Emerging Business Risks in 2025: Insights from Gartner’s Latest Report
In today’s dynamic business landscape, the risks organizations face are continually evolving. Recent research conducted by Gartner, a leading business and technology insights firm, has shed light on the multifaceted risks that enterprises need to prepare for as we approach the end of 2025.
Key Findings from Gartner’s 3Q25 Emerging Risk Report
The 3Q25 Emerging Risk Report highlights the shifting landscape of business risks, underscoring a growing emphasis on the low-growth economic environment driven by global trade tensions.
Top Emerging Risks of Q3 2025
Based on a survey involving 184 senior risk and assurance executives, the report identifies the five most pressing emerging risks:
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Low-Growth Economic Environment
- Description: Persistent global trade tensions, financial market volatility, high unemployment, and inflation have contributed to a significant decline in investor and consumer confidence, fostering a prolonged low-growth environment.
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Information Governance-Driven AI Risks
- Description: Inadequate information governance policies can unintentionally feed inaccurate data into AI models, leading to legal issues, breaches of policy, and privacy failures.
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Shadow AI
- Description: The unauthorized use of AI tools by employees poses risks, including data breaches, compliance issues, and potential reputational damage for organizations.
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Increased Frequency and Severity of Extreme Weather
- Description: Climate change and extreme weather events threaten operational capabilities, supply chains, infrastructure, and consumer behavior.
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Deglobalization
- Description: Protectionist policies and rising militarism could disrupt international trade, realign global supply chains, and escalate geopolitical tensions.
“The ongoing risk landscape emphasizes two overarching themes: a volatile low-growth macroeconomic environment and the rapid adoption of AI technologies that can significantly elevate compliance risks,” said Gamika Takkar, Director of Research in Gartner’s Risk & Audit Practice.
Navigating Complex Emerging Risks
With emerging risks becoming increasingly complex, a striking 72% of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) leaders have acknowledged that timely action is crucial. However, only 15% feel confident in identifying the most pertinent information.
To better navigate these risk signals, Takkar suggests that risk leaders should:
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Set Impact Thresholds:
- Employ diverse parameters including regulatory, reputational, and ESG factors to identify high-priority risks.
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Link Emerging Risks to Strategic Priorities:
- Analyze how these risks align with strategic objectives to formulate targeted responses that can avert critical outcomes.
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Utilize Response Time:
- Assess organizational response time alongside the potential impact and velocity of risks to prioritize effectively.
Conclusion
In conclusion, as businesses grapple with a complex array of emerging risks, it is imperative for risk leaders to prioritize their response strategies. Understanding how various risks interconnect and affect strategic direction is vital in ensuring organizational resilience amid uncertainty.
Organizations seeking further insights can access the full report through Gartner’s platforms. For those not currently partnered with Gartner, valuable information can still be gleaned from their publicly available reports on emerging risk trends.
Related Information
For more on the evolving risk landscape, connect with industry news and updates. Understanding the shifting dynamics will better prepare organizations in anticipating and mitigating the effects of emerging risks.
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