phishing emails remain a top attack vector, but they are now enhanced with AI to appear more legitimate.

We’re also seeing the rise of ‘vishing’ — where voice clones generated by AI are used to impersonate senior staff or partners over the phone.

As organisations increase their reliance on cloud platforms, their attack surface grows.

It’s essential not only to deploy the right tools but to ensure all users receive up-to-date cyber awareness training.

Photo: Colin Patton, Operations Director, Leaf IT