AI has been the unsung hero of the cybersecurity landscape, providing a wide range of traditional attacks and novel strategies to threat actors. While traditional attacks like phishing, business email compromise, and malware are becoming increasingly sophisticated, AI-enhanced threats are allowing attackers to develop targeted and effective attacks, regardless of their skill level. But what are these AI-enhanced threats, and how can businesses prepare their defenses for the AI age? The Constant Evolution of AI-Enhanced Threats
The threat landscape is constantly evolving, and AI-enhanced threats are no exception. According to Eyal Benishti, founder and CEO of IRONSCALES, adversaries are continually leveraging AI in new and creative ways to create attacks that are more sophisticated, persistent, and difficult to detect. Some of the most common ways AI is being used to create these threats include:

1. Crafting highly convincing phishing emails and messages that can deceive recipients and bypass traditional security filters.
2. Generating deepfakes that can be used to manipulate communications, impersonate executives, or exploit human trust in unprecedented ways.
3. Developing more sophisticated malware that evades traditional detection and can more precisely exploit vulnerabilities.

These AI-enhanced capabilities have led to a significant increase in the overall volume of cyberattacks, placing an increased burden on security teams and making the threats even more challenging to mitigate. As the financial and reputational losses from these attacks rise, it’s clear that businesses must adopt equally advanced, AI-driven defenses. A Partnership to Tackle AI-Enhanced Threats
To tackle these new threats, Concentrix and IRONSCALES have formed a partnership to deliver new levels of scalability, automation, and integration. This partnership represents a critical step in Concentrix’s commitment to leveraging advanced technology to protect its customers’ operations and data against modern cyber threats. By combining their capabilities and expertise, they can deliver effective AI-driven defenses that are tailored to the needs of each customer. The Challenges of Implementing AI-Enhanced Defenses
Despite the availability of AI-enhanced defenses, many organizations are struggling to implement them effectively. According to Dominique Gagnon, VP of managed security services for Concentrix, several challenges are hindering the effectiveness of these defenses:

1. Data Silos and Legacy Systems: AI relies heavily on comprehensive data to detect compromises or threats effectively. However, many organizations continue to operate with siloed, legacy security technologies that aren’t fully integrated.
2. AI as an Afterthought: In many cases, AI is implemented as a ‘bolted-on’ solution rather than designed as a fully integrated, central capability.
3. Automation Gaps: AI alone cannot handle the rapidly increasing volume of incidents, and effective cybersecurity also requires effective automation to triage routine tasks and free up human analysts to focus on critical alerts and high-stakes incidents.

To overcome these challenges, organizations must adopt a shift in mindset and strategy, viewing AI as a foundational, integrated component of the cybersecurity ecosystem, supported by automation, a robust data infrastructure, strategic policy measures, and comprehensive awareness, testing, and training initiatives. The Importance of Security Awareness Training
Security awareness training (SAT) and phishing simulation testing (PST) are essential for reducing the likelihood of successful phishing attacks. According to the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (2024), 68 percent of breaches involve the human element. SAT and PST programs have been shown to significantly reduce the likelihood of successful phishing attacks, but relying solely on human intervention is not enough. This is where AI-powered email security plays a critical role. AI can detect and block malicious emails by identifying incredibly subtle patterns and anomalies that are likely to elude human detection. The goal is to reduce actual employee exposure to attacks to a bare minimum, while also having an informed, vigilant, and cybersecurity-savvy workforce. Defending Against Deepfake Threats
Deepfake threats represent a uniquely dangerous form of AI-generated attacks, exploiting visual and auditory cues that humans are hardwired to trust. Unlike spear phishing emails, which typically rely on written communication, deepfakes use realistic audio and video content to impersonate trusted individuals or entities. To defend against deepfake threats, organizations should adopt a multi-layered approach:

1. AI-Powered Detection Tools: Use advanced AI and machine learning tools specifically designed to detect deepfake content by analyzing inconsistencies in audio and video.
2. Authentication Protocols: Strengthen verification processes for sensitive transactions or communications, such as multi-factor authentication or implementing unique verification codes for audio or video instructions.
3. Employee Training: Expand awareness programs to include recognition of deepfake techniques and emphasize the importance of verifying unusual requests, even if they seem legitimate.

By combining cutting-edge AI defenses with human vigilance and strong authentication protocols, organizations can mitigate the risks posed by deepfake threats while maintaining resilience against other AI-enhanced attacks. As all this occurs, security vendors will work overtime to develop new, more sophisticated, and reliable tools for detecting AI-based content — including synthetic writing, videos, static imagery, and voice duplication — and AI-enabled attacks. The future of cybersecurity is AI-driven, and it’s up to businesses to prepare their defenses for the AI age.