THE State of AI Cybersecurity 2026 draws on insights from over 1,500 leaders across industries to map how organisations are navigating rapid AI adoption and the security implications this creates. The report finds that 44% are extremely or very concerned about third‑party LLMs, and 92% worry about AI agents deployed across the workforce, reflecting a fast‑changing attack surface as governance catches up with technology.
It notes that 73% say AI‑powered threats are already having a significant impact, with 92% agreeing that such threats are forcing upgrades to defensive postures. Generative AI now features in 77% of security stacks, while 14% of professionals allow AI to take independent remediation actions in the SOC. The research also highlights a growing preference for MSSP support (85%) and a strong desire for platform‑level solutions (93%).
Autonomy is showcased in Darktrace’s own case studies, where Autonomous Response mitigated ClearFake activity by blocking suspicious connections and preventing HTA execution; the piece emphasises early disruption as critical to preventing payload delivery. The article is dated 3 February 2026.