AI is forcing companies to reinvent cyber defense and close critical gaps

Artificial intelligence has become the pivotal force in cybersecurity, simultaneously representing the most formidable threat and most powerful defense mechanism available to organizations. The 2025 RSA Conference in San Francisco highlighted how AI is fundamentally redefining cybersecurity operations, creating a complex landscape where organizations must balance adopting AI-enabled security solutions while addressing fundamental security gaps. This technological evolution is demanding that companies rethink their cybersecurity strategies as AI-powered attacks grow more sophisticated and defensive capabilities become increasingly essential.

The big picture: AI is dramatically reshaping cybersecurity by simultaneously empowering attackers with advanced capabilities while providing defenders with powerful new tools to combat evolving threats.

• Cybersecurity professionals at the 2025 RSA Conference emphasized the transformative impact of agentic AI on cyber operations, revealing a cautious approach by organizations attempting to balance benefits against risks.
• The cybersecurity market is experiencing dual growth drivers: adoption of next-generation AI-enabled security technologies alongside continued investment in fundamental security capabilities many enterprises still lack.

How AI is transforming cyber threats: Artificial intelligence has accelerated cyberattack capabilities, with attack breakout times now frequently occurring in under an hour.

• Hackers leverage AI to create convincing phishing emails, fake websites, deepfake videos, and malicious prompts at unprecedented scale, bypassing traditional detection systems.
• Machine learning algorithms enable attackers to analyze defenses in real-time and adapt their strategies, while making social engineering tactics significantly more effective and difficult to identify.
• The security of Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) applications emerged as a critical concern, particularly regarding risks in data retrieval workflows and ensuring accurate information powers these systems.

AI’s defensive potential: Organizations are leveraging AI technologies to reduce detection, response, and recovery times while staying ahead of sophisticated attackers.

• Defensive AI systems analyze vast amounts of data in real-time, providing cross-silo context and identifying anomalies before breaches escalate into major incidents.
• AI-driven automation is transforming resource allocation by handling routine tasks like system monitoring and compliance checks, freeing cybersecurity teams to focus on high-priority threats.

The cybersecurity solution landscape: AI integration into security products is revolutionizing organizational protection strategies with third-party providers driving innovation.

• Over 90 percent of AI capabilities in cybersecurity are expected to come from third-party providers as companies upgrade their existing security infrastructure.
• AI features are being embedded across security posture management, Zero Trust capabilities, SASE, and identity management tools, helping users adapt comfortably to technological shifts.

Why this matters: Organizations that master fundamental security practices while strategically deploying AI can transform potential risks into powerful advantages against cybercriminals.

• The successful deployment of AI security solutions remains dependent on addressing basic security fundamentals like comprehensive asset management and identity controls.
• Companies establishing vigilant practices around AI implementation can convert what might otherwise be security vulnerabilities into robust defensive advantages.