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Cybersecurity

Generative AI in cybersecurity

New defenses, new threats: What AI and Gen AI bring to cybersecurity

As cybersecurity incidents continue to rise, and threats like phishing, ransomware, and deep fakes become more sophisticated, organizations must strengthen their cybersecurity measures. 

In the latest report from the Capgemini Research Institute, New defenses, new threats: What AI and Gen AI bring to cybersecurity, explores the role that AI and Gen AI play in cybersecurity – both as a threat and a means of defense.

Our research shows that over 90% of organizations experienced a breach last year, a significant increase from 51% in 2021. The financial impact of these breaches over the last three years is severe, with around half of organizations reporting estimated losses exceeding $50 million.

Threat actors use AI and Gen AI for more sophisticated attacks, including malware creation, social engineering, and phishing. An overwhelming majority (97%) of organizations reported security incidents related to Gen AI in the past year. Organizations must contend with an expanded attack surface due to risks such as prompt injection, vulnerabilities in AI-integrated applications, shadow AI, and internal misuse. Further, the entire lifecycle of Gen AI solutions —from enterprise data collection and model customization to development and maintenance —must be secured.

However, despite the cybersecurity challenges related to AI and Gen AI, organizations increasingly rely on AI to strengthen their security measures. Three in five believe AI is essential for effective threat response, and many are seeing improved threat detection times. More than 60% of organizations believe Gen AI will strengthen cybersecurity in the long term.

Many organizations already benefit from AI and experiment with Gen AI to generate threat intelligence and vulnerability assessments.

To safeguard operations, organizations must develop a clear strategy for integrating AI and Gen AI into existing security systems. This means continuously reassessing the security landscape to identify new risks, acquiring necessary infrastructure, including advanced data management systems and cloud computing resources, establishing robust policies and governance to ensure data safety and integrity, investing in AI and Gen AI-based solutions to enhance security operations center (SOC) systems, providing comprehensive AI cybersecurity training for employees, and fostering a culture of risk awareness among employees.

Download the full report to learn more about how AI and Gen AI can transform your cybersecurity strategy.

Meet our experts

Marco Pereira

Global Head of Cybersecurity, Cloud Infrastructure Services
Marco is an industry-recognized cybersecurity thought leader and strategist with over 25 years of leadership and hands-on experience. He has a proven track record of successfully implementing highly complex, large-scale IT transformation projects. Known for his visionary approach, Marco has been instrumental in shaping and executing numerous strategic cybersecurity initiatives. Marco holds a master’s degree in information systems and computer engineering, as well as a Master of Business Administration (MBA). His unique blend of technical expertise and business acumen enables him to bridge the gap between technology and strategy, driving innovation and achieving organizational goals.

Marjorie Bordes

Vice President, Group Cyber Defense Operations
Marjorie has over 15 years’ experience in threat intelligence, crisis management, incident response and transformation programs, working in both the private and public sectors.

Jérôme Desbonnet

Cybersecurity CTIO & Chief Security ArchitectCapgemini
Jérôme is the Cybersecurity CTIO and Chief Security Architect, leading major security programs and innovative solutions. With extensive experience in various high-profile roles, Jérôme excels in cybersecurity strategy, architecture, and operations, ensuring robust protection for clients.

Robert Engels

Vice President, CTIO Capgemini I&D North and Central Europe | Head of Generative AI Lab
Robert is an innovation lead and a thought leader in several sectors and regions, and holds the position of Chief Technology Officer for Northern and Central Europe in our Insights & Data Global Business Line. Based in Norway, he is a known lecturer, public speaker, and panel moderator. Robert holds a PhD in artificial intelligence from the Technical University of Karlsruhe (KIT), Germany.

Steve Jones

Expert in Big Data and Analytics
Steve is the founder of Capgemini’s businesses in Cloud, SaaS, and Big Data, a published author in journals such as the Financial Times and IEEE Software. He is also the original creator of the first unified architecture for Big Fast Managed data, the Business Data Lake. He works with clients on delivering large-scale data solutions and the secure adoption of AI, he is the Capgemini lead for Collaborate Data Ecosystems and Trusted AI.

Babu Mauze

Babu Mauze

Executive Vice President & Head of Cloud Infrastructure, Capgemini Financial Services

Leonardo Carissimi

Expert in Cybersecurity