Fact Check: What AI Can (and Can’t) Do for Your Cybersecurity

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing cybersecurity, but it’s also spawning confusion, unrealistic expectations, and costly misunderstandings. As AI becomes more accessible and more powerful, its role in cyber defense is undeniable. But knowing how to use it responsibly is just as important as knowing when.

At Reclamere, we work with regulated businesses to cut through the noise and build actionable, governance-aligned cybersecurity strategies. This post tackles the top myths we see in the field and provides guidance on integrating AI with maturity, compliance, and resilience in mind.

Myth #1: “AI is a Cybersecurity Silver Bullet”

✅ Truth: AI enhances cybersecurity but doesn’t replace a full strategy.

AI excels at pattern recognition, anomaly detection, and automating response workflows, but it can’t replace human judgment, policy development, or multi-layered protections. According to a recent industry report, 56% of business leaders still expect AI to provide an advantage to attackers, not defenders.

The key is integration: AI must support a broader cybersecurity maturity model, with oversight, objectives, and controls defined. That’s where Reclamere’s CSO360 program steps in – helping you deploy AI technologies and the frameworks to manage them responsibly.

Myth #2: “AI Makes You Invincible”

✅ Truth: AI can be breached, and it can be manipulated.

Just like any other system, AI is vulnerable to bias, training data manipulation, and exploitation. In fact, 87% of security professionals have already encountered AI-driven cyberattacks in the past year. And with “shadow AI” on the rise (unauthorized tools used without governance), many organizations don’t even know where their exposure begins.

Reclamere helps organizations assess AI risk within their environments and among third-party vendors. We don’t just install tools, we help implement AI governance that protects you and your partners.

Don’t wait until after an incident to think about AI governance. Get practical guidance and a roadmap for action in our new executive guide.

Myth #3: “AI Is Smart Enough to Run Without Human Oversight”

✅ Truth: AI doesn’t “understand” security. It follows instructions.

The biggest mistake businesses make is assuming AI tools are self-sufficient. In reality, AI systems require tuning, input, and rules that align with your policies and business context. Without this, AI can produce high volumes of false positives—or worse, miss critical threats.

That’s why AI requires oversight from experienced cybersecurity professionals. Through CSO360, Reclamere provides executive-level guidance and security engineering support to help you monitor, tune, and scale AI-driven systems appropriately.

Myth #4: “AI Is Only for Big Companies with Big Budgets”

✅ Truth: AI-driven security is now scalable and affordable, even for SMBs.

Cloud-native platforms, managed detection and response (MDR) offerings, and MSSPs like Reclamere have made AI-enhanced security solutions accessible to businesses of all sizes. The global AI cybersecurity market is projected to hit $60.6 billion by 2028, with growing demand from small and mid-sized organizations looking to mature their cyber postures.

Through SOC360 and CSO360, Reclamere delivers enterprise-level security services, including AI-enhanced endpoint protection, behavior analytics, and strategic risk mitigation – on a flexible, budget-friendly basis.

Shadow AI, Deepfakes, and AI-Powered Phishing: Real Risks Right Now

Here’s what today’s AI-powered threats really look like:

• 60% of recipients fall for AI-generated phishing attacks.
• 40% of phishing emails are now AI-generated.
• Deepfakes are being used to impersonate executives and authorize wire transfers.
• AI-assisted malware is now self-modifying to evade detection.

These are not theoretical risks. They are weekly incidents seen in our security operations center.

Smarter Cybersecurity Starts with Strategic Leadership

The reality is that most organizations don’t need more tools; they need more alignment between their tools, risks, business goals, and compliance requirements.

That’s why we built CSO360, our Virtual Chief Security Officer service. It’s designed to help you:

• Govern AI usage with policy and oversight
• Identify and mitigate AI risk across your ecosystem
• Monitor shadow AI and unauthorized tools
• Improve cybersecurity maturity through frameworks like NIST and AI RMF
• Integrate EDR/XDR/MDR technologies without overwhelm

We don’t just manage threats, we help you manage the strategy that prevents them.

The AI Threat is Real, But So Is the Opportunity

AI is neither the enemy nor the savior – it’s a tool. And like any tool, it must be governed, guided, and monitored to deliver value without introducing risk. Whether you’re a compliance-driven business, a nonprofit with limited resources, or a scaling financial firm, your security strategy must evolve with AI in mind.

Get started with our new guide: AI & Cybersecurity: Why Strategic Leadership Matters

Book a discovery session with Reclamere today and explore how CSO360 can help you align your cybersecurity maturity with the realities of AI-enhanced risk.