Cyberthreats are moving faster than SMBs: Readiness must accelerate

The cyberthreat landscape has been evolving for years. But there’s a sense today that things are escalating more rapidly than before. That’s largely the result of AI. The technology is not only arming threat actors with the means to launch more sophisticated attacks at greater speed and scale than before. It is also providing them with a larger attack surface to aim at, as businesses rush to adopt the technology. In many cases, that adoption is outpacing the vital governance efforts needed to securely manage and contain it.

Against this backdrop, SMB business and IT leaders understand the importance of effective cybersecurity. They want to be protected, operational, and resilient. But they don’t have an infinite budget to spend. They want security that’s simple to understand, adopt and operate. This calls for a different operational model where AI and automation support security teams where it makes sense, with human oversight for decisions that require context and judgment. Finding the right balance, and the right partner will be key to driving readiness and resilience.

AI is changing the game in impressive ways. Executives are wowed by the potential for productivity and process efficiency gains. By the prospect of transforming customer experience, accelerating business decision making, and breaking into new markets. ESET SMB Cyber Readiness Index 2026 found that most (73%) SMBs are integrating AI into their business.