Digital transformation is accelerating, but security is falling behind. Companies are rapidly adopting cloud technologies and AI, while simultaneously losing control over their data. The latest report shows that this is exactly where the greatest risk emerges. AI is no longer just a tool – it acts as an internal user with access to sensitive information. The problem is that organizations lack sufficient control over what AI does and what data it uses. If a weakness exists, AI can amplify it quickly and at scale.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that many companies lack visibility into their own data. They don’t know exactly where it is stored, who has access to it, or how it is protected. In some cases, sensitive information is not even encrypted, which, when combined with AI, significantly increases the risk of data breaches.
Companies are losing control over their own data. Only 34% of organizations know where all their data resides, just 39% can properly classify it, and 47% of sensitive cloud data remains unencrypted.
This is not a “moderate risk.” This is chaos. Now add AI into the equation – analyzing, combining, and using that data. The result is a massive increase in the likelihood of data leakage or misuse.
A fundamental shift has also occurred in security itself. It is no longer about protecting the network, but about protecting identity. Most modern attacks begin with stolen credentials such as passwords, API keys, or tokens. Once attackers gain access to these, they have direct entry to systems and data. At the same time, new threats are emerging, including deepfake attacks. Companies are facing fraud attempts where attackers impersonate executives or manipulate information, leading not only to financial losses but also serious reputational damage.
Although organizations are investing more in security than ever before, many still rely on outdated approaches. The biggest mistake is the order of execution: companies deploy AI first and address security later. By then, risks are already fully in motion.
This flawed sequence is one of the most critical issues today. Organizations implement AI to gain a competitive edge and only afterwards consider security. At that point, systems are already integrated, data is distributed, and risks are exponentially higher. Security should be a foundational part of the architecture, not an afterthought.
To change this trajectory, companies must fundamentally rethink their approach. The priority is to gain full control over data – knowing where it resides, who accesses it, and how it is used. Equally essential is encrypting all sensitive data without exception and enforcing strict identity management based on zero trust principles. This means minimizing access to only what is necessary and continuously verifying it.
The reality is simple: AI amplifies existing weaknesses. Ignoring this does not just lead to isolated incidents – it puts the entire business at risk.
Download the full report to learn more.
