Artificial Intelligence is changing the way we work, but it’s also changing the way we worry. Business leaders are increasingly concerned about how AI could expose sensitive data, enable more convincing phishing attacks, or be misused by employees without oversight. The fear isn’t just about what AI can do, it’s about what it might do if left unchecked. These concerns are valid, and they’re growing. But with the right strategy, AI doesn’t have to be a risk. It can be a powerful tool for protection, resilience, and trust.
The New Face of Cyber Threats:
As artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated, so do the tactics of cybercriminals bringing in a new era of threats where phishing emails, voice scams, and even AI-generated content are becoming harder to differentiate from legitimate communication. As these threats continue to evolve, so should our defenses against them.
AI-Generated Phishing
Phishing is one of the most common cyber threats, but AI is making it more dangerous than ever. With the help of large language models, attackers can now generate highly convincing emails that mimic tone, grammar, and context with near-human accuracy. These messages are often tailored to specific individuals or roles, making them harder to detect and more likely to succeed. In a recent study, AI-generated phishing emails achieved a click-through rate of 54%, compared to just 12% for traditional phishing emails*.
But the threat doesn’t stop at email. Voice phishing, or “vishing,” has seen a staggering 442% increase in operations between the first and second half of 2024, driven largely by the rise of AI voice synthesis tools**. These technologies allow attackers to clone voices and conduct real-time phone scams that sound authentic, often impersonating executives, vendors, or even family members. As AI continues to evolve, phishing is no longer just a written threat, it’s become a more advanced threat that requires protection to evolve with it.
Solution: Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Threat Detection
AI-powered NLP systems analyze emails, chat logs, and social media to detect phishing attempts, malicious URLs, and suspicious content. These insights feed into:
- Advanced email filtering tools.
- DNS firewalls.
- User awareness training.
This layered approach helps stop phishing before it reaches the inbox and educates users to recognize threats when they do.
Prompt Injection, Jailbreaking & AI Supply Chain Risks
One of the most concerning trends in attackers exploiting AI tools is the rise of prompt injection and jailbreaking attacks. These techniques manipulate AI systems into bypassing their built-in safety controls, often by disguising malicious instructions as benign input. Once compromised, these models can be tricked into generating harmful content, leaking sensitive data, or executing unauthorized actions.
Through the use of malicious AI models and fake AI platforms, cybercriminals are now distributing jailbroken or custom-built large language models designed specifically for phishing, malware generation, and fraud. These tools are marketed openly on dark web forums and are increasingly accessible to low-skill attackers. According to a Gartner study, 2 in 5 organizations surveyed had an AI privacy breach or security incident, of which 1 in 4 were malicious attacks***.
The AI supply chain is also under threat. Open-source model repositories and third-party AI tools can be poisoned or tampered with, introducing backdoors or vulnerabilities into enterprise environments. In one case, over 100 compromised AI models were uploaded to a popular open-source platform, potentially exposing thousands of developers to hidden threats.
Solution: Secure AI Governance & Model Sourcing
When it comes to threats like prompt injection and jailbroken models, the key is visibility, control, and trust in the tools you’re using. We guide clients in establishing secure AI usage policies and sourcing practices. This includes:
- Helping teams identify and restrict the use of unauthorized or unvetted AI tools (often referred to as “shadow AI”).
- Recommending enterprise-grade AI platforms that are built with guardrails, compliance features, and centralized oversight.
- Supporting the implementation of monitoring tools that can detect unusual AI behavior, such as models generating unexpected outputs or accessing sensitive data.
User Misuse – Compromised Accounts & Sensitive Data Exposure
Users often unknowingly expose sensitive information through their interactions with AI tools. In enterprise environments, 1 in every 80 prompts contains high-risk data, such as personally identifiable information, financial records, or proprietary business content. An additional 1 in 13 prompts includes potentially sensitive information. These inputs, if not properly governed, can lead to data leakage, compliance violations, and reputational damage**.
These threats, along with others, are evolving rapidly and becoming more widespread and harder to detect using traditional security tools.
Solution: Adaptive Authentication & Prompt Monitoring
AI-driven authentication systems analyze user behavior during login attempts. If something seems off, they trigger additional verification steps—without disrupting legitimate users.
Meanwhile, prompt monitoring tools can flag and block sensitive data before it’s submitted to AI platforms, reducing the risk of leaks and compliance violations.
Solutions That Scale with Confidence
We help our clients move from reactive to proactive security measures by focusing on four key areas:
1. Building Awareness
We start by helping teams understand how AI threats work and where their vulnerabilities lie. This includes training on how to recognize AI-generated phishing, avoid risky prompt inputs, and identify signs of deepfake manipulation.
2. Managing AI Use Responsibly
We guide organizations in setting up policies and tools to monitor AI usage without compromising on innovation. This includes identifying unauthorized tools, setting boundaries for prompt content, and ensuring employees know what’s safe to share.
3. Deploying AI-Enhanced Security
We implement solutions that use machine learning to detect anomalies, automate threat responses, and analyze behavior patterns in real time. These tools can identify threats faster and more accurately than traditional systems.
4. Supporting Compliance
We help ensure that AI adoption aligns with regulatory standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA. This includes data classification, access controls, and audit trails that support compliance and reduce risk.
The Next Step in Smarter Security
Through our partnerships, we offer a portfolio of AI-ready security solutions that help organizations be prepared for anything. These solutions are designed to grow with your business, so you can scale securely and confidently.
AI is here to stay. The question isn’t whether to adopt it, it’s how to do so safely and strategically. With a guided approach, AI can be a force for good in cybersecurity. It can help detect threats faster, respond more effectively, and protect your data more intelligently.
We believe it’s our responsibility to help clients navigate these challenges with clarity and confidence, and provide tools utilizing AI to bring your security to the next level. Contact us for more information on how to bring your security to the next level.