Security leaders agree that the benefits of embracing AI outweigh the risks, but those risks are posing significant challenges. In fact, 98% of large tech executives report pausing internal genAI initiatives due to security risk factors.
Thanks to a new survey by Tines, we know exactly what’s holding organizations back, and what CISOs are most concerned about when it comes to AI adoption.
In CISO perspectives: separating the reality of AI from the hype, 53 CISOs across the US, Europe and Australia shared the challenges they’re facing in deploying AI tools and systems. The results were illuminating, with data privacy concerns, insufficient staff and lack of required skills among the biggest challenges.
So what can security leaders do to remove these blockers to innovation? It’s still early in our collective AI journey, so while we don’t have all the answers yet, we can draw inspiration from security community leaders who have shared their approaches.
Let’s take a closer look at the biggest AI challenges and how CISOs are working to solve them.
The biggest blockers to AI adoption, according to CISOs (and how to remove them)
1. Data privacy concerns (66%)
The problem
Depending on how we use it, AI can put sensitive information at risk. With regulatory compliance and data breaches always on a security leader’s mind, it’s not surprising that data privacy was the most commonly cited challenge among survey respondents.
The solution
There doesn’t need to be a trade-off between data privacy and the usefulness of AI technology – Security leaders should look for solutions that offer strong security guarantees, such as no logging or training, to prevent unauthorized access to information and protect data privacy. The team at Tines put together an AI buyer’s guide for security leaders with more detail on this, including a handy list of questions to ask when evaluating AI tools.
2. Insufficient staff and lack of required skills (60%)
The problem
AI initiatives can be slowed down by a lack of team members with experience using AI tools, prompt engineering skills, and a thorough understanding of AI’s intricacies and shortcomings.
The solution
Most CISOs don’t have the luxury of expanding their teams to fuel AI adoption, but there are ways to build on their current team:
- Upskill and reskill: Encourage team members to become AI subject matter experts (SMEs) through continuous training, workshops and knowledge-sharing sessions and by providing incentives, whether they’re financial or tied to career advancement and recognition.
- Automate routine tasks: Leverage AI-enhanced workflow automation to free up team members for higher-value work like integrating AI technologies.
- Factor AI skills into the hiring process: Incorporate AI proficiency into job descriptions and hiring criteria to gradually plug the AI skills gap.
3. Misaligned opinions around priorities and risks (51%)
The problem
Teams in security, IT and senior leadership bring different perspectives on AI, so it’s only natural that they’ll have differing opinions about priorities and risks. Problems arise when these perspectives lead to internal friction and slow down decision-making.
The solution
Form a cross-functional group to align on AI priorities and risks across the organization. Bringing together team members from various departments can help develop a unified strategy and promote continuous learning around AI.
4. Inflexible technologies (49%)
The problem
Rigid, outdated technologies can slow down the implementation of new AI solutions. Legacy systems tend not to support the flexibility required for seamless AI deployment, leading to inefficiencies and even increased security vulnerabilities.
The solution
Look for AI tools that are designed to integrate well with your existing tech stack, both internal and external. They should be adaptable, scalable and able to work across various platforms and environments. Effective workflow automation can be incredibly useful in bridging capability gaps.
One of the most interesting aspects of this report is the complexity of CISO feelings towards AI. While most CISOs surveyed believe the benefits of AI outweigh the risks, there’s also a palpable sense of AI fatigue in their responses. As one CISO put it, “I’m tired of it already.”
It’s a valuable reminder that tapping into the full potential of AI isn’t simple or easy. But if we take a strategic approach that includes AI-enhanced workflow solutions, continuous skill development and alignment of organizational priorities, we can certainly afford to be optimistic about the future.
Learn more about how CISOs are tackling their biggest AI challenges in Tines’ new report CISO perspectives: separating the reality of AI from the hype.
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