TLDR: Accenture has announced a multi-year strategic expansion in artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity, driven by its ‘State of Cybersecurity Resilience 2025’ report. The report reveals that a vast majority of organizations (90%) are ill-equipped to defend against AI-augmented cyber threats, prompting Accenture to enhance its offerings and partnerships, notably with Microsoft, to provide AI-powered security solutions.
Accenture is embarking on a significant multi-year strategic expansion, placing a strong emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity. This move comes as the company’s ‘State of Cybersecurity Resilience 2025’ report highlights a critical global unpreparedness for evolving cyber threats, particularly those augmented by AI. The report, based on a survey of 2,286 cybersecurity and technology executives from large organizations worldwide, indicates that a staggering 90% of companies are not adequately prepared to secure their AI-driven future.
According to the findings, nearly two-thirds (63%) of organizations fall into the ‘Exposed Zone,’ signifying a lack of both a cohesive cybersecurity strategy and the necessary technical capabilities to combat modern threats. Furthermore, a significant 77% of organizations lack the foundational data and AI security practices essential for safeguarding critical business models, data pipelines, and cloud infrastructure.
Paolo Dal Cin, Global Lead, Accenture Security, underscored the urgency of the situation, stating, “Rising geopolitical tensions, economic volatility and increasingly complex operational environments, coupled with AI-augmented attacks, are leaving organizations more vulnerable to cyber risks. This report serves as a wake-up call that cybersecurity can no longer be an afterthought. It must be embedded by design into every AI-driven initiative.” He further emphasized that this proactive approach is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge, strengthening customer loyalty, and transforming cybersecurity into a business enabler.
In response to this escalating threat landscape, Accenture has expanded its partnership with Microsoft to deliver advanced AI-powered cybersecurity solutions. This collaboration aims to address the increasing speed, sophistication, and scale of cyber threats by combining Accenture’s deep cybersecurity expertise with Microsoft’s cutting-edge security technologies. The enhanced offerings will focus on four key areas: security operations center modernization, automated data and AI security, security-centric migration and consolidation, and enhanced identity and access management.
Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Security, commented on the partnership, asserting, “Security is a team sport—and together—Microsoft and Accenture are empowering customers with AI-driven, comprehensive solutions that help them stay ahead of evolving threats and unlock new levels of resilience.” These solutions are designed to strengthen clients’ defenses, improve operational efficiency, and reduce costs across hybrid environments.
Despite the rapid adoption of AI across enterprises, the report also points out that only 22% of organizations have implemented clear policies and training for generative AI use. Moreover, very few maintain a comprehensive inventory of AI systems, which is vital for managing supply chain risks. Data protection also remains a concern, with only 25% of organizations fully leveraging encryption methods and access controls to protect sensitive information.
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However, there is a growing recognition of AI’s potential. Executives acknowledge greater business potential for generative AI (83%) and plan to increase AI investments in 2025 (86%). Accenture advocates for designing AI systems with security integrated at every stage, maintaining resilient AI systems, and leveraging generative AI to automate security processes and detect threats earlier. Organizations in the ‘Reinvention-Ready Zone,’ which lead in cybersecurity, are 69% less likely to experience AI-powered cyberattacks and have a 1.5 times higher success rate in blocking attacks. This underscores the importance of an adaptive and resilient security posture that continuously evolves to counter emerging threats.
