How AI is reshaping cybersecurity for UK businesses

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the way organisations approach cybersecurity, enabling faster response times, improved threat detection, and enhanced data protection. With cyber threats increasing across the board, many UK companies, from small businesses to industry giants, are turning to AI-driven solutions to safeguard their data, reduce human error, and streamline security operations.

Here’s how AI is making a difference in cybersecurity, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with some practical steps for businesses ready to adopt AI tools and achieve immediate benefits.

Immediate benefits of AI in cybersecurity

AI has introduced a variety of tools and techniques that automate many previously manual cybersecurity processes, helping businesses save time and resources. Some of the key areas where AI is already delivering measurable results include threat detection, anomaly monitoring, and incident response.

Threat detection and prevention

AI can process vast amounts of data in real time, identifying unusual patterns that might signal a cyberattack. For instance, HSBC implemented AI-driven threat detection to monitor millions of transactions daily. Through AI, they achieved over a 70% increase in threat detection accuracy, minimising the risk of costly data breaches and reducing manual work for their security teams. Such technology can be invaluable for small businesses as well, reducing dependence on large IT teams and offering a faster, cost-effective approach to securing data.

Anomaly detection and user behaviour monitoring

AI is highly effective in identifying anomalies and unusual behaviours within a network. This is particularly useful in detecting insider threats or compromised accounts. UK retailer John Lewis has applied user behaviour analytics to detect any deviations in employee and customer activity that might indicate a security risk. For smaller/medium businesses, AI tools like these that can operate continuously without requiring constant oversight, which is why outsourcing threat and vulnerability management and/or security operations can be so helpful.

AI-powered anomaly detection tools like those included within Microsoft SIEM are enterprise level tools, available to smaller/medium businesses through an outsourced model, which provides real-time monitoring and user behaviour analysis, reducing false positives by around 50% and improving even the smallest security and IT team’s efficiency. This allows smaller teams to allocate resources effectively, focusing on more strategic work, and even genuine threats, rather than sifting through excessive alerts.

Automated incident response

In the event of a security incident, time is critical. AI-powered tools can automatically respond to certain types of cyber threats, containing them before they impact the broader network. Microsoft Sentinel is quickly becoming the go-to tool for incident response teams, which is usually available for SMEs through a managed service (outsourced) model. With it’s cloud-powered analytics and seamless integration into Microsoft Defender which provides machine learning capability, it provides real-time visibility into security threats meaning a faster and more effective response.

AI-driven automated responses saves valuable time and resources, allowing small IT teams to focus on higher-level security planning rather than responding to each incident manually. Having a Managed SOC (like those built on Microsoft SIEM with it's built-in AI tools) or implementing your own, capable of automated incident responses, can cut remediation time by up to 80%, according to recent research by the Ponemon Institute.

AI in support and customer service

Beyond direct cybersecurity applications, AI has started to transform IT support and customer service functions, further enhancing efficiency and user satisfaction. Here are a few ways AI is reshaping these areas:

Automated IT support and ticketing services

AI chatbots and virtual assistants now resolve a majority of routine IT support queries without human intervention. For instance, UK-based SME Tide, a financial technology company, uses AI-driven chatbots to handle customer inquiries about account security, helping resolve issues faster while maintaining high customer satisfaction. This reduces the load on IT staff, allowing them to focus on more complex issues. 
    
Freshdesk, an AI-enabled IT support platform, has shown that automated ticketing systems can resolve up to 30% of tickets without human intervention, which is ideal for smaller businesses that may lack extensive IT support teams. Halo ITSM with AI included out-of-the-box, encourages automated incident management, meaning categorising and prioritising incidents based on historical data and severity ensures faster resolution.

Enhanced user experience with AI-powered customer service

In customer service, AI can process large amounts of user data to personalise interactions, recommend solutions, and detect potential issues. AI tools used in this context don’t just improve response times; they can also address repetitive and easy-to-solve queries faster. According to a survey by Salesforce, businesses using AI to personalise customer interactions saw a 50% increase in customer satisfaction rates.

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Using AI in cybersecurity and IT support

For UK businesses aiming to benefit from AI, here are 4 practical steps to get started:
 
1. Evaluate your current cybersecurity needs
Begin by assessing the key cybersecurity and support areas where your business could benefit from AI. If phishing and ransomware are primary threats, consider AI-driven threat detection tools. If IT ticketing overload is a concern, an AI chatbot might be beneficial.
 
2. Select AI solutions for specific use cases
Research AI tools that align with your needs, such as endpoint protection, anomaly detection, or automated IT support. For instance, small businesses could look into affordable AI-powered solutions like Cynet or ESET, which offer effective, budget-friendly cybersecurity solutions for growing businesses, or alternatively access best of breed through an outsourced Managed SOC model, at an advantageous rate and with experienced teams taking the strain.
 
3. Integrate AI into existing systems
Ensure that your chosen AI solutions work with your current IT infrastructure. Many AI cybersecurity tools can be integrated with popular platforms like Microsoft Azure and AWS, making deployment faster and less costly for small businesses.
 
4. Monitor AI effectiveness and adjust as needed
Set clear goals and metrics to evaluate AI’s impact on your cybersecurity and support functions. Track metrics like response times, reduction in false positives, or ticket resolution rates to determine the ROI and make adjustments as necessary, or get really smart and measure sentiment after ticket closure and take action on any negative trends.

Realising the full potential of AI for SMEs

AI offers numerous opportunities for UK SMEs to enhance cybersecurity and IT efficiency while delivering better service to their customers. By implementing AI solutions for immediate challenges like threat detection, user monitoring, and customer support automation, SMEs can secure their data, improve customer experience, and focus their resources on growth. 
 
Adopting AI-driven cybersecurity practices will not only protect SMEs from emerging threats but also position them as forward-thinking, resilient organisations prepared for the evolving digital landscape. It’s difficult to build all these systems as a small or medium sized business, so outsourced solutions with a managed security provider is a budget-friendly solution, that helps you benefit from enterprise level tools, external skills and expertise at affordable rates.

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We understand the vital role AI plays in enabling businesses to grow, scale, and remain secure. Our team works with clients to integrate AI solutions that make the most of your existing tech stack, and not only protect against cyber threats but also streamline operations, enhance customer service, and uncover new opportunities for efficiency.
 
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