A recent Lenovo research report highlights a critical cybersecurity gap, revealing that 65% of IT leaders admit their defenses are outdated and unable to withstand AI-enabled attacks. The study, part of Lenovo's third Work Reborn report, "Reinforcing the Modern Workplace," further indicates that only 31% feel confident in defending against these threats.
The research, which surveyed 600 IT leaders across 12 countries in October and November 2024, reveals that while AI is driving business improvements and efficiency gains, it is also fueling a new wave of cybercrime that most businesses are ill-equipped to defend against. Modern AI-driven threats can mimic legitimate behavior, mutate to avoid detection, and span multiple domains—from cloud to endpoints, applications, and data repositories.
Top concerns among IT leaders include AI-powered external threats such as polymorphic malware, AI-driven phishing, and deepfake impersonation, which are faster, more convincing, and harder to detect. Additionally, 70% of IT leaders see employee misuse of AI as a major risk, and more than 60% state that AI agents create a new class of insider threat they are unprepared to manage. The protection of AI systems themselves, including models, training data, and prompts, is now a high-value target that must be defended against manipulation and compromise.
Rakshit Ghura, Vice President & General Manager, Lenovo Digital Workplace Solutions, stated that “AI has changed the balance of power in cybersecurity.” To keep up, organizations need “intelligence that adapts as fast as the threats,” which means “fighting AI with AI.” Lenovo advocates for adopting AI-driven strategies to counter threats that learn, adapt, and evolve in real time . The company is positioned to deliver end-to-end solutions that embed AI security into the digital workplace.
However, barriers to progress include complex IT environments, a lack of skilled staff, and budget constraints. The report underscores the urgent need for enterprises to upgrade their defenses to meet the evolving landscape of AI-powered cyber threats.