Zscaler 2026 AI Threat Report: 91% Year-over-Year Surge in AI Activity Creates Growing Oversight Gap for Global Enterprises - Yahoo Finance

This is a paid press release. Contact the press release distributor directly with any inquiries. Zscaler 2026 AI Threat Report: 91% Year-over-Year Surge in AI Activity Creates Growing Oversight Gap for Global Enterprises Zscaler, Inc. January 27, 2026 6 min read StockStory Top Pick ZS +1.50% Zscaler, Inc. Rapid AI adoption creates a critical security gap between innovation and security, requiring organizations to adopt an AI security platform built on Zero Trust 2026 ThreatLabz AI Security Report Transactions by industry vertical · GlobeNewswire Inc. News Highlights  AI adoption is accelerating faster than enterprise oversight. Despite 200% AI usage growth in key sectors, many organizations still lack a basic inventory of AI models and embedded AI features, elevating AI governance to a board-level priority. Enterprise AI systems are vulnerable at machine speed. Zscaler experts found most enterprise AI systems could be compromised in just 16 minutes, with critical flaws uncovered in 100% of systems analyzed. AI capabilities are proliferating rapidly across the enterprise. The number of applications driving AI/ML transactions quadrupled year-over-year to more than 3,400, increasing complexity and reducing centralized visibility. AI is becoming a high-volume conduit for sensitive enterprise data. Data transfers to AI/ML applications surged 93%, totaling more than 18,000 terabytes which paints an expanding target on AI platforms for cybercriminals across the globe. SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zscaler, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZS), the leader in cloud security, today released the findings of the ThreatLabz 2026 AI Security Report, warning that enterprises are unprepared for the next wave of AI‑driven cyber risk, even as AI becomes embedded in business operations. Based on an analysis of nearly one trillion AI/ML transactions across the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange™ platform between January and December of 2025, the research shows that enterprises are reaching a tipping point where AI has transitioned from a productivity tool to a primary vector for autonomous, machine-speed conflict. The report analyzes AI and ML traffic together because enterprise AI systems rely on machine learning models to operate at scale. "AI is no longer just a productivity tool but a primary vector for autonomous, machine-speed attacks by both crimeware and nation-state," said Deepen Desai, EVP Cybersecurity at Zscaler. "In the age of Agentic AI, an intrusion can move from discovery to lateral movement to data theft in minutes, rendering traditional defenses obsolete. To win this race, organizations must fight AI with AI by deploying an intelligent Zero Trust architecture that shuts down the potential paths for the attackers of all kinds." AI in the Enterprise: Emerging Trends and Security Issues from the 2026 Report AI Adoption is Outpacing Oversight AI usage now spans every business function, yet in many sectors, adoption is scaling faster than the C-suite can manage. Finance & Insurance remains the most AI-driven sector by volume, accounting for 23% of all AI/ML traffic, while the Technology and Education sectors recorded explosive year-over-year growth in transactions — 202% and 184%, respectively. Despite this, Zscaler research reveals a critical gap: many organizations still lack a basic inventory of active AI models and embedded features, leaving them unaware of exactly where sensitive data is exposed. Story Continues View Comments Terms and Privacy Policy Privacy Dashboard