As we move into 2025, the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, presenting new challenges for businesses and their trusted advisors, like MailGuard’s partner community. Among the most concerning developments is the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) by cybercriminals. While AI has become an invaluable tool for enhancing business productivity and security, it has also been weaponised by malicious actors to conduct sophisticated attacks. For Managed Partners and Resellers, understanding these threats and equipping clients with the right tools and strategies is critical.
The Role of AI in Cybercrime
AI is reshaping the cyberattack playbook. Cybercriminals are leveraging machine learning and AI to enhance the scale, speed, and sophistication of their attacks.
Here are some key trends:
🔎 Automated Phishing Attacks: AI tools can generate highly convincing phishing emails, mimicking natural language patterns and visual elements of legitimate communications. These emails can target specific individuals, making spear phishing attacks even more dangerous.
🎮 Deepfake Technology: AI-powered deepfakes are increasingly used for impersonating executives or other trusted figures in business email compromise (BEC) scams. These convincing audio and video manipulations can deceive even the most vigilant employees. See the example below of a bad actor using deepfake technology in an attempt at identity fraud, to trick a US federal agency.
🔧 AI-Driven Malware: Cybercriminals are using AI to develop malware capable of evading traditional detection mechanisms. These threats can adapt and learn, making them even more effective over time.
🔰 Vulnerability Scanning: AI can rapidly scan networks to identify vulnerabilities, enabling attackers to exploit weak points faster than ever before.
Identity fraud attempt against a US federal agency using deepfake technology
Source: Video courtesy of identity verification provider, ID.me
Why Businesses Are at Risk
Businesses of all sizes are potential targets for AI-driven cyberattacks. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in particular, often lack the resources to implement and manage robust cybersecurity measures, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals. Additionally, with the rise of remote work and hybrid environments, the attack surface has expanded significantly, providing more opportunities for malicious actors.
Key factors contributing to the growing risk include:
- Limited Awareness: Many organisations remain unaware of how AI is being weaponised by cybercriminals.
- Over-reliance on Legacy Systems: Outdated security solutions are often ineffective against modern, AI-driven threats.
- Resource Constraints: SMEs frequently lack the budget and expertise to implement advanced security measures.
The Importance of Proactive Defence
Defending against AI-driven threats requires a proactive approach. Businesses must stay ahead of attackers by implementing advanced security solutions and fostering a culture of cybersecurity awareness. Managed Partners and Resellers play a vital role in guiding clients through this process.
🔒 Layered Security: Implementing a multi-layered security strategy is essential. This includes firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and email security solutions like MailGuard. Each layer adds a line of defence, reducing the likelihood of a successful attack.
🤖 AI-Enhanced Defence Tools: Just as attackers use AI, defenders must leverage it too. AI-powered email security solutions can detect and block malicious emails in real-time, even those designed to evade traditional filters. MailGuard's unrivalled real-time detection system for example, is driven by advanced proprietary heuristic algorithms and machine learning (ML), and further enhanced by the application of generative artificial intelligence (AI).
💼 Regular Training: Employees are often the weakest link in cybersecurity. Regular training on recognising phishing emails, suspicious links, and other potential threats is crucial, combined with a proactive cybersecurity culture that encourages open dialogue about threats and proactive cyber-defensive tactics and measures.
✈️ Incident Response Planning: Having a robust incident response plan in place ensures that businesses can quickly recover from an attack. This includes clear communication protocols, backup systems, and predefined roles for key personnel.
The Role of Managed Partners and Resellers
As trusted advisors, Managed Partners and Resellers are uniquely positioned to help businesses navigate the complexities of cybersecurity. By staying informed about the latest trends and threats, partners can:
- Educate Clients: Share insights on AI-driven threats and the importance of advanced security measures.
- Offer Tailored Solutions: Provide customised security packages that address specific business needs.
- Demonstrate Value: Highlight the benefits of proactive security, such as reduced downtime, improved compliance, and enhanced customer trust.
Preparing for the Future
The rise of AI-driven threats is a wake-up call for businesses and their advisors. As cybercriminals continue to innovate, so must we. By embracing cutting-edge security technologies, fostering awareness, and staying one step ahead, we can mitigate the risks and build a more secure future.
For partners and resellers, this is an opportunity to position yourself as a leader in cybersecurity. By guiding clients through these challenges, you not only protect their businesses but also strengthen your reputation and grow your own success. Together, we can rise to meet the challenges of 2025 and beyond.
Keeping Businesses Safe and Secure
Prevention is always better than a cure, and one of the best defences is to encourage businesses to proactively boost their company’s cyber resilience levels to avoid threats landing in inboxes in the first place. The fact that a staggering 94% of malware attacks are delivered by email, makes email an extremely important vector for businesses to fortify.
No one vendor can stop all email threats, so it’s crucial to remind customers that if they are using Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, they should also have a third-party email security specialist in place to mitigate their risk. For example, using a specialist third-party cloud email solution like MailGuard.
For a few dollars per staff member per month, businesses are protected by MailGuard's specialist, zero zero-day email security. Special Ops for when speed matters! Our real-time zero zero-day, email threat detection amplifies your client’s intelligence, knowledge, security and defence.
MailGuard provides a range of solutions to keep businesses safe, from email filtering to email continuity and archiving solutions. Speak to your customers today to ensure they’re prepared and get in touch with our team to discuss fortifying your customer’s cyber resilience.
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Australian partners, please call us on 1300 30 65 10
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