PwC Says AI is New Weapon in Global Cybersecurity War

 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become the top focus for global business and cybersecurity leaders as organisations race to strengthen their defences against rising digital threats.

This is according to PwC’s 2026 Global Digital Trust Insights Report, which shows that companies are channelling more of their cyber budgets into AI-driven solutions, even as they struggle with skill shortages and growing exposure to sophisticated cyberattacks.

The global survey, which gathered responses from 3,887 business and technology executives across 72 countries, found that while most organisations recognise the power of AI to boost cybersecurity, only six per cent say they are “very capable” across all areas of cyber defence.

Overall, barely half of those surveyed believe their organisations can effectively withstand a major cyberattack, a figure PwC describes as worrying in the face of fast-evolving technologies such as AI and quantum computing.

The study also found key weak points around authentication controls (55 per cent), connected devices (48 per cent), legacy systems (45 per cent) and supply chain vulnerabilities (43 per cent), areas that attackers continue to exploit.

Femi Osinubi, consulting and risk services leader at PwC Nigeria, said Nigerian organisations must take cybersecurity more seriously as digital transformation deepens across sectors.

“As organisations in Nigeria advance on their digital transformation journey, the need for resilient cybersecurity strategies has never been more critical,” Osinubi said.

“AI offers a powerful opportunity to strengthen defences, but success depends on bridging the skills gap and integrating these tools into broader risk frameworks.”

He added that Nigerian businesses should invest in AI-driven cyber tools while upskilling local talent, noting that “combining technology and human capability is key to protecting Nigeria’s digital economy and infrastructure.”

According to PwC, nearly eight in ten organisations (78 per cent) globally plan to increase their cybersecurity budgets in the next 12 months.

Among their top priorities, AI investment leads with 36 per cent, ahead of cloud security (34 per cent), network security (28 per cent) and data protection (26 per cent).

However, spending more money does not necessarily translate to stronger defences. About half (50 per cent) of respondents cited a lack of knowledge in applying AI for cyber defence, while 41 per cent pointed to the scarcity of skilled professionals as a major challenge.

Sean Joyce, Global Cybersecurity and Privacy leader at PwC US, described the current landscape as a “tipping point,” driven by rapid digital interconnectivity and emerging threats.

“The most successful organisations are those where chief information security officers (CISOs) have a seat at the table and cybersecurity is embedded in business decisions,” Joyce said.

“Resilience comes from foresight, not hindsight.”

The report also found that 27 per cent of organisations suffered data breaches costing at least $1 million in the past three years. The most affected were large companies earning above $5 billion in revenue, US-based firms, and those in the technology, media and telecommunications sectors.

To better understand their exposure, half of the surveyed companies now use cyber risk quantification to measure the potential financial impact of attacks, a notable increase from 44 per cent last year.

PwC concluded that while AI is fast becoming the backbone of modern cyber defence, the technology is only as effective as the people who use it.

For Nigeria and other emerging digital economies, the message is clear: AI is not a silver bullet.

Building cyber resilience will depend on combining smart technology with skilled professionals who understand the unique risks of the digital age.