Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Today, Splunk, a leader in cybersecurity and observability, and Enterprise Strategy Group released a global report titled “State of Security 2024: The Race to Harness AI.” The report includes insights from 1,650 security leaders worldwide. It highlights that while managing cybersecurity has gotten easier for some, the industry is now racing to effectively use generative AI (Gen AI) before cybercriminals do.
Key findings from the report show:
- A whopping 93% of organizations are using generative AI in some form, and 91% are applying it specifically to improve cybersecurity.
- Despite its widespread use, 34% of organizations admitted they don’t have a specific policy for managing generative AI.
- Generative AI ranks as a top priority for 44% of the respondents for 2024, even more critical than cloud security.
There’s a split in opinion among cybersecurity leaders about whether generative AI will benefit defenders or attackers more. About 45% think it will help cybercriminals, while 43% believe it will aid defenders.
Patrick Coughlin, SVP at Splunk, commented, “We’re seeing a kind of AI gold rush, where both security experts and cybercriminals are rushing to make the most out of AI. Generative AI is great for streamlining work and preventing burnout, but it also opens new doors for cybercriminals. To stay ahead, cybersecurity teams need to quickly adapt and secure these AI technologies.”
The report also discusses cybersecurity recruitment challenges. Generative AI could help organizations find and train new staff more efficiently:
- 86% of leaders believe Gen AI will help hire more entry-level employees.
- 58% expect that Gen AI will make training these newcomers faster.
- A majority think Gen AI will boost the productivity of both new and experienced cybersecurity professionals.
Compliance issues are becoming more pressing, with new regulations increasing the pressure on security leaders:
- 76% of respondents feel that the risk of personal liability makes cybersecurity less appealing.
- 70% have thought about quitting their jobs due to stress.
- Changes in compliance laws have already affected 62% of professionals, and 86% say they will reallocate budgets to meet compliance needs rather than follow best security practices.
Overall, the report stresses the critical role of generative AI in cybersecurity and the need for the industry to adapt swiftly to harness its benefits while mitigating its risks.
