Microsoft report flags AI-driven shift in cybersecurity threat landscape
MSFT•Microsoft’s 2026 Digital Defense Report says AI is reshaping cybersecurity, with threat actors using it to accelerate attacks and AI agents expanding enterprise risk through their access to data, tools and identities.
1. AI reshapes cyber risks
Microsoft’s 2026 Digital Defense Report says threat actors are using AI to speed reconnaissance, improve social engineering, assist malware development and accelerate activity after compromising systems. The report also highlights risks as AI agents connect to data, APIs, tools and identities, and points to controls including agent identity, access revocation, authentication, monitoring, prompt-injection defenses and software integrity.
