Excerpt from SecurityBrief Article, Published on December 11, 2025
More than a third of organisations changed their security strategies over the past year in response to artificial intelligence – driven threats, according to new research from Netwrix.
Organisations around the world are rethinking cybersecurity as AI emerges not just as a tool, but as a major risk factor. The 2025 Cybersecurity Trends Report from Netwrix — based on feedback from 2,150 IT and security professionals across 121 countries — found that 37% of those surveyed adjusted their security strategy because of AI – based attacks. Nearly 30% said their businesses already use AI internally and now consider those systems critical assets requiring robust security controls.
As the threat landscape evolves, many firms are embracing AI – based cybersecurity solutions. According to the report, 28% of organisations saw improved detection and response after deploying security tools powered by AI. Roughly 20% of respondents even offloaded part of their IT or security workload to AI – driven systems — a sign that AI is becoming a central pillar of modern security operations.
The shift is dramatic. In 2023, only 9% of organisations named deployment of AI – based tools among their top five IT priorities; by 2025 that share surged to 26%, representing a 189% increase in two years. This change underscores how AI is now a core factor in shaping cybersecurity strategies and IT investment decisions.
A key focus area is identity and access management. According to the findings, identity – based attacks remain a top concern. Attackers continue to rely heavily on compromised passwords — often amplified in speed, scale, and sophistication by AI – enabled attack methods. On the defensive side, organisations are turning to AI – powered tools to quickly spot and respond to identity threats, helping security teams act fast and with precision.
The rise of AI – enabled attacks comes at a time when many organisations face staff shortages in security teams. This talent gap has made AI – powered tools even more attractive, offering automation, speed, and efficiency. As one executive noted: in this “AI arms race,” the companies that stay ahead will be those that leverage AI to detect and neutralize identity and data risks with speed and accuracy
This shift marks a turning point: AI is no longer a futuristic possibility. It is reshaping cybersecurity priorities, influencing how businesses protect identity, data, and access across hybrid cloud and AI – powered infrastructures.
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