Less Than Half of Companies Are Prepared for AI-Based Threats

According to a survey by Kaspersky Lab, 76% of participants reported an increase in cyber incidents in 2024. About half (46%) of respondents encountered attacks involving artificial intelligence (AI), but not all had the resources to respond effectively.

The survey, commissioned by Kaspersky, was conducted last fall and included 1,415 IT security specialists from companies of various sizes, including those in Russia.

The potential for AI technology abuse concerns 72% of those surveyed. When asked about countermeasures against such threats, 92% mentioned improving staff skills, 90% cited the ability to bring in external experts, 86% pointed to the use of specialized solutions, and 80% highlighted having a large IT team.

However, the survey also revealed that many organizations lack the resources to implement these measures:

• Only 50% of companies have highly qualified staff;
• 47% conduct regular training;
• 45% have strong IT teams and specialized protection;
• 42% have access to external assistance.

“Machine learning technologies are yet another tool in the hands of attackers. In addition, threat actors have become more effective in planning their operations and are collaborating more closely with each other,” said Oleg Gorobets, Kaspersky’s corporate infrastructure protection expert. “Companies should not focus on finding a panacea for AI-based threats, but rather on building a consistent, multi-layered infrastructure protection strategy—ideally an XDR ecosystem—and systematically improving digital literacy within the organization.”

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