AI is changing cybersecurity faster than anyone expected. In 2024, attackers are using AI tools to make social engineering, phishing, and identity theft far more convincing — and they’re doing it at a scale we’ve never seen before. The result is a wave of cyberattacks that feel more personal, more accurate, and much harder to detect.
This shift is happening across every industry in our region. Whether it’s a manufacturing plant, a law office, a Senior Living community, or a financial institution, attackers are using AI to speed up reconnaissance and craft messages that look completely legitimate.
AI is making cyberattacks faster and more believable
AI-driven phishing emails no longer sound generic or obvious. They’re clear, well-written, and often tailored to your business. Attackers can analyze public data, company websites, social media posts, and even previous breach dumps to craft messages that make sense in your real workflow.
We’re seeing things like:
- messages impersonating CEOs or CFOs
- emails that match internal communication style
- fake vendor invoices that reference actual projects
- phishing pages that look identical to Microsoft 365
- automated follow-up messages that sound human
Attackers are using AI to work smarter, not harder — and it’s working.
AI is boosting identity attacks
The most dangerous attacks this year involve identity compromise, especially inside Microsoft 365 and Entra. With AI tools, attackers can:
- automatically test stolen passwords
- launch intelligent password-spray attacks
- mimic user behavior to avoid detection
- learn who has elevated permissions
- craft targeted messages that bypass common filters
Once an account is compromised, attackers often move quietly, creating forwarding rules, exploring file shares, accessing Teams chats, or trying to elevate privileges. Most of this happens long before ransomware is deployed.
AI-powered threats highlight the need for stronger cloud defenses
Traditional security tools aren’t built to detect AI-generated attacks. They rely on known patterns, signatures, or obvious red flags — and modern attacks don’t have those anymore.
The defenses that are making a real difference in 2024 include:
- Conditional Access and identity protection
Risk-based access rules block logins that don’t look right, even if the password is correct. - Modern endpoint security (EDR/XDR)|
Behavior-based tools catch activity that “doesn’t fit” normal patterns. - Advanced email security
Cloud-native tools analyze message behavior, not just content. - Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
Limits how long elevated roles are active, shrinking the window attackers can exploit. - Automated response through Sentinel or similar platforms
Quickly locks accounts, isolates devices, or blocks applications without waiting for human intervention.
AI requires a shift in how organizations think about security
AI has raised the bar for attackers — which means the bar for defense has to rise too. The old idea of spotting a phishing email because it has spelling errors or poor grammar simply doesn’t hold up anymore.
Businesses now need layers of identity security, real-time monitoring, and smarter tools to keep up with threats that evolve automatically.
The bottom line
AI isn’t just changing cybersecurity — it’s accelerating it. Companies that modernize their defenses this year will be in a much stronger position. Those that don’t will experience attacks that look legitimate, blend into normal activity, and escalate quickly.