Thought Leadership
Current data shows that the threat of artificial intelligence (AI) in cybercrime is seen as an increasingly serious risk. Companies are therefore increasingly shifting their focus from reactive defense to preventive security.
A recently published study reveals that 97 percent of organizations fear falling victim to a security incident caused by malicious AI. With the emergence of new AI platforms based on large language models (LLM), cybercriminals now have access to sophisticated technologies that allow them to create convincing deepfakes.
The study shows that 61 percent of companies recorded an increase in deepfake incidents in the past year. Of these attacks, 75 percent were aimed at impersonating the CEO or other members of senior management. Deepfakes are identified as the biggest concern by companies, with 34% classifying this type of attack as a significant or critical threat.
As a result, 73% of companies have started to use AI attacks as an opportunity to shift their cybersecurity strategies from reactive to preventative. The main method used to do this is employee security awareness training (47% of companies), followed by predictive prevention platforms and endpoint detection and response.
Raising awareness of cyber threats
Training for employees is crucial, as human error is often the biggest weakness in cyber security. Despite advanced technical protection measures, attacks such as phishing and social engineering can be successful if staff are not properly prepared. Providers such as KnowBe4 therefore raise staff awareness of various cyber threats and give them the skills to recognize and respond to them. Regular training courses keep employees informed about current threats and promote a strong security culture within the company.
These developments clearly underline that the threat of AI in cybercrime is being taken seriously and companies are taking proactive measures to counter these risks. By adapting their strategies and investing in staff training, they are ensuring that they are better prepared for the growing challenges of the digital world.
