According to Enea, 76% of cybersecurity experts believe the world is very close to a malicious AI that can evade known cybersecurity measures.
26% expect this to happen within the next year, and 50% expect this to happen within the next five years.
Concerns about rogue AI among security experts
In addition to concerns that offensive AI will outperform defensive AI, 77% of experts express serious concerns about rogue AI, where AI behavior deviates from its original purpose and goals, making it unpredictable and dangerous. Masu.
Phishing, social engineering, and malware attacks are seen as the biggest threats powered by AI, but identity fraud, data privacy violations, and DDoS attacks are also likely to become more effective.
Still, respondents are optimistic about AI’s positive impact on cybersecurity. AI is expected to enhance threat detection and vulnerability assessment, with intrusion detection and prevention identified as the area most likely to benefit from AI. Deep learning to detect malware in encrypted traffic holds the most promise, with 48% of cybersecurity professionals expecting a positive impact from AI.
While cost savings emerged as the top KPI for measuring the success of AI-enabled defenses, 72% of respondents believe that AI automation will play a key role in alleviating the cybersecurity talent shortage. I believe we will accomplish this.
AI adoption in cybersecurity remains low
61% of organizations have not yet meaningfully implemented AI as part of their cybersecurity strategy, and 41% consider AI to be a high or top priority for their organization. Additionally, 68% of respondents expect budgets for AI initiatives to increase over the next two years.
50% of cybersecurity leaders report that their organizations have “extensive knowledge” of AI/ML in cybersecurity, with an additional 19% reporting “moderate knowledge” and the remaining About a third report having no or minimal knowledge. When asked what steps their organizations should take to prepare for advanced or overwhelming AI attacks, 68% cited increased cybersecurity training and awareness for employees.
Developing an AI-specific incident response plan followed closely (65%), and 61% said they conduct regular security assessments and audits. More than half of all respondents said strengthening traditional security controls such as zero-trust protocols, multi-factor authentication, next-generation firewalls, and threat intelligence is key to preparing for advanced AI attacks. did.
“Understanding the significant impact of AI on cybersecurity is critical to navigating the evolving threat landscape.” Laura Wilbur, Senior Industry Analyst at Enea. “That starts by listening carefully to the concerns and aspirations of frontline cybersecurity leaders and their teams.”
“While this report confirms growing concerns about the malicious use of AI, it also highlights some notable innovations in the use of AI to streamline and automate defenses of threats. Significant gains are already being made, such as reducing mean time to detection and containment. However, AI is not a one-size-fits-all solution. To achieve maximum responsiveness and resilience, businesses must implement an AI strategy. As we say at Enea, don’t be surprised, be prepared.”