Advances in AI are further deepening existing inequity AI is emerging as both a transformative tool and a new source of inequity in cybersecurity. As AI capabilities become central to defence and detection strategies, unequal access to advanced technologies, data and expertise risks deepening the divide between well-resourced and resource- constrained organizations. At the same time, AI is often embedded into updates and released as new features, making it harder for organizations with limited resources to fully understand, govern or control its introduction.50More than half of all respondents (54%) identified limited knowledge and skills as a key obstacle to adopting AI-driven solutions for cybersecurity. Larger organizations (by revenue) are emerging as early leaders in leveraging AI-driven threat detection and automation. As the Global Cybersecurity Outlook survey data highlights, companies with higher balance sheets report higher AI adoption rates, while smaller entities (by revenue), governments and NGOs tend to lag behind. Beyond these findings, expert interviewees noted that some industries progress more rapidly due to greater technical maturity and investment capacity, while others remain constrained by financial, regulatory or procedural barriers – further reinforcing existing disparities in cybersecurity preparedness. Within interconnected supply chains, these differences in capabilities significantly increase systemic exposure: adversaries can target less-protected partners to infiltrate high-value organizations downstream. A vulnerability in one supplier today may become another organization’s breach tomorrow. This shift underscores the growing importance of viewing security through an ecosystem lens, where the resilience of one actor depends on the vigilance of all. Cyber inequity isn’t simply a matter of different budgets or geographies – it is the invisible fault-line where those lacking access to security skills, resources and awareness are perennially targeted by countless bad actors. The actual capability gap lies not just in technologies, but in people: in the professionals needing more training and support, and in the underfunded small- to medium- sized businesses and other similarly positioned entities that make up 90% of our global ecosystem, which cannot keep pace with evolving threats. Bridging this divide requires more than well-meaning intentions that habitually fail to garner holistic, top-down, organization-wide support. It demands vendor- neutral education/credentialling, mentorship and a receptive, global mindset powered by diverse, inclusive collaboration. Illena Armstrong, President, Cloud Security AllianceYes No0%20%40%60%80%100%Has your organization implemented any AI-enabled tools to fulﬁl its cybersecurity objectives? Small (<$250M) Medium ($250M–$5.5B) Large (>$5.5B) NGOs Public sector22% 78%83%93% 45%70%17%7% 55%30%Use of AI-enabled cybersecurity tools, by company size and sector (revenue) FIGURE 46 Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 53