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Elevating Cybersecurity with Agentic AI

In a rapidly evolving cyber landscape, Ivanti's recent study reveals that 87% of cybersecurity teams prioritize the integration of agentic AI technologies. This pivotal research underscores a crucial trend: security professionals are actively seeking innovative ways to combat escalating cyber threats. With 2026 on the horizon, the call for advanced solutions has never been more urgent.

The State of Cybersecurity: Key Insights

The 2026 State of Cybersecurity Report, released by Ivanti, encapsulates the opinions of over 1,200 cybersecurity professionals worldwide. Alarmingly, it highlights a troubling 'Cybersecurity Readiness Deficit' – an ever-widening gap between the increasing sophistication of cyber threats and the organizations' preparedness to defend against them. While AI is revolutionizing both defense strategies and the tactics of cybercriminals, a growing sentiment of optimism prevails among defenders. In fact, it was revealed that professionals are 2.4 times more likely to believe that defenders are harnessing AI as effectively, if not more so, than their adversaries.

The Rise of Agentic AI

Agentic AI refers to autonomous systems designed to make real-time decisions independently. Despite the cautious optimism around this technology, there remains a significant trust barrier. Nonetheless, 77% of surveyed security teams are already slightly comfortable with allowing these systems to operate without human oversight. This represents an essential milestone in the acceptance of automated cybersecurity measures.

While confidence in agentic AI is growing, the actual operationalization of such technologies remains limited. Notably, a mere 53% of teams currently leverage AI for cloud security policy enforcement. Meanwhile, applications in incident response workflows (44%), threat intelligence correlation (43%), and vulnerability response (42%) show room for further integration.

Bridging the IT-Security Divide

The report outlines a crucial disconnect between IT and security teams regarding cybersecurity priorities. Nearly 48% of security professionals express frustration that IT personnel do not prioritize cybersecurity issues promptly. This disconnect complicates exposure management, which thrives on close collaboration between the two departments. As such, Ivanti highlights the necessity for organizations to enhance communication regarding risk tolerances and response strategies.

Furthermore, the statistical data uncovered indicates fragmentation in how companies track cybersecurity metrics. While 60% employ business impact analyses to guide risk prioritization, reliance on outdated measures like mean time to remediate is prevalent. This reliance can falsely inflate perceptions of security effectiveness.

Deepfake Attacks: A New Era of Threats

Shockingly, the report notes that 77% of organizations have faced deepfake attacks, illustrating the advanced capabilities of current cybercriminal tactics. Personalized phishing emails, crafted using deepfake technology, have been encountered by over half (51%) of respondents. Yet, as the threat landscape evolves, only 30% of security professionals have confidence that their CEOs can identify such threats.

Addressing Workforce Stress

In addition to these challenges, significant stress is reported among cybersecurity professionals, with 43% acknowledging high stress levels that impair both mental and physical health. Moreover, 79% believe that stress negatively impacts their team's performance, underscoring an urgent need for support in managing workloads effectively.

The struggle for talent retention remains a primary obstacle to achieving cybersecurity excellence, highlighting an imperative for organizations to invest in their personnel.

Conclusion

Ivanti's findings paint a complex picture of the present cybersecurity landscape—a realm where optimism coexists with pressing challenges. As organizations strive to integrate agentic AI solutions while combatting deepening divides between departments, the pursuit of a more secure digital environment persists. For proactive cybersecurity strategies, organizations must address internal conflicts and harness the full potential of emerging technologies, assuring that they are not just keeping pace with threats but staying steps ahead.

For additional insights from Ivanti's research, visit Ivanti's website.