AI is supercharging cyber crime, and businesses are firmly in the crosshairs. Attacks are faster, smarter, and more difficult to spot than every before. For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), the question isn't if an attack will happen, but when.
Cyber criminals are using AI to create scams that look and sound real, and move at an unbelievable speed. These attacks - from fake CEO voices to cloned websites - are designed to fool even the most cautious of business owners, and the consequences can be devastating. One successful breach can drain your finances, damage trust with your customers, and stop operations entirely.
AI has transformed cyber crime, making attacks more convincing and more difficult to detect. Here's what to know about the tactics these malicious actors are using right now:
Phishing emails used to be easy to spot. Bad grammar, weird phrasing and obviously strange links gave them away, but not anymore. AI crafts flawless emails that mimic your team's tone and branding. Some attackers are even cloning websites to trick customers and partners into sharing their sensitive information.
Imagine transferring £10,000 because you got a call from someone that sounded exactly like your CEO. AI-generated videos and voices are making these scams frighteningly real. Deepfake tech is moving social engineering up to the next level, exploiting trust and getting past traditional safeguards.
Gone are the days where you need to be a skilled hacker to launch ransomware. AI-powered platforms are letting anyone rent attack tools to target businesses. These tools have dramatically lowered the barrier to entry, meaning there are more frequent and increasingly sophisticated attacks coming from less-experienced threat actors.
These threats aren't just clever tricks - they're designed to get past those traditional defences. Firewalls and antivirus software is no longer enough; criminals are using AI to stay ahead and they're doing it at a massive scale.
Cyber criminals know where to attack. They aren't looking for multi-million corporates that likely have a ton of software in place to defend against cyber incidents, they're looking at businesses that are easier to breach, and SMBs fit that profile. Here's why:
Unfortunately, hope isn't a security strategy. AI-driven threats move faster than your current defences. It's time to upgrade before you're the target.
You don't need to fight this alone. We help make AI an advantage, not a risk, because AI itself isn't the enemy - its misuse is. We provide proactive defence to help protect your business.
We can help integrate AI tools safely into your workflows so you can innovate without compromising your security.
Our teams provide continuous monitoring and oversight to catch and neutralise threats - including AI-driven ones - before they can cause damage.
We build usage policies around AI and train your staff to spot the warning signs. Your people are your first line of defence, and their awareness is theirs.
Every day you wait is a day cyber criminals get smarter. Let's start securing your business now, before your business becomes the target. Book a call in with us and take the first step towards protecting your business.