80% of enterprises lack AI security foundations Accenture reports

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Key Findings

• 78% of businesses lack foundational cybersecurity capabilities to protect AI models, data pipelines and cloud infrastructure
• Only 42% of organizations balance AI development with adequate security investment
• AI spending outpaced security budgets 1.6:1 in 2023-2024, projected to grow to 2.6:1 in 2025

Survey Details

Accenture's State of Cybersecurity 2025 report surveyed 2,300+ security and technology executives across 24 industries, revealing critical gaps in enterprise AI security preparedness.

Growing Risks

• Speed over security: Organizations prioritize rapid AI integration, often treating security as an afterthought
• Talent shortage: 80% of executives cite cybersecurity skills gaps as major obstacle
• Automation risks: AI agents and automation can "create bigger problems faster" according to Octopus Deploy's Steve Fenton

Industry Response

Some organizations are taking action:

• 43% have reassessed privacy measures to address AI threats
• Security leaders warn against "costly and inefficient retrofitting" when controls are omitted from initial AI planning

Expert Perspective

"Organizations are prioritizing speed and innovation over security," Accenture noted. This creates a dangerous pattern where security controls are frequently added too late in the development process.

For more on AI security risks, see CIO Dive's executive survey.