TLDR: A new report from Accenture indicates that a mere one in ten organizations globally are adequately prepared to defend against the escalating threat of AI-powered cyberattacks. The study highlights a significant gap between rapid AI adoption and current cybersecurity defenses, with a vast majority of firms lacking essential strategies and capabilities.
Only a fraction of global organizations are equipped to handle the growing wave of AI-driven cyber threats, according to Accenture’s latest ‘State of Cybersecurity Resilience 2025’ report. The comprehensive study, which surveyed 2,286 cybersecurity and technology executives across 17 countries, reveals that a staggering 90% of organizations are unprepared to secure their AI-driven future.
The report categorizes nearly two-thirds (63%) of companies into an ‘Exposed Zone,’ signifying a critical lack of both cohesive cybersecurity strategies and the technical capabilities necessary to counter rapidly evolving AI-augmented threats. This alarming statistic underscores a significant disparity, as the pace of AI adoption has far outstripped the development of robust enterprise defenses.
Further data from the report indicates widespread deficiencies in security practices. A substantial 77% of organizations are reported to lack essential data and AI security practices crucial for protecting business models, cloud systems, and data pipelines. Moreover, governance around generative AI remains nascent, with only 22% of organizations having clear policies and training in place for its use. Data protection measures are also lagging, as only a quarter (25%) fully leverage encryption methods and access controls to safeguard sensitive information.
Paolo Dal Cin, global lead for Accenture Security, emphasized 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. Cybersecurity can no longer be an afterthought — it must be embedded by design into every AI-driven initiative.” Daniel Kendzior, Accenture’s Global Data and AI Security lead, added that “The rise of generative AI brings unique challenges and opportunities that require continuous system monitoring and secure design from the ground up.”
Regional analysis within the report highlights varying levels of preparedness. Only 14% of North American firms and 11% of European firms have achieved advanced resilience. In contrast, 71% of Asia-Pacific companies remain in the ‘Exposed Zone,’ facing heightened operational and financial risks. The report identifies the top 10% of organizations as being in the ‘Reinvention Ready Zone,’ characterized by an adaptive and resilient security posture that continuously evolves against emerging threats.
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Accenture’s findings underscore the critical need for organizations to proactively integrate security into their AI initiatives, from initial development to deployment and ongoing operations, to build resilient AI systems and leverage AI itself to strengthen cyber defenses.
