Cybersecurity firm Arctic Wolf has released new findings from its latest report, Navigating the Human-AI Relationship for Security Operations Success.

The study, conducted in partnership with Sapio Research, surveyed nearly 2,000 IT and security decision-makers worldwide and found that 99% of respondents say the presence of AI will influence cybersecurity purchases or renewals in the next 12 months.

Security teams today are faced with a relentless stream of thousands of alerts from fragmented tools and disconnected data sources. With limited staff and resources, they are forced to make quick, high-stakes decisions about which alerts to investigate, often leaving dangerous threats buried in the noise.

The result is a cycle of analyst burnout, slower response times, and greater exposure to risk.

This growing pressure is why AI has become a decisive factor in cybersecurity investment strategies.

Organisations are looking to AI not just as a tool, but as a partner in security operations, leveraging advanced threat detection to identify malicious activity faster, large language model assistants to guide investigations and provide context, and AI-powered workflows to automate repetitive tasks.

When paired with skilled human oversight, these capabilities can cut through the noise, reduce alert fatigue, accelerate investigations, and help security teams focus on stopping the threats that matter most.

The report found that AI is now considered table stakes for cybersecurity, with 99% of organisations saying AI capabilities will influence their security purchases or renewals over the next year. Nearly four in ten budgets are already tied to AI-powered solutions.

Adoption of AI in cybersecurity is already widespread and growing. Around 73% of organisations have integrated AI into their security posture, led by the U.S. and the financial services sector, both at 82%.

By contrast, more risk-averse areas such as utilities (59%) and regions including the Nordics (59%) are moving more cautiously.

Automation is also beginning to reshape security operations. According to the report, 73% of organisations plan to use AI for round-the-clock security operations automation, 72% for enhanced threat prediction and prevention, and 70% to improve detection capabilities.

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Despite this, human oversight remains essential. More than two-thirds of respondents said AI requires substantial human input, while 52% expect to upskill their teams to manage AI systems. Almost half (46%) anticipate that analysts will shift toward validating AI-generated alerts.

Challenges to adoption remain. A third of organisations (33%) cited data privacy as the biggest barrier, followed by cost (30%) and concerns that AI tools do not fully meet organisational needs (28%).

“Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of modern cybersecurity, but it benefits from human expertise to be truly effective,” said Dan Schiappa, President of Technology and Services at Arctic Wolf.

“The insights from this report give leaders the data they need to make smart, targeted investments, deploying AI where it can deliver measurable outcomes, cut through alert noise, and help security teams work with greater speed, accuracy, and confidence.”