Darktrace Report: UK's AI Cybersecurity Threats Rising

Darktrace, a pioneer in cybersecurity AI, has released its UK State of AI Cybersecurity Report, which surveyed over 200 security pioneers and practitioners across a broad array of industries.

The research asked security pioneers their thoughts on the threats facing their businesses following the widespread adoption of AI, which has increased the speed, sophistication, and success of cyber attacks.

Report findings

Almost three-quarters (71%) of businesses are already seeing AI-powered cyber threats significantly impact their organizations, and almost all (92%) expect these threats will continue to trouble their organizations in the future.

Respondents are particularly concerned that the threats will increase the volume and sophistication of exploits targeting known vulnerabilities (rated 3.73/5 in terms of concern level).

Lack of preparedness

95% of respondents in the UK are not confident in their organizations’ ability to defend against AI-powered attacks

While there is an awareness of these threats, the vast majority (95%) of respondents in the UK are not strongly confident in their organizations’ ability to defend against AI-powered attacks, and half (48%) feel they are not adequately prepared for what’s to come.

This lack of preparedness is a challenge for UK businesses given the rising prevalence of large-scale AI-driven attacks in the country, with high-profile targets falling victim such as Barclays and HSBC.

AI-powered threats

The UK faces the third highest number of attacks in the world, behind only the US and Ukraine. Half of UK businesses experienced some sort of breach or attack last year, including 74% of large businesses.

However, on the global stage, Darktrace’s research found that other countries feel even less prepared to defend against AI-powered threats. Based on their security capabilities currently in place, Japan is the most unprepared (90%), followed by Australia (78%), Germany (78%), Netherlands (73%), Singapore (72%), UAE (71%), Spain (59%), France (54%) and the US (54%).

AI-powered security tools

British security professionals are aware that the best way to defend and protect their businesses from AI-driven threats is by having AI-enabled defenses. 98% of security stakeholders believe that AI-driven solutions will boost their defenses, and the majority (72%) are significantly or extremely confident in the ability of AI security to stop AI-powered threats.

Two-thirds (64%) consider adding AI-powered security tools to supplement their existing solutions as their top priority for improving their defenses against AI-powered threats, with upping their cyber readiness as their second highest priority.

Proactive approach to cybersecurity

65% of professionals are confident that AI-powered solutions will be able to stop AI-powered threats automatically

AI-powered solutions are often the answer to improving cyber readiness. By using AI within security stacks, teams can take a more proactive approach to cybersecurity, where security teams and AI work in lockstep to protect businesses and improve resilience.

Two in three (65%) British security professionals surveyed are confident that AI-powered solutions will be able to stop AI-powered threats automatically, reducing alert fatigue and freeing up time for security teams to consider their wider security strategy.

System breach

Hanah Darley, Head of Threat Research, commented, “We’ve seen time and time again that cybercriminals are using AI to infiltrate businesses at a faster and more accurate rate."

"For businesses, it’s becoming a near inevitability that hackers will try to breach their systems and this is shown by three-quarters of those in the UK having already been impacted."

AI within security stacks

"The best way forward for security professionals is to play hackers at their own game and embrace AI within security stacks."

"AI can automate time-consuming tasks, uplifting security teams to be able to think strategically and plan their next line of defense. At a time when the UK is a highly attractive target for attacks on the global stage, there’s no better way to secure a business.”

Platform-based security measures

When asked about their business’ security solutions, most (86%) respondents reported that their organization prefers to purchase security capabilities as part of a broader platform instead of individual point products.

The majority (89%) are also very confident that platform-oriented approaches are more effective at stopping threats than collections of point products. Over three quarters (79%) also consider reducing the cost and complexity of their cybersecurity stack as a key objective at their organization.