Cybersecurity in the age of AI: Faster attacks, slower response
Cybersecurity in the age of AI: Faster attacks, slower response
Publish Date: 2026-03-17 06:42:00
Source Domain: t2online.in
Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points. In the world of cybersecurity, digital risk has historically been a predictable landscape. For years, the industry followed a familiar pattern: linear growth in threat sophistication met by a corresponding, linear improvement in defense mechanisms. However, the emergence of Generative AI and agentic systems has fundamentally altered the nature of digital protection. The industry has moved beyond a traditional battle of incremental upgrades and is now facing an exponential shift. To stay ahead, strategies must evolve as rapidly as the emerging threats.The reality is stark: AI is raising the stakes in cybersecurity, and while awareness is at an all-time high, decisive action is lagging dangerously behind. According to a recent BCG analysis of 500 executives, 53 per cent of leaders now rank AI-enabled cyber threats as a top-three organisational risk. Yet, there is a profound “readiness gap” that needs to be closed.Neehar Pathare is MD, CEO and CIO, 63SATS CybertechThe main challengesOrganisations today are not fighting a single battle; they are managing three simultaneous challenges:Stopping AI-Powered Attacks: Defending against adversaries who use AI to automate identification and exploit vulnerabilities at machine speed.Applying AI to Strengthen Defenses: Integrating AI into company’s stacks to predict, detect, and remediate threats faster than a human operator.Protecting the AI We Build: Securing the “internal” AI — the models, data pipelines, and LLMs—that companies are deploying to drive productivity.The biggest issue? Offense is scaling faster than defense. Attackers are not burdened by procurement cycles, regulatory hurdles, or ethical boards. They are using AI to find the cracks and enter the system, while companies deal with regulations to deploy defenses.The New Face of Risk: From Deepfakes to Adaptive MalwareConsider a case study: a multinational engineering firm suffering a $25 million loss. In this scenario, an employee is deceived by an AI-generated deepfake video call. The simulation — mirroring the CFO and other key executives with matching voices and likenesses — is used to instruct 15 fraudulent transactions. This highlights how AI can bypass traditional verification by weaponising the trust inherent in visual and auditory recognition.We have also seen AI-encrypted ransomware campaigns paralyze healthcare providers, disabling electronic health records and forcing surgery diversions. Even democratic processes can be targeted by AI voice-cloning election scams that exploit gaps in telecom authentication. These aren’t “future” risks; this is happening now!Our research indicates that the most critical threats over the next 24 months will include:Automated Vulnerability Discovery: AI identifying zero-day exploits in seconds.Adaptive Malware: Software that “learns” a network’s defenses and mutates to bypass them.Model Poisoning: External manipulation of an organization’s AI behavior.Roadblocks to ResilienceIf the threat is so clear, why is the response so slow? Our data points to three key bottlenecks: Budget, Talent, and Tooling.As per the BCG analysis, only 5 per cent of organisations report a significant increase in their cybersecurity budget specifically due to AI considerations. Most current spending is still stuck in legacy maintenance rather than future-proofing. Furthermore, 69 per cent of firms face a major shortage of cyber talent.Perhaps most concerning is the immaturity of the defense market. Even among those who have adopted AI tools, only 25 per cent rate their AI cyber defense tools as “advanced.” As agentic AI – AI that can take independent actions – accelerates, these “basic” tools will become obsolete.A Shared Mandate: The CEO and CISO AllianceAddressing this isn’t just a technical problem; it’s a leadership need. To close the readiness gap, the CEO and the CISO must move in together.The CEO’s PrioritiesBoard-Level Oversight: Cybersecurity and AI must be standing board priorities, not quarterly “check-ins.”The Talent Land Grab: Hire scarce AI-cyber talent now. By the time you feel the gap, the talent will be gone.Vendor Diversification: Don’t lock yourself into a single ecosystem. A diversified strategy ensures flexibility as the technology evolves.The CISO’s PrioritiesSpeed Over Perfection: Shift from a “protect everything” mindset to “high-impact defense.” Prioritise deepfake blocking, SOC alert prioritisation, and behavioral analysis.Security by Design: Embed security into your AI R&D from day one. An insecure AI model is a liability, not an asset.Measurable Outcomes: Define clear metrics for AI effectiveness. It isn’t enough to have an AI tool; you must prove it reduces dwell time and false positives.The Path ForwardOrganisations cannot afford to wait anymore. While regulators are still drafting frameworks and companies are grappling with uncertainty, the attacks are already evolving.We have the tools—from deepfake detection to AI-driven behavior analysis – to turn the tide. What we need is the institutional will to fund them and the leadership to integrate them. The stakes have never been higher, but for those who act decisively, AI represents the greatest defensive opportunity of our generation.Neehar Pathare is MD, CEO and CIO, 63SATS Cybertech
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