Hornetsecurity by Proofpoint AI Risk Report 2026: Over Half of UK Business Leaders Unsure They Can Defend Against AI-Powered Cyber Attacks - Yahoo Finance

This is a paid press release. Contact the press release distributor directly with any inquiries. Hornetsecurity by Proofpoint AI Risk Report 2026: Over Half of UK Business Leaders Unsure They Can Defend Against AI-Powered Cyber Attacks PR Newswire Mon, April 13, 2026 at 7:01 PM EDT 5 min read Over a quarter (26%) of UK business leaders are not using AI to enhance security More than half of businesses have been victims of a cyberattack, with 50% of UK leaders concerned over teams' abilities to manage AI threats 91% of UK business leaders said AI is a priority for them in the next two years LONDON, April 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- More than half of UK business leaders are unprepared for threats posed by advanced AI-powered cyber threats, according to new research from Hornetsecurity by Proofpoint, a leading cybersecurity firm. Over 50% of companies say they are uncertain whether they have the expertise to prevent an AI-powered attack. A survey of 500 business leaders from across the UK revealed that while cyberattacks have increased for 54% of the respondents (versus 45% two years ago), over 50% of companies say they are uncertain whether they have the expertise to prevent an AI-powered attack. The findings also highlight that more than half of UK business leaders have been victims of a cyberattack, and 79% of respondents said they think AI has increased the sophistication of cybersecurity attacks. Commenting on the findings, Daniel Hofmann, CEO of Hornetsecurity by Proofpoint, said: "Cyber-attacks are on the rise, and advanced AI tools are only accelerating the threat. While 69% of businesses are integrating AI into their defences, it's highly concerning that a third have yet to do so. Now more than ever, it's critical for businesses to recognise the need to integrate AI in their own security strategies so they can stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated AI attacks." AI is benefiting attackers The sophistication of AI is progressing at a rapid rate, and is being effectively exploited by cyber-attackers and threat actors. The technology enables them to automate and develop highly sophisticated malicious attacks on a global scale, increasing the number of attacks and victims. The double-edged sword of AI presents a conundrum for professionals across the sectors: while 42% of respondents in the UK see AI as a positive opportunity, a majority of businesses are not deploying it effectively enough yet, giving attackers the opportunity to gain an advantage. Despite AI defence technologies sitting at the cutting edge of cybersecurity, a critical adoption gap remains: businesses are not yet fully leveraging these advanced defences available to them. Alarmingly, over a quarter of UK business leaders (26%) are still not using AI to enhance their cybersecurity defences. Meanwhile, cyber-attackers are using the latest AI to their advantage, effectively lowering the barrier to entry and driving an increase in sophisticated attacks. Story Continues View Comments Terms and Privacy Policy Privacy Dashboard