A fifth of information officers suffered AI-powered data leaks, report reveals

New polling has fuelled concerns over the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on cybersecurity.

Gathering responses from 250 UK chief information officers (CISOs), a survey by Censuswide and cybersecurity provider RiverSafe, has revealed one in five UK CISOs see AI as the biggest cyber threat to their organisation.

The survey revealed a majority believed internal threats posed a greater risk than external threats to their organisation, with 20 per cent admitting that an employee at their organisation had exposed company data using AI tools.

Chief executive at RiverSafe, Suid Adeyanju said: “Our research has highlighted the prominent danger that insider threats are posing to businesses, both by unaware employees and malicious staff members.”

However, findings highlighted a significant gap in resources to deal with the growing cyber challenge. Around two-thirds of CISOs said they don’t have sufficient technology to tackle insider threats, and more than 80 per cent feel their organisations lack cyber skills.

“As the complexity of AI-driven cyber threats continues to evolve, proactive measures are essential to safeguard sensitive data assets and mitigate the risks posed by insider threats. 

“A revised and up-to-date cyber strategy should no longer be a second thought, but instead a priority for all organisations to mitigate the risks, especially when considering the ever-increasing use of AI,” Adeyanju added.

Meanwhile, nine in 10 said their organisations would be increasing their cybersecurity budget this year, yet almost 60 per cent felt this still wasn’t enough investment. 

Despite, the growing concerns on AI’s link to cyber threats, a majority of those surveyed said their organisations are implementing automation to achieve cost savings with around two-thirds saying the innovative technology had limited their cybersecurity budget.

Oseloka Obiora, chief technology officer at RiverSafe, said: “Organisations must leverage AI for competitive advantage while strengthening cybersecurity defences to prevent potential vulnerabilities. The repercussions of a breach, compromising both customer and employee data, can inflict irreparable damage, underscoring the critical importance of comprehensive security measures.”