U.S. IT professionals now rely on artificial intelligence (AI) as a key component of their cybersecurity strategy. GetApp's 6th Annual Data Security Report finds that 64% of IT and security professionals see AI as a vital defense against the growing sophistication of cyberattacks.

The report, which gathered insights from 4,000 IT professionals globally, shows a growing acceptance of AI's role in strengthening cybersecurity. Notably, 45% of U.S. respondents have identified AI solutions for network and cloud security as their top investment priorities for the coming year. In response to the rising complexity of threats, 80% of them anticipate increasing their cybersecurity budgets in 2025.

Survey insights prove the widespread adoption of AI-assisted cybersecurity tools, with 90% of U.S. companies using them in some capacity. AI-driven threat detection and monitoring stand out as the most used features, ahead of automation. Top functionalities include real-time monitoring (48%), advanced malware detection (46%), threat intelligence integration (43%), and routine task automation (41%).

To help IT leaders capitalize on AI's full potential, the report offers three key recommendations for integrating AI into cybersecurity strategies:

1. Plan around AI's cyberthreat prevention strengths: Clearly define the goals for AI usage and prioritize areas where AI can enhance protection, such as network security, cloud security, and threat detection.
2. Prioritize human-in-the-loop (HITL) approaches: While AI can automate tasks and enhance protection, human intervention is necessary to avoid errors and ensure compliance with ethical AI principles. Provide sufficient security training to empower staff to effectively use AI tools.
3. Get data AI-ready: Ensure the availability of quality data to train AI systems. Decide whether to use public or proprietary data sets and focus on data management and governance to organize data in a readable and error-free format.

"AI is becoming a vital tool for managing the sheer scale of modern cyber threats," says David Jani, security analyst at GetApp. "However, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. Companies that use AI in their cybersecurity strategies must ensure that human oversight remains part of the process to mitigate risks like data poisoning and over-reliance on automation."

Recent high-profile cyberattacks, like those targeting hospitals and critical infrastructure, have demonstrated the devastating impact of inadequate security measures. For example, the 2023 ransomware attack on a major U.S. hospital chain led to significant disruptions in patient care, highlighting the dire need for robust cyber defenses.

Read GetApp's 6th Annual Data Security Report for more insights and recommendations on how businesses can protect themselves against cyberattacks through AI-enhanced technology.