AI tools in cybersecurity are met with excitement, yet their deployment remains a cautious undertaking for security teams.
In a recent survey, Casey Marks, the Chief Qualifications Officer at ISC2, noted a growing interest in AI security tools among companies. The report revealed insights into the adoption rates of these tools across various organization sizes and sectors.
Interestingly, mid-sized firms (between 500 and 2,499 employees) and the smallest organizations (fewer than 99 employees) had the lowest adoption rates, with 20% in each group actively using AI security tools. On the other hand, just 10% of respondents have no plans to use AI at work.
Encouragingly, 44% of professionals report no impact on hiring from the current or expected adoption of AI security tools, and 28% see AI creating new opportunities for entry-level talent. Only 21% said AI has changed their hiring plans and priorities.
Among those who have already adopted AI security tools, 70% reported positive impacts on their team's overall effectiveness. Benefits were reported in network monitoring and intrusion detection (60%), endpoint protection and response (56%), and vulnerability management (half).
The largest organizations (with more than 10,000 employees) have the highest adoption rate of AI security tools at 37%. Industrial enterprises, IT services, and professional services organizations lead in the adoption of AI security tools, with 38%, 36%, and 34% adoption rates respectively.
However, some experts have warned about the potential dangers of over-reliance on AI, which could lead to a loss of important skills, complacency, and dangerous consequences for enterprises. Forty-two percent of respondents are exploring or testing the adoption of AI tools, while 44% are actively reconsidering the roles and skills needed to support the adoption and use of AI security tools.
Several companies are already leveraging AI tools for cybersecurity. BlackBerry (Cylance), Vectra AI, Cisco (AI Defense/Secure), Trend Micro (Vision One), Darktrace, and Aon plc are among the firms using AI to enhance threat detection, prevention, and response. These companies illustrate how AI is actively used across cybersecurity for enhanced threat intelligence, automated detection, and prevention strategies, addressing both traditional and AI-evolved cyber risks.
Overall, the report indicates a growing trend towards the adoption of AI security tools, with many companies recognizing their potential benefits. As more organizations embrace AI, it's crucial to strike a balance between leveraging these advanced technologies and maintaining a skilled workforce to ensure effective and secure cybersecurity practices.
- In light of the report's findings, it seems that while large organizations are actively adopting AI for endpoint protection and response, smaller companies are lagging, with only 20% actively using AI security tools.
- As the trend of embracing AI tools for cybersecurity continues, it's essential for organizations to focus on the development of skills needed to support AI adoption and use, particularly for functions like endpoint protection, as demonstrated by companies like Trend Micro and Darktrace.
