Integrity360, a pan-European cybersecurity specialist ran a survey with 205 IT decision makers over the concerns surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) on the cybersecurity landscape. According to them, almost seven in ten (68%) of respondents had concerns about how cyber-criminals exploited deepfake technology to target their organisations. 

The use of AI for cyber-attacks is already a threat to businesses, but recognising the future potential and the impact this can have is just the start,” said Brian Martin, head of product development, innovation, and strategy at Integrity360. 

“We’ve already seen the potential for deepfake technology with the video of Volodymr Zelensky telling Ukrainians to put down their weapons, and spreading disinformation. This is just one example of the nefarious means in which it can be used and businesses need to be prepared for how to defend against this and discern what is and isn’t real, to avoid falling victim to an attack,” he continued. 

Another growing concern identified in the report was the growing utilisation of AI for nefarious reasons, with 59% of respondents saying they believed the proliferation of cybersecurity attacks was due to the growth of AI.

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A further 54% said that they did not understand the impact of AI on cybersecurity, indicating a mixed bag of the level of awareness within the industry on the role of the tool in the field. 

Despite this, 61% of respondents had reservations over the increased use of AI in the cybersecurity landscape, however, 73% agreed that AI is increasingly becoming more important for incident response, with 71% saying it improves the speed and accuracy. This reflects the growing recognition of AI’s potential both offensively and defensively. 

“AI’s role in cybersecurity is not only a matter of perception but a tangible reality. Conventional cyber-attacks will ultimately become obsolete as AI technologies become increasingly available and more appealing and accessible as attackers look to expand their use for AI-enabled cyber-attacks. As an MSSP it’s essential to ensure businesses are considering how this can be used against them and putting processes in place to protect against these growing threats”, said Martin.