93% of security leaders said public GenAI is used in their respective organizations, and 91% said they use GenAI specifically for cybersecurity operations, according to Splunk.
According to the report, organizations have strongly adopted GenAI tools within their teams. Compared to companies that are still developing a cybersecurity program, those with advanced approaches have significant budgets, resources, and authority and are well positioned to adopt GenAI’s cutting-edge tools and technologies.
Among the 1,650 security leaders who participated in the global survey, many said that cybersecurity has become easier to manage than in previous years. However, they now face a race against attackers to exploit GenAI.
Problematically, despite this widespread adoption, many organizations do not have a clear GenAI policy or do not fully understand the wider implications of the technology.
AI Gold Rush
Additionally, cybersecurity leaders are divided on who will have the upper hand in using GenAI tools: cybersecurity defenders or threat actors.
Despite a high adoption rate, 34% of surveyed organizations say they do not have a GenAI policy, and 65% of respondents admit to not fully understanding the implications of GenAI.
44% of respondents see GenAI as an important initiative in 2024, surpassing cloud security as an important initiative. While 45% of respondents believe that GenAI will be a net gain for threat actors, 43% believe that GenAI will give cybersecurity defenders the edge.
“We are in an AI gold rush, with bad actors and security professionals both trying to seize the advantage”said Patrick Coughlin, SVP, Global Technical Sales, Splunk.
Recruiting in the cybersecurity field has proven to be a considerable challenge in recent years, especially for entry-level workers looking to enter the industry. The report states that GenAI is a potential solution to this problem as it helps organizations discover and onboard entry-level talent more efficiently.
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Additionally, the majority of cybersecurity professionals expect GenAI to improve their speed and productivity.
86% of cybersecurity leaders say GenAI can enable them to hire more entry-level talent to fill the skills gap, and 58% say onboarding entry-level talent will be faster with GenAI.
90% of security leaders believe entry-level people can leverage GenAI to develop their skills in the security operations center (SOC), and 65% believe the technology will help experienced cybersecurity professionals become more productive.
The majority of security professionals are also facing increasing compliance pressures. Implementation of stricter compliance requirements has significantly raised the stakes, especially for security leaders who may personally face consequences for organizational violations. This evolving compliance landscape highlights the need for increased vigilance and accountability in the security industry.
76% of respondents say that personal responsibility makes cyber security less attractive, and 70% have considered leaving the industry due to job stress.
62% of professionals say they have already experienced the impact of evolving enforcement orders requiring disclosure of material breaches. Additionally, 86% of security professionals say they will change their budgets to prioritize compliance over security best practices.