A new survey has revealed a concerning gap in how organisations in India integrate cybersecurity professionals into their artificial intelligence (AI) policy-making processes.
According to the survey findings, just 27 per cent of cybersecurity professionals or teams in India are involved in developing policies governing AI use within their enterprises. Meanwhile, half of the surveyed professionals report having no input in the development, onboarding, or deployment of AI tools, despite their organisations increasingly leveraging AI for crucial security functions like endpoint protection, automated threat detection, and fraud prevention.
“AI is promising for enhancing cybersecurity operations, but for the benefits to be fully realised, cybersecurity teams must be integrated in the AI governance process. The fact that only 27 percent of these teams in India are currently involved in AI policy-making is a missed opportunity to ensure that AI is implemented securely and responsibly,” said RV Raghu, director, Versatilist Consulting India Pvt Ltd, and ISACA India Ambassador.
The ISACA survey respondents indicated primary uses include enhancing endpoint security (31 per cent), automating threat detection and response (29 per cent), streamlining routine security tasks (27 per cent), and identifying fraudulent activities (17 per cent). These applications point to AI’s potential to reduce cybersecurity teams’ workloads, which is particularly important given the persistent shortage of skilled professionals and the high levels of stress faced within the field.
However, the findings suggest that excluding these teams from AI policy decisions could compromise the secure and responsible deployment of such technologies.
“There is an urgent need for organisations to rethink how they integrate cybersecurity professionals in AI decision-making. The strategic importance of collaboration between AI and cybersecurity experts must not be overlooked by organisations,” added Raghu.
