You do not need to be a large enterprise to be targeted by AI-powered attacks. In fact, SMEs are increasingly preferred targets because they typically have fewer defences and less security awareness. AI has dramatically lowered the cost and skill barrier for attackers.
Increase in AI-assisted attacks since 2024
Average cost of a data breach in Europe (2025)
Of Irish SMEs hit by a cyber attack in the past year
These are the AI-powered attack vectors that pose the greatest risk to Irish businesses today. Understanding them is the first step to defending against them.
Attackers use large language models to craft phishing emails that are grammatically perfect, contextually relevant, and nearly impossible to distinguish from legitimate correspondence. Gone are the days of spotting phishing by poor spelling.
With just a few seconds of audio, AI can clone a person's voice convincingly. Attackers use this to impersonate CEOs and finance directors in phone calls requesting urgent wire transfers — a sophisticated evolution of Business Email Compromise.
Real-time deepfake video enables attackers to impersonate trusted individuals on video calls. A Hong Kong firm lost $25M after an employee was deceived by a deepfake video call impersonating the company's CFO.
AI analyses social media profiles, company websites, and public data to build detailed psychological profiles. Attackers then craft highly personalised manipulation campaigns that exploit specific vulnerabilities, relationships, and communication styles.
AI tools can scan networks, identify vulnerabilities, and even write exploit code faster than human attackers. This dramatically reduces the time between a vulnerability being discovered and being exploited in the wild.
Next-generation ransomware uses AI to identify the most valuable data before encrypting it, negotiate ransoms based on the victim's financial capacity, and evade detection by adapting its behaviour in real-time.
You do not need an enterprise budget to defend against AI threats. These practical steps will significantly reduce your risk.
Understand which AI-powered threats are most relevant to your business. A vCISO can help you identify your specific risk profile based on your industry, size, and digital footprint.
Take our free Security Maturity AssessmentTraditional phishing training is no longer sufficient. Your team needs to understand AI-generated threats, voice cloning, and deepfake video. Training must evolve as fast as the threats do.
Read our phishing training guideDeploy email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), endpoint detection and response (EDR), and multi-factor authentication (MFA). These foundational controls stop the majority of AI-enhanced attacks.
Email security essentialsCreate out-of-band verification procedures for financial transactions and sensitive requests. Never rely solely on email or a single communication channel for high-value decisions.
Build your incident response planAI threats evolve rapidly. Regular security reviews, threat intelligence updates, and ongoing training ensure your defences keep pace. A vCISO provides continuous oversight without the cost of a full-time hire.
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