Why Cyber Security is becoming a battle of AI vs AI?

Time to read

4 minutes

Author

Harriet Robbins
Cyber Security Practice Manager

Date published

August 2025

Harriet Robbins, Security Practice Lead at Giacom, explains why cyber security is increasingly becoming a battle of AI versus AI.

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is on everyone’s minds. In an age where ChatGPT and AI are a part of our everyday life, companies are investing millions – and in some cases, billions – in new software and updates.

Nowhere is AI more important than in the cyber security landscape. AI is now being used to both protect businesses and users from cyberattacks, and unfortunately, to carry out attacks. It is increasingly an AI vs AI battle. AI presents both huge opportunities and challenges for the cyber security landscape. A report released by the National Cyber Security Centre in January 2024, titled ‘the near-term impact of AI on the cyber threat’, summarised that AI will “almost certainly increase the volume and heighten the impact of cyberattacks” in the coming years. It said AI would evolve and enhance existing techniques used by hackers and warned that the impact of a successful cyberattack could be increased due to AI extracting data faster and more effectively from targets and this prediction matches what we’ve seen since its release in 2024.

All of this makes for grim reading, but it’s not all doom and gloom. With every challenge comes an opportunity, and AI has enormous capabilities to protect users from cyberattacks. During the Bletchley AI Safety Summit in November 2023, the role of AI in improving the rapid detection of cyberattacks was emphasised, as well as effectively responding to malicious emails and phishing attempts. As with all technology, the key to harnessing AI and turning the tide on the hackers is to ensure it’s designed, deployed and used in a way that is safe and trustworthy.

Investing in cyber security

I recently had the chance to sit down with David Morrow, Senior Partner Solution Sales Manager at Microsoft to discuss the company’s investment into AI within the cyber security sector. David explained the importance of AI and machine learning in the cyber security landscape, and Microsoft’s $20 billion investment in security to stay ahead of the game. He said Microsoft’s Security Copilot can be a “game-changer” in amplifying human capability and responding to rising levels of AI-driven cyberattacks. David spoke to me as part of our MSP Conversations Series. Over the past few months, I’ve been speaking to industry experts from leading vendors including Bitdefender, OpenText and Vade about the latest trends and products which are shaping cyber security.

Trillions of threats

The sheer number of cyberattack triggers which are detected every day is startling. David confirmed that Microsoft alone detects more than 84 trillion cyberattack threat signals every day, with data collected being used to help equip businesses and users with the latest knowledge of attackers, their tactics, techniques and procedures. Microsoft’s Security Copilot can help businesses defend themselves from attacks at machine speed, acting as an AI assistant for security teams and allowing them to outpace the hackers. It can prove to be a genuine game-changer in responding to increasingly intelligent cyber threats. For MSPs, this means faster, more automated threat detection and response, reducing the need for manual triage/intervention and enabling leaner, more scalable service models.

Generative AI is already transforming how work gets done, amplifying and augmenting human capabilities. David explained how this same principle applies to cyber security, where it helps organisations respond faster and more intelligently to attacks. “At Microsoft, AI is an area we are investing heavily in, especially around cyber security. We’re at the end of our four-year, $20 billion investment programme which spans everything from research and development to products. We’ve got a team of 10,000 people at Microsoft who are responding to cyberattack alerts across the globe. It means we can get a good picture of what is happening in the cyber security space, and the latest trends and behaviours.”

Equipping MSPs

Our Cloud Market platform provides MSPs and resellers with the most trusted security products and solutions, so they can keep their customers safe from attacks and protect the UK’s network of SMBs. At Giacom, we’re perfectly placed to help MSPs introduce Copilot to their customers. We were one of the few Microsoft partners to be part of the early access programme for Copilot, so we have the hands-on experience to help MSPs and SMBs get up to speed and confident with the product.

AI-driven tools like Microsoft Security Copilot help reduce manual triage, shorten incident response times, and lower the overall service burden on MSPs – freeing up time and resources to focus on higher-value opportunities. Giacom is the strategic partner MSPs need to lead in the age of AI-powered cyber security. We combine deep expertise, intelligent platforms, and trusted relationships to help partners deliver smarter, faster, and more secure services.

AI-First Enablement
We help MSPs harness the power of Microsoft Security Copilot and other AI-driven tools to transform threat detection, response, and reporting. Our enablement programmes include readiness assessments, pre- and post-sales support, customer-facing workshops and cyber security business reviews—making AI adoption seamless and commercially viable.

Specialist Practices
Our certified experts support MSPs across AI Business Solutions, Cloud and AI Platforms and Security. From scoping to post-sales adoption, we ensure partners are equipped to deliver AI-enhanced security solutions that meet real-world needs.

Cloud Market Platform
Our Cloud Market platform provides MSPs and resellers with the most trusted security products and solutions, so they can keep their customers safe from attacks and protect the UK’s network of SMBs.

Strategic Vendor Relationships
We work closely with leading vendors to bring MSPs best-in-class security and AI solutions. These partnerships enable co-branded campaigns, joint GTM strategies, and tailored enablement resources that accelerate success. As an MSP, you’re the first line of defence for your customers, but how confident are you in your own security and compliance posture?

The Giacom Advantage: Essential. Enhanced. Elite.

To help MSPs navigate the complexity of compliance, we’ve developed the Essential-Enhanced-Elite Security Framework:

Essential: Foundational controls like MFA, patching, and user training.

Enhanced: Compliance tooling, risk management, and automation.

Elite: Strategic services like SOCaaS, penetration testing, and AI-driven threat detection.

This layered approach helps you meet customers where they are and grow with them.

With our framework and support, you can position your business as a leading provider, stand out from the competition, and unlock new revenue streams.