Arctic Wolf report reveals AI is now leading cybersecurity concern

Artificial Intelligence (AI) surpasses ransomware as the top concern, as organizations navigate the double-edged sword of innovation and risk.

The release of Arctic Wolf's 2025 Trends Report reveals a significant shift in cybersecurity concerns, with AI and large language models (LLMs) now viewed as the major threat by 29% of security leaders. This marks the first time AI has surpassed ransomware, malware, and data extortion, which were cited by 21% of respondents.

Despite ongoing investments in cybersecurity, the report indicates challenges persist, including limited visibility, outdated incident response plans, and budget constraints. Additionally, 52% of organizations reported experiencing a breach within the last year, showing a slight increase from 48% in the prior year. Almost all known breaches (97%) were disclosed, reflecting a trend toward greater transparency in incident reporting.

Further findings include that 70% of organizations encountered at least one significant cyber attack in 2024, with the predominant issues being malware and Business Email Compromise (BEC). Among those affected by ransomware, 76% paid the ransom, and 90% of these utilized professional negotiators, which resulted in reduced payments in over half of the cases. While next-generation endpoint security solutions are widely deployed—84% reported usage—only 40% maintain full coverage.

“Arctic Wolf’s 2025 Trends Report offers a telling snapshot of how security leaders are thinking,” said Dan Schiappa, president of Technology and Services at Arctic Wolf. “AI’s rapid emergence is creating new uncertainty, not only in how attackers operate but also in how defenders must respond. At the same time, ransomware remains a persistent and costly threat.”

For more insights, Arctic Wolf provides a detailed overview of current trends and challenges in the cybersecurity landscape in its report.