Tenable®, Inc, the Exposure Management company, has published a new study revealing that 73% of organisations in India plan to harness generative AI enhance security measures and align IT objectives with broader business goals. Despite this surge in adoption, the study also reveals a worrying trend, as only 8% of organisations demonstrate high confidence in effectively implementing GenAI technologies.
The study identified two major challenges hindering Indian organisations from utilising or optimising
AI technologies: a lack of technological maturity and uncertainty about the applicability of AI
within their operations
.“Despite the rise of AI, many Indian businesses are still developing their technology maturity and
often lack the resources or skills needed to properly create, train, and implement AI, as well as
maintain high standards of data governance,” said Nigel Ng, Senior Vice President, Tenable APJ. “The
increasing use of cloud services, virtualisation platforms, microservices, applications, and code
libraries introduces additional challenges, such as vulnerabilities, cloud misconfigurations, and risks
associated with identity access, groups, and permissions. These factors are prompting security
professionals in India to explore the best ways to leverage AI for preventive security efforts.”
The data is drawn from the Indian edition of “How to Discover, Analyse and Respond to Threats
Faster with Generative AI,” a commissioned study of 826 IT and cybersecurity professionals, including 52 Indian respondents conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Tenable. The research sheds light on the growing adoption of generative AI within Indian businesses, marking a significant pivot in their strategic focus. It reveals a sense of hopeful anticipation among security leaders regarding the capacity of GenAI to enhance security measures. Nevertheless, it also accentuates the intricate nature of the path towards AI integration, as organisations navigate the delicate balance between innovation and potential risks.
An aspect of concern highlighted by the study is the perception of GenAI as a greater security threat
than an opportunity among 40% of India organisations. This sentiment reflects widespread
apprehension regarding cybersecurity risks associated with GenAI implementation. Internal misuse
of GenAI emerges as a prominent concern, with 67% of respondents expressing worry about
potential misuse within their organisations. Additionally, 60% of respondents say that providing
sensitive data to open-source GenAI puts them at risk of intellectual property theft.
Despite facing significant challenges in adopting AI technologies, cybersecurity and IT leaders in India
are optimistic about the potential benefits of generative AI. They see opportunities for improvement
in several key areas: 31% believe generative AI can enhance preventive threat response, 42% think it
can automate security measures, and 40% feel it can improve actionability.
To harness the full potential of AI, these organisations are focusing on areas such as training and
upskilling cybersecurity professionals , implementing automated reporting and alerting
systems, and improving fraud detection capabilities .