As concerns about the use of AI in cyberattacks increase, companies worldwide are racing to bolster their cybersecurity strategies, a new study by Kaspersky, a leading global cybersecurity company, has indicated that 92% of IT and Information Security professionals surveyed in the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa (META) region expect the use of AI by malicious actors to escalate over the next two years.
In view of the ugly trend, the company reported that most organisations were investing resources to prioritise cyber defense expertise, with many turning to cybersecurity vendors for specialised support and training.
Kaspersky, in its latest study titled “Cyber Defense & AI: Are You Ready To Protect Your Organisation?”, gathered insights from IT and Information Security professionals across SMEs and large enterprises, and the findings underscored the urgent need to prepare for AI-driven cyberattacks.
The company’s study reflected that to combat these evolving threats, companies were now placing high value on cybersecurity expertise, with 94% of respondents in the META region highlighting the importance of growing internal expertise through training for in-house employees, and 93% underscoring the need for external expertise provided by cybersecurity vendors.
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According to the report, the need spans sectors from retail to critical infrastructure, emphasising a universal demand for advanced threat protection.
Kaspersky further reported that to reinforce their cyber protection, organisations were actively integrating both internal and external expertise, adding that currently, 36% of companies surveyed in the META region are either implementing or planning to deploy external support to adapt to the evolving threat landscape, while 34% are doing the same through internal training initiatives.
In addition, the study showed that 61% were already using external cybersecurity expertise, and 62% had training programmes in place, underscoring a dual approach in fortifying their protection.
The company maintained that cybersecurity vendors’ expertise can come in various forms, from specialised professional services that help organisations deploy their protection solutions, to advanced expert centres that focus on specific security challenges.
It listed one of these centres as the Kaspersky AI Technology Research Centre, which brings together the company’s AI research and development efforts, to deepen the protective capabilities of cybersecurity solutions.
Commenting on the company’s latest study findings, Group Manager at the Kaspersky AI Technology Research Centre, Vladislav Tushkanov, said: “Our latest survey shows that businesses are acutely aware of the rising threat from AI-driven cyberattacks and are looking to reinforce their protection through comprehensive solutions, including the use of vendors’ extensive cybersecurity expertise.
“The Kaspersky AI Technology Research Centre plays a pivotal role by helping us leverage AI advancements to enhance our threat protection strategies and explore innovative ways of using AI in cybersecurity. It also enables us to address security concerns specific to AI itself, ensuring that businesses are prepared for the latest AI-driven threats”, Tushkanov added.
To enhance your expertise and stay ahead of AI-enabled threats, Kaspersky recommended that organisations should bolster their in-house skills with Kaspersky Managed Detection & Response as well as online and live Kaspersky Cybersecurity Training courses to help strengthen cyber protection and enhance employees’ resilience.
Also, the company advised managers of organisations to turn their office workforce into an extra layer of protection with the Kaspersky Automated Security Awareness Platform, which instills cybersafe behaviour that includes specialised sections dedicated to AI-assisted threats and the safe use of AI tools, helping to avoid the risks associated with the growing proliferation of AI tools.
The company also recommended that managers should initiate a discussion about AI-related topics in cybersecurity to stay ahead of AI-enabled threats in the years ahead.
