Most U.S. companies confess to employing AI in some capacity
An analysis of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by information technology (IT) professionals in the U.S. was conducted in a recent report by GetApp. The report reveals that 64% of IT and security professionals view AI as a crucial defense against the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks.
The report indicates that 45% of respondents in the U.S. have identified AI solutions for network and cloud security as their top investment priorities for the upcoming year. In response to the escalating complexity of threats, 80% of them foresee a rise in their cybersecurity budgets in 2025.
Survey findings demonstrate the widespread adoption of AI-assisted cybersecurity tools, with 90% of U.S. companies employing them in various capacities. AI-powered threat detection and monitoring are highlighted as the most utilized features, surpassing automation. Key functionalities include real-time monitoring (48%), advanced malware detection (46%), threat intelligence integration (43%), and routine task automation (41%).
To assist IT leaders in harnessing the full potential of AI, the report offers three essential recommendations for incorporating AI into cybersecurity strategies:
- Plan around AI’s strengths in cyberthreat prevention: Clearly define AI usage goals and prioritize areas where AI can bolster protection, such as network security, cloud security, and threat detection.
- Prioritize human-in-the-loop (HITL) approaches: Although AI can automate tasks and enhance protection, human involvement is crucial to prevent errors and ensure adherence to ethical AI principles. Provide adequate security training to empower staff to effectively utilize AI tools.
- Prepare data for AI implementation: Ensure the availability of high-quality data for training AI systems. Decide whether to utilize public or proprietary data sets and concentrate on data management and governance to structure data in a readable and error-free format.
