5 Key Insights from Osterman Research on AI’s Role in Defensive Cybersecurity

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has reshaped nearly every industry, but its impact on cybersecurity is particularly transformative. While AI opens doors to unparalleled efficiencies and innovation, it also gives rise to a new generation of cyberthreats that are faster, smarter, and more adaptable than ever. Recent findings from Osterman Research prove that AI is now a double-edged sword in the cybersecurity landscape: both a tool for attackers and an essential defense for those protecting against them.

Here, we explore five critical insights from Osterman Research’s Using AI to Enhance Defensive Cybersecurity report. These insights illustrate how AI is shaping defensive cybersecurity and underline the urgency for security leaders to leverage AI effectively to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated threats.

AI has become a critical catalyst in the evolution of advanced cyberattacks, empowering attackers with unprecedented tools to refine, automate, and scale their tactics. By leveraging AI, cybercriminals are enhancing their ability to bypass traditional security measures, accelerating the speed and precision of their attacks, and reducing the manual effort required to launch and manage these assaults. In fact, 98.4% of security leaders say that attackers are already using AI against them.

As cybercriminals increasingly exploit AI tools to launch more sophisticated attacks, the deployment of defensive AI solutions—such as behavioral AI and machine learning—has become essential to detect and counter these new threats. This AI-driven arms race underscores the critical need for continuous investment in advanced AI capabilities to stay ahead of malicious actors. In fact, 80% of security leaders believe AI is the only technology capable of effectively countering malicious AI, reflecting the pivotal role that intelligent, adaptive systems will play in the future of cybersecurity.

Cybercriminals have gained an early edge in using generative AI and generative adversarial networks (GANs) for advanced cyberattacks. GANs, composed of two networks—a generator that creates synthetic data and a discriminator that evaluates its authenticity—are invaluable in cybersecurity. They can simulate attack scenarios, enhance threat detection, and bolster system resilience, making them increasingly crucial in defense strategies. The importance of GANs in cybersecurity has surged, with a 41.6% increase in priority reported by security leaders over the past two years.

One of AI's most promising roles in cybersecurity is as a force multiplier for security teams. By automating routine tasks, AI frees up time for cybersecurity professionals to concentrate on high-priority activities such as threat hunting and incident response. This shift allows teams to engage more deeply in strategic defense efforts, increasing resilience against both current and future threats. Additionally, 80% of security leaders say the use of AI for defensive security will reduce burnout among cybersecurity professionals.

AI-powered cybersecurity tools offer a distinct advantage over traditional defenses, empowering security teams to identify and neutralize threats with greater precision and speed. By continuously learning from both attempted and successful attacks, AI-driven solutions adapt to emerging threats, enabling proactive defense strategies rather than reactive responses. This is why an overwhelming 97.8% of security leaders believe AI-driven solutions are significantly more effective than their previous cybersecurity measures, offering robust protection in a world of increasingly sophisticated attacks.

As you can see, AI is no longer a futuristic ideal in cybersecurity—it is a necessary component in defending against a relentless wave of advanced, AI-driven threats. These insights from Osterman Research demonstrate a clear shift: security leaders recognize the unparalleled efficacy of AI-powered defenses, particularly in light of the capabilities employed by cybercriminals. As the adoption of defensive AI continues to rise, organizations are better positioned to counteract AI-fueled attacks, protect their assets, and reduce burnout among cybersecurity professionals. Embracing AI is not just advantageous; it is essential for building a resilient cybersecurity strategy.

Learn more by downloading Osterman Research: Using AI to Enhance Defensive Cybersecurity today!