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How AI is Impacting Cybersecurity
Each year, leading cybersecurity vendor SonicWall releases its comprehensive threat report. By leveraging its own data, insights from experts, and an expansive partner ecosystem, SonicWall provides deep visibility into the current and emerging threats facing businesses worldwide. The 2025 edition highlights the growing impact of AI and automation tools on cybersecurity—both accelerating the creation of new threats and enhancing protection for businesses.
Additionally, concerns are rising around attempts to covertly infiltrate AI tools used by organizations, exploiting private or confidential data for illicit business gain—but that's a topic for another day.
Interested in the full report? Download your copy now
The Bad News: AI is Making Cyber Attacks More Sophisticated
Nearly all organizations are experimenting with AI and automation to drive efficiency. Unsurprisingly, cybercriminals are doing the same. They are using AI to scale attacks, identify vulnerabilities faster, and craft more targeted exploits.
AI-driven cyber threats include:
Social Engineering
- AI-generated deepfake audio and video
- Chatbot-driven scams and frauds
Malware and Ransomware
- "Smart" malware that adapts to defenses
- Ransomware that prioritizes high-value data
- Automated threat development accelerating attack evolution
Evasion Tactics
- AI-powered attacks that bypass traditional security measures
- AI-driven testing to refine and optimize attack strategies
Hacking
- Penetration testing (used maliciously)
- AI-driven credential stuffing and brute-force attacks
In many ways, bad actors are using AI just as businesses do—to create efficiencies, conduct research, automate testing, and ultimately, save time. Unfortunately, their "innovations" come at the expense of businesses like yours.
The Good News: AI is Strengthening Cyber Defenses
The open availability of AI creates a cyber arms race—a battle between attackers and defenders to see who can better leverage AI. While cybercriminals are evolving quickly, cybersecurity professionals are using AI-powered tools to optimize defenses, detect threats proactively, and respond more effectively.
AI in Cybersecurity: Turning the Tide
AI-Powered Threat Detection & Prevention
- AI-driven Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools leverage predictive analytics to identify threats before they escalate.
- AI-enhanced analysis of massive datasets detects anomalies faster than traditional methods, allowing managed service providers (MSPs) and security vendors to take preemptive action.
Phishing & Social Engineering Defense
- AI-based real-time email security scans for inconsistencies that humans often miss, stopping phishing attempts before they reach inboxes.
- AI-powered behavioral analytics detect and flag unusual patterns, limiting fraudulent access attempts.
Adaptive Cybersecurity Tools
- AI-enhanced firewalls and intrusion detection systems learn and adapt, evolving to counter new attack strategies.
- AI-driven traffic analysis spots suspicious behavior early, allowing for proactive intervention.
Faster Incident Response & Recovery
- AI automation in Security Operations Centers (SOCs) enhances real-time threat response and mitigation.
- AI-powered post-incident forensic analysis helps MSPs refine security strategies after an attack, strengthening future defenses.
The bottom line? AI is empowering cybersecurity teams with advanced, data-driven defense mechanisms—but businesses must be proactive in leveraging these tools.
Best Practices for Businesses Adapting to AI-Driven Threats
Since we're clearly on the side of the white hats, let's talk about how your business can stay ahead of AI-powered cyber threats:
- Implement AI-Powered Security Tools: Talk to your MSP about introducing "smart" security solutions into your environment. Even a few AI-driven upgrades can significantly enhance protection.
- Educate Employees on AI-Driven Cyber Risks: We strongly advocate for regular cybersecurity awareness training—your employees are your first line of defense. AI-enhanced attacks change rapidly, so keeping teams informed is critical.
- Partner with Cybersecurity Experts for AI Threat Intelligence: Your MSP should be plugged into leading cybersecurity vendors to stay ahead of emerging threats. At Exigent, we work closely with industry leaders like SonicWall, Hook Security, Arctic Wolf, and SentinelOne to provide real-time intelligence.
Final Thought: AI-driven attacks are evolving rapidly, forcing businesses to rethink outdated security strategies. We expect AI-powered threats to drive a major shift away from legacy cybersecurity tools in favor of smarter, AI-enhanced protection.
