Artificial intelligence (AI) is an opportunity space offering to move institutions, businesses, and individuals two steps ahead of the next cyber attack. In our increasingly connected world, the risk of cyber attacks is on the rise, which means making cyberspace secure is a near impossible task. But by implementing artificial intelligence, it is possible to manage this increasing data stream with adaptive software that learns from every cyber attack.

Cyber threats to individuals, corporations, and infrastructure are becoming increasingly complex and frequent, leaving traditional cyber security methods in the dust. The market for artificial intelligence-led cyber security technology is responding to the rising need to react to increasingly complex cyber security threats. Products in this market space are “thinking machines” with adaptive algorithms that have the ability to keep learning.

These products can study large data sets to predict threats and either give moment-by-moment responses to an attack or prevent it from materialising.

Products and Services

The market for AI-based security products is still nascent, and machine learning in cyber security software is a part of an evolving security landscape. Products in this opportunity space are systems and software capable of acting intelligently and doing things normally done by people.

Products include immune system appliances, which monitor a network’s data and provide instant notification of an attack by leveraging machine learning algorithms. Products are also emerging with the ability to predict future attacks.

Other products include deep learning devices and systems offering real-time risk assessment, letting businesses and government departments focus their attention on responding to the most high-risk cyber attacks. Deep learning is a novel branch of AI inspired by the brain’s ability to learn to identify an object. Additionally, the AI cyber security opportunity space also includes products enabling companies to secure and manage their sensitive data whether stored in the cloud or on digital devices.

 

Market Size and Demand Drivers

In 2015, the global market for AI was worth 126.24 billion USD and is projected to reach a value of 3,061 billion USD by the end of 2024. The market is anticipated to exhibit an impressive 36.1 percent CAGR between 2016 and 2024.

Several factors are driving the demand for AI-based cyber security products. The ubiquity of the internet and constant need for employees to be online is contributing to the increased vulnerability to cyber attacks, as is the fact that ever-more physical items are connected to the Internet of Things. Another factor driving demand for AI-based security solutions is the shortage of cyber security professionals. In the U.S. alone, there is a shortage of more than 200,000 cyber security professionals. The shortage is expected to increase globally, too, as demand for cyber security increases. AI-based cyber security solutions can, by their very nature, cover much of the need for cyber security professionals.

Survey Findings

Business leaders who took part in our 2016 survey see the use of artificial intelligence to boost cyber security as a great business case. Especially the regions North America and Other Asia (covering Japan and Russia) assess this market opportunity very positively in terms of benefits for society and the capacity to pursue the market.

The market can be expected to mature rapidly, as leaders worldwide believe there is a significant capacity to grow. Intelligent Cyber Security scores very positively globally across all three capacity parameters (economic, political, and technological). China is the only region where leaders do not believe there is sufficient capacity to develop this market, rating the current capacity less positive.

Leaders in general expect this market opportunity to have great impact on business and believe it holds a great business case. Hence, we can expect business to take the lead in developing this market because it offers a clear business case and clear benefits. From a management perspective, the perceived positive impact from implementing this opportunity is much lower for respondents working as managing directors than other levels.

The 2016 survey indicates business in North America, Other Asia, South America, South East Asia & Australia, and Sub Saharan Africa will take the lead in developing this market, as leaders in these regions generally responded they are ready to pursue it.

The survey shows the business case in this market opportunity is attractive to nearly every sector. Manufacturing is the only sector that does not perceive it to represent the best business case of all 15 market opportunities surveyed in 2016. Financial, service, and the others business sectors perceive this opportunity to have the greatest positive impact for society. In addition, it is the opportunity for which the financial and public sectors will advocate the strongest.

This market was surveyed globally in 2016 by more than 5500 leaders from both the public and private sectors. The survey was conducted in collaboration with the research company YouGov. The survey results were originally published in the Global Opportunity Report 2017.


Global Goals addressed

Market Details

Market Size in US$, 2024: 3,061 bn
Growth Rate (CAGR), 2016-2024: 36.1%