AI-Enabled Cyberattacks Surge 56%, Costing Enterprises $6M Per Breach While Security Teams Struggle to Keep Up
Summary
A new IBM report reveals AI-enabled cyberattacks have surged 56% year-over-year, costing enterprises an average of $6 million per breach, with critical infrastructure sectors hit hardest by deepfakes and AI-powered malware — yet companies using AI in their own security operations are slashing breach costs by $2 million.
Key Points
- A new IBM report reveals that AI-enabled cyberattacks now cost enterprises an average of $6 million per breach, roughly $1 million above the global average, with AI-assisted breaches rising 56% year-over-year to account for one in four total incidents.
- Critical infrastructure sectors, particularly energy and financial services, are bearing the brunt of AI-driven attacks, which are primarily carried out through deepfake impersonation and AI-powered malware that are becoming cheaper and easier to deploy.
- AI is proving to be a double-edged sword in cybersecurity, as companies leveraging AI in their security operations are cutting breach costs by an average of $2 million, yet adoption remains uneven with only 18% applying AI agents to vulnerability management.