New research from IBM indicates a significant rise in AI-related security breaches affecting UK businesses, with over 1 in 5 firms experiencing such an incident in the past year, according to IT Pro.
IBM's 2026 Cost of a Data Breach report highlights a 56% surge in AI-driven cyber attacks, leading to an average cost of $6 million per breach. Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting AI systems and leveraging the technology for more sophisticated attacks.
Around 20% of organizations reported breaches where AI models or applications were the direct target, with weaknesses in surrounding systems like compromised APIs and cloud misconfigurations being the most common entry points. Deepfake impersonation emerged as the most prevalent AI-enabled attack, cited by 45% of respondents, alongside growing AI-powered malware and phishing campaigns.
Despite the escalating threats, UK firms are planning to increase cybersecurity investments, with 61% intending to bolster spending on areas like incident response and AI governance. Globally, 85% of organizations plan similar security budget increases in response to advanced AI cyber capabilities.
Source: IT Pro
Kelley Damore is Chief Content Officer at CyberRisk Alliance, where she leads content strategy across the company’s digital brands, research, communities and live events serving CISOs and security practitioners. At CyberRisk Alliance, she is focused on delivering 365-day engagement, trusted journalism and actionable insights to help security leaders navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape.
Kelley Damore is Chief Content Officer at CyberRisk Alliance, where she leads content strategy across the company’s digital brands, research, communities and live events serving CISOs and security practitioners. At CyberRisk Alliance, she is focused on delivering 365-day engagement, trusted journalism and actionable insights to help security leaders navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape.
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