New Research

The Global AI Security Readiness Report:
Is Your Organization Ready for AI-Driven Threats?

We surveyed 800 in-house security teams and 800 MSPs. See how your AI readiness compares, and where the gaps are.

Modern attacks are now coordinated chains of AI-enabled strikes, engineered to find the path of least resistance across an ever-expanding attack surface. We surveyed 800 in-house security teams and 800 MSPs across nine countries to understand how each is responding to the new AI-led chapter of cybersecurity, and how ready in-house teams really are.

Get the Report

60 %

of in-house teams have experienced or suspected a security incident in the past 24 months

44 %

average use of AI across security operations, well behind MSPs at 60%

42 %

say faster detection and response is their top investment priority for 2026

Key Findings

Incidents are hitting in-house teams harder and more often.

60% of in-house teams experienced or suspected a security incident in the last 24 months, compared to an average of 22% of MSP clients, and resource strain is the top-reported impact for both groups.
AI adoption is lagging where it matters.

In-house teams average 44% AI usage across security functions like alert triage, threat intelligence, and automated remediation, versus 60% for MSPs, a gap most say they want closed.

Budgets are rising, but so is tool sprawl.

78% of in-house teams plan to increase security spend this year, and teams are managing 5 tools on average, but 78% of organizations overall say tool sprawl is actively hindering threat mitigation.
AI-enabled phishing and identity-based attacks are the top priority.

40% of in-house teams rank AI-enabled social engineering as their most urgent threat to defend against in 2026, followed closely by identity-based attacks like credential theft and MFA fatigue.

Methodology

Cynet surveyed 800 Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and 800 in-house security teams to understand how small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are responding to the new AI-led chapter of cybersecurity. Respondents were based in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, the UK, and the U.S. Interviews were conducted by Sapio Research in March 2026 using an email invitation and an online survey. The analysis in this report is informed by Cynet’s Threat Intelligence, a collection of insights from original research, real-world metrics, news analysis, and data feeds.

Why We're Sharing This Research

AI is reshaping both sides of the threat landscape, and most in-house teams know they're not moving as fast as they'd like. This report benchmarks where your peers stand today, on AI adoption, incident exposure, tooling, and budget, so you can see exactly where to focus next.