Hurdles organisations face in adopting AI for cybersecurity - the-star.co.ke

ADVERTISEMENT INFOGRAPHICS 21 January 2026 - 11:34 Hurdles organisations face in adopting AI for cybersecurity Many companies lack staff trained in both AI and cybersecurity, making it difficult to implement advanced tools effectively. by Rosa Mumanyi Share Audio By Vocalize As organisations increasingly turn to artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen their cybersecurity, several hurdles continue to slow adoption. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026, more than half of organisations (54%) cite insufficient knowledge or skills as a major barrier. Many companies lack staff trained in both AI and cybersecurity, making it difficult to implement advanced tools effectively. Another significant challenge is the need for human oversight. AI-generated security responses must be validated by humans before implementation, a process highlighted by 41% of organisations. This requirement slows response times and reduces the perceived efficiency gains of AI. Uncertainty about risk also deters adoption. Nearly 39% of organisations remain unsure about potential threats, such as unintended consequences of automated decisions or AI vulnerabilities that could be exploited. Financial constraints further complicate matters, with 36% reporting insufficient funds to deploy AI-driven solutions. High initial costs, ongoing maintenance, and specialised personnel needs create significant budget pressures. Finally, a lack of clarity around the business case affects adoption. About one-third of organisations (33%) struggle to define measurable benefits or ROI from AI in cybersecurity, making it harder to secure leadership support or justify investment. Overall, while AI offers promise in defending against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, these hurdles—skills gaps, validation requirements, risk uncertainty, limited funding, and unclear business justification—underscore the need for structured strategies, staff training, and clear investment frameworks to unlock AI’s full potential in cybersecurity. Related Articles Banks need to budget more for cybersecurity threats - CBK Banks currently spend upto Sh600 million annually to safeguard themselves against the vice. a y ago JACKTONE LAWI Business Cloud, AI and cybersecurity lead Africa’s 2025 tech trends Cloud computing, once considered a milestone on the road to transformation, has now become a backbone of business operations. 8mon ago BOSCO MARITA Technology From threats to strategy: Kenya’s cybersecurity year in review Government and private sector race to defend a rapidly digitising economy. 6mon ago Allan Kisia News ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT MOST POPULAR 1 Orengo to Ruto - Return Finance Bill 2026 to Parliament video 2 President Ruto hosts St John Ambulance Annual Parade at State House video 3 Let no life be lost, Murkomen urges ahead of Thursday News 4 UK PM considers future as pressure to quit mounts World 5 [PHOTOS] Uhuru graces commissioning mass of Catholic Women News 6 EXPLAINER: How far can US-Iran talks go? World 7 NGARI: Productivity: Kenya's real fiscal strategy Star-blogs 8 Solar firm picks Nairobi as regional hub in African expansion drive Nairobi 9 FKF sets August date for new SportPesa League season Football 10 MANENO: They compensated the dead, but protected the killers Siasa ADVERTISEMENT NEWS World Africa Corridors-of-power Infographics Podcasts Big-read Fact Checker News Brief Star-farmer Twitter Space Realtime Breakfast-briefing COUNTIES Rift-valley Nairobi North-eastern Coast Central Nyanza Western Eastern BUSINESS Kenya Markets Commentary OPINION Columnists Leader Star-blogs Cartoon SPORTS Football Athletics Rugby Tennis Golf Boxing Basketball SASA Lifestyle Technology Entertainment Society Fashion Food Travel Books Events OTHERS Health Siasa Climate Change Auctioneer In-pictures video PARTNER SITES: Mpasho Radio Jambo Songaplay Follow us: Advertise with us: +254 711 046 000 advertise@the-star.co.ke Privacy PolicyTerms and Conditions © The Star 2026. All rights reserved