HiddenLayer’s recent survey of 150 IT security and data science leaders has uncovered some alarming statistics regarding the state of AI security in businesses today. With 98% of companies viewing some of their AI models as vital for business success, it is concerning that 77% have experienced breaches in their AI systems over the past year.
The extensive use of AI in modern businesses, with an average of 1,689 AI models actively used by companies, has made AI security a top priority. In response, 94% of IT leaders are dedicating funds to safeguard their AI in 2024. However, confidence in these investments is mixed, with only 61% expressing high confidence in their budget allocation.
The report highlights the various risks associated with AI usage, including manipulation for biased or harmful information, creation of harmful content like malware and propaganda, development of deep fake images and videos, and providing access to dangerous or illegal information for malicious actors.
Some of the major types of attacks on AI systems include adversarial machine learning attacks, generative AI system attacks, and supply chain attacks. These attacks pose significant security challenges for organizations, with 61% of IT leaders acknowledging shadow AI as a problem within their organizations and 89% expressing concern about security vulnerabilities associated with integrating third-party AIs.
To address these challenges, organizations are advised to follow best practices for securing AI, such as discovery and asset management, risk assessment and threat modeling, data security and privacy measures, model robustness and validation, secure development practices, and continuous monitoring and incident response.
As industries continue to benefit from the efficiency and innovation brought about by AI, it is crucial for organizations to prioritize AI security to protect their systems and data from potential breaches and attacks. With the growing demand for assistance in establishing robust AI security measures, it is clear that organizations need to take proactive steps to secure their AI systems and mitigate the risks associated with AI usage.