Gaps in Cyber Protection leave Businesses vulnerable to AI-enhanced threats: Kaspersky Study

As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms industries, it is also reshaping the cybersecurity landscape. With the rise of AI-powered cyberattacks, organizations worldwide are grappling with escalating challenges in protecting their sensitive data and systems. Despite recognizing the severity of these threats, many businesses struggle to keep up with the rapid pace of cybercrime innovation.
Kaspersky’s latest study, “Cyber Defense & AI: Are You Ready to Protect Your Organization?”, sheds light on the growing urgency felt by businesses to safeguard against these AI-driven attacks. The research, which surveyed IT and Information Security professionals from both small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large corporations, highlights several critical barriers that hinder effective cybersecurity strategies.
The study reveals that 19% of respondents report considerable gaps in their cyber protection, underscoring the pressing need for businesses to act swiftly to adapt to the evolving threat landscape. Despite acknowledging the risks, organizations face numerous challenges in building robust defenses.
One of the most significant barriers is the lack of skilled professionals trained to tackle AI-driven cybersecurity challenges. Forty-four percent of organizations point to the absence of AI-related cybersecurity training for their employees as a major hurdle. The complexity of managing sophisticated cybersecurity infrastructures compounds the issue, with another 44% of respondents citing this as a critical challenge in staying ahead of attackers.
Moreover, nearly 43% of respondents revealed that their organizations are lacking advanced AI-powered cybersecurity tools, leaving them vulnerable to more sophisticated threats. This gap in technology, combined with the shortage of qualified professionals, means that many businesses are ill-equipped to combat the rise of AI-driven attacks.
The consequences of failing to adapt to AI-powered threats are dire. The study paints a grim picture for organizations that remain unprepared: 58% of professionals fear that inadequate defenses could lead to the exposure of confidential data. Beyond the loss of sensitive information, 52% of respondents anticipate a loss of customer trust, significant financial losses, and even damage to their company’s stock value. The long-term fallout from such breaches includes reputational damage, which 47% of respondents fear will linger, affecting the business long after the initial breach.
Additionally, the study highlights other potential repercussions, including financial penalties (33%), investor withdrawal (31%), lawsuits (29%), and even the possibility of partial business closures (23%).
“The rise of AI-driven cyberattacks marks a turning point in the cybersecurity landscape,” says Alexey Vovk, Information Security Director at Kaspersky. “Organizations must act now to fortify their defenses. This includes investing in AI-powered tools, training employees to recognize threats related to AI, and developing and implementing cybersecurity controls for products and services with AI. Failure to adapt could lead to significant financial, operational, and reputational damage. Preparedness is not just an option – it’s a necessity in this new era of cyber threats.”