KPMG Survey: Security leaders see AI as a game changer for SOC effectiveness

Six in ten C-suite security leaders view AI as a game changer across all security functions, including identity management, monitoring, and predictive analytics.

The KPMG Cybersecurity Survey 2024: Security Operations Center (SOC) Leaders Perspective Report is noteworthy in its insights into how C-Suite security leaders are adopting AI across their SOC locations.

72% of the C-Suite leaders interviewed consider themselves first adopters of new cybersecurity solutions. The methodology is based on insights from 200 C-suite cybersecurity leaders from large enterprises and reveals the transformative impact of AI on SOC operations.

Where AI is becoming a game changer in SOC Operations

Security senior leaders are doubling down on identity and access management, threat detection, and perimeter monitoring, per KPMG's survey results. Their data reveals that a majority of security leaders believe AI will play a critical role in enhancing their ability to identify and remediate security threats and vulnerabilities. The highest priority areas include the following:

• 71% of security leaders believe AI will revolutionize identity and access management, with 42% considering it a total game changer.
• 69% of security leaders expect AI to significantly enhance threat detection and response capabilities, with 37% rating it as a total game changer.
• 68% of security leaders see AI as a critical tool for monitoring the perimeter, with 37% identifying it as a total game changer.

AI's growing role in streamlining SOC operations

66% of senior cybersecurity leaders believe AI-based automation is crucial for their SOCs now, with KPMG predicting this figure to rise to 69% over the next two years.

KPMG found that 38% of security leaders are looking to AI-based automation to help them stay ahead of new and evolving security threats, underscoring AI's long-term importance in proactive threat management.

Senior security leaders are after greater accuracy, speed, and responsiveness from AI systems so they can offload repetitive tasks from their teams, freeing up their people for more challenging and complex tasks. KPMG writes , "SOC measurement and reporting, and the availability of resources through increased productivity resulting from AI-based automation are also highly desired. Security leaders from medium- and large-sized companies are similar in their preferred uses of AI."

Additional insights include the following:

• 38% of leaders cited increased agility & better responsiveness as key benefits of AI in SOC operations, along with staying ahead of new and evolving security threats as a key benefit of AI.
• 36% of leaders cited better measurement and reporting on security operations as a significant benefit of AI.
• 33% of leaders cited increased productivity and freeing up resources as crucial advantages provided by AI in SOC operations.

Challenges remain, however

While AI offers numerous benefits, the KPMG survey also identifies specific challenges. Please see the key points and graphic below for the top concerns of senior security leaders:

• ?Trust in AI Recommendations: Trusting AI to make accurate decisions is critical, yet 38% of senior leaders expressed concerns about the reliability of AI recommendations. This concern is well-founded, as incorrect recommendations could lead to significant security breaches.
• Cultural Resistance and Employee Concerns: Integrating AI requires a cultural shift within organizations. Thirty percent of leaders are concerned about potential employee backlash due to fears of job loss, while another thirty percent worry about the broader cultural changes required to support AI adoption.
• Potential New Threats: As AI systems become more integrated, they are increasingly becoming targets for cyberattacks. Nearly 29% of security leaders are concerned that AI could introduce new vulnerabilities, highlighting the importance of securing AI systems against potential threats.