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Opportunities for Cybersecurity Professionals

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool for innovation and a challenge for cybersecurity professionals. With ever-evolving AI-powered malware, cybersecurity professionals are meeting the threat head-on by evolving their strategies and tactics to counter and proactively defend their security infrastructures through zero-trust, early detection, and investment into quantum capabilities. Leading the way are those deploying AI-counter technology measures.

AI-Powered Detection

How Gen-AI Can Help:1

  • Accelerate threat detection
  • Create quick incident summaries
  • Automate security operations tasks
  • Simulate attacks
44%
of organizations globally
use AI to detect security intrusions2

AI-Powered Defense

Areas defensive AI is expected to deliver the biggest impact:1

61%
Cloud security
50%
Data security
46%
Network security

Growing Cybersecurity Trends

Artificial Intelligence

76%
of enterprises are prioritizing AI and machine learning in their IT budgets2
70%
of business executives will deploy Gen AI tools for cyber defense within the next 12 months3
50%+
of security professionals believe that GenAI will greatly impact the security field compared to other types of AI1

Zero Trust

66%+
of organizations are implementing zero-trust policies4
2/3
of organizations worldwide have begun to implement a zero-trust strategy1

Post-Quantum Cryptography

98%
expected growth of post-quantum cryptography by 2034, totalling more than $17 billion5

Threats to Cybersecurity’s Critical Infrastructure

exploit vulnerabilities across an array of platforms, ecosystems, and infrastructures
Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the evolving AI landscape and advancing the technologies in their tool belt to exploit vulnerabilities across an array of platforms, ecosystems, and infrastructures.
Attackers are increasing their capabilities
Attackers are increasing their capabilities to bypass conventional threat detection methods using AI-empowered malware, exploiting IoT devices, and attacking supply chains.

AI-Powered Malware Threats

3/4
of organizations feel the impact of AI-powered security threats1
85%
of cybersecurity leaders believe their company’s sensitive data is in jeopardy due to evolving AI technologies6
74%
of security leaders across an array of global industries witness their organizations being impacted by AI‑powered cyber threats1
43%
of security professionals predict AI-powered threats will evade traditional detection techniques7

(IoT) Threats

107%
increase in IoT malware in 2024. And, a 30% growth in malware across all ecosystems8
45%
growth in IoT malware attacks between 2023 and mid-20249
Mirai and Gafgyt malware families pose the biggest threat to IoT9
10x/day
home networks devices are attacked 10 times on average every day10

Supply Chain Threats

73%
of operation technology professions (OT) experienced intrusions that impacted their OT systems in 2024, up 24% from 202311

Polymorphic Threats

94%
of malware today is polymorphic12

Top Industries Under Attack

Year-over-Year increase in published ransomware attacks by sector: 13

+56%
Manufacturing
+27%
Healthcare
+31%
Govt./Military

Top 3 most attacked industries were: 13

  1. Education/Research (3,341 attacks per week)
  2. Government/Military (2,084 attacks per week)
  3. Healthcare (1,999 attacks per week)

How Connection Can Help

Connection is your partner for modern infrastructure and cybersecurity solutions and services. From hardware and software to consulting and customized solutions, we’re leading the way in infrastructure modernization.

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Additional Resources

Interested in learning more about ways to fight back against malware and protect your data, devices, and users? Check out these helpful resources.
Evolving Trends in Malware Analysis
Explore key trends shaping the field of malware analysis and learn about the top challenges and innovations for business and cybersecurity leaders.
The Evolving Malicious Software Threat
Delve into the evolving landscape of malware threats in this white paper, with a particular focus on how AI is reshaping the cybersecurity battlefield.
Explore Our Cybersecurity Solutions
Get the expert guidance and support you need to assess and mitigate your security risk and ease the burden of protecting your most critical assets.

Ready to talk about Cybersecurity?

Call a Connection expert today.

1.800.998.0067

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1. Darktrace, 2024, State of AI Cybersecurity
2. Tech Magic, 2024, AI in Cybersecurity, Exploring the Top 6 Use Cases
3. PWC, 2024 Global Trust Insights
4. IBM, 2024, What is Zero Trust?
5. Global Newswire, 2024, Post-Quantum Cryptography Market Research Report 2024
6. Code 42,2024, Annual Data Exposure Report 2024
7. Palo Alto, 2024, The State of Cloud-Native Security 2024 Report
8. Sonicwall, 2024, Sonicwall Mid-Year Cyber Threat Report
9. Zscaler, 2024, 7 Takeaways from IBM's Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024
10. Netgear, 2024, Every 24 Hours, Home Networks See an Average of 10 Attacks. Is Your Network Secure?
11. Fortinent, 2024, State of Operational Technology and Cybersecurity
12. Wiley Online Library, 2023, Metamorphic Malware and Obfuscation: A Survey of Techniques, Variants, and Generation Kits
13. Check Point Research, 2024, Check Point Research Reports Highest Increase of Global Cyber Attacks seen in last two years – a 30% Increase in Q2 2024 Global Cyber Attacks
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