Artificial intelligence (AI) is making cyberattacks faster and more sophisticated, prompting businesses to rethink cybersecurity as a business risk rather than just an IT concern, according to Palo Alto Networks.
Speaking ahead of Ignite on Tour Manila, executives from the cybersecurity company said organizations need to strengthen their security strategies as AI becomes more widely used across business operations.
The warning comes as AI adoption continues to grow in the Philippines. Citing the Philippine AI Report, Palo Alto Networks said more than 90% of organizations in the country are already using AI in some form. However, 65% are still in pilot or proof-of-concept stages, suggesting many companies have yet to build the security, governance, and operational capabilities needed for wider deployment.
“As the Philippines accelerates digital transformation and AI adoption, cybersecurity can no longer be treated as an IT issue alone,” Bernadette Nacario, country director, Philippines, Palo Alto Networks, said. “It has become a leadership responsibility because it directly impacts business continuity, customer trust, and organizational resilience.”
The company said newer AI models are giving cybercriminals the ability to automate the search for software vulnerabilities, speed up attacks, and combine multiple weaknesses into a single attack path. Instead of breaking into systems, attackers are increasingly using stolen or compromised identities to log in as legitimate users.
Nacario said organizations that will succeed are those that make cybersecurity part of their business strategy from the beginning instead of treating it as an afterthought.
Palo Alto Networks also said businesses need AI-powered security tools that can continuously monitor systems, detect threats, and respond automatically as attacks become faster and more complex.
“Frontier AI is not just an updated threat, it is a significant industry shift for how we’re going to see organizations operate and defend themselves,” Philippa Cogswell, Managing Partner, Palo Alto Networks Unit 42, said. “As attackers use AI, the path forward is to fight AI with AI, applying advanced models to anticipate emerging threats, strengthen defenses, and secure the AI ecosystems organizations are building. Defenders must be equipped to operate at the same pace as adversaries to effectively navigate this new reality.”
To help organizations prepare, Palo Alto Networks highlighted Unit 42 Frontier AI Defense, a service designed to identify and stop AI-powered attacks before they spread across enterprise environments.
“We are already in the AI era, and no organization can address AI-powered threats alone,” Nacario said. “The question is no longer whether organizations will adopt AI, but how quickly they can do it securely. As AI reshapes industries, stronger collaboration between government, industry, and cybersecurity partners will be essential to ensuring innovation moves forward securely and strengthening collective resilience.”