Key Takeaways
- A new report from CrowdStrike found that cyber attacks are faster than ever because of AI, with the average breakout time falling to only 29 minutes, a 65% decrease since 2024.
- AI-powered attacks are on the rise in general, with an 89% increase since last year.
- The new era of AI-powered cyber attacks requires businesses to focus on securing their own AI models and closing blind spots between systems to avoid these attacks.
It’s official; artificial intelligence is making cybersecurity more difficult, with a recent report finding that the average AI-powered cyber attack is deployed in only 29 minutes, a 65% decrease since 2024.
To make matters worse, AI-powered cyber attacks — like advanced phishing schemes and automated reconnaissance — are becoming more and more common, with an 89% increase since last year.
Luckily, the report does provide some recommendations for protecting your business from these new, advanced attacks, like eliminating blind spots between systems and being proactive about shoring up your AI models.
AI-Powered Cyber Attacks Are Fast
According to the 2026 Global Threat Report from CrowdStrike, AI-powered cyber attacks have gotten a lot faster over the last few years.
More specifically, cyber-attacks were found to have an average breakout time of only 29 minutes in 2025, which represents a 65% increase since 2024.
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That’s only the average, though. In the research from CrowdStrike, the fastest AI-powered cyber attack clocked in at only 27 seconds, with data exfiltration beginning within four minutes of initial access.
AI-Powered Cyber Attacks Are on the Rise
The report also found that speed isn’t the only thing on the rise when it comes to these kinds of attacks. Frequency is apparently rising at an even faster rate, with AI-powered cyber attacks seeing an 89% increase year-over-year.
“Although successful use typically requires technical proficiency and the expertise to identify errors in AI-generated output, threat actors have demonstrated increasing fluency with AI tools. Most threat actors that have integrated AI into their operations have increased their attack volume.” – CrowdStrike report
As for what kind of AI-powered cyber attack you should be on the lookout for, the report notes that “AI accelerated phishing and automated reconnaissance” are particularly common with this technology.
How to Protect Your Business from AI-Powered Cyber Attacks
Businesses around the world have been adding AI technology to their operations. From vibe coding platforms to AI chatbots, the technology is already heavily ingrained in the business world.
That’s part of the problem, though. These attacks take advantage of these new systems, but there are some ways that you can make sure your business remains safe.
- Secure your AI models – These models are just like an system at your business; they need to be heavily secured to ensure that cyber criminals can’t gain access.
- Close operational blind spots – The beauty of AI in 2026 is that systems can work together, but this collaboration can leave blind spots in your security that are ripe for hacking.
- Treat SaaS as the primary target – SaaS platforms represent the clearest battleground for cyber criminals, with most housing a bounty of data and operations that are very valuable.
Perhaps most important, though, is to be proactive when it comes to AI-powered cyber attacks. Reacting to hacks is a lot harder and more expensive than being proactive. Make sure you’re investing in cybersecurity before the risks present themselves, rather than after.
