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Aus3C Platinum Member Cisco has released its anticipated 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index, revealing critical insights into Australia’s cybersecurity preparedness in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence (AI).

Presented at a recent national roundtable event hosted by Cisco’s Carl Solder, the report brought together top-tier technology media outlets, including The Guardian Australia, ARNnet, and Information Age, underscoring the industry’s heightened attention to emerging AI-driven threats.

The findings highlight an alarming gap: just 3% of Australian organisations are fully cyber-ready, placing them significantly behind in safeguarding against evolving cyber threats amplified by AI technologies.

Globally, the report discovered that 86% of business leaders had encountered AI-related security incidents within the last year alone. Prominent threats identified include AI model theft (43%), AI-enhanced social engineering attacks (42%), and data poisoning (38%). Alarmingly, only 45% of leaders globally expressed confidence in their ability to assess and manage AI-specific security risks.

Cisco’s comprehensive report emphasises five foundational pillars essential for achieving cybersecurity readiness:

• Identity Intelligence
• Machine Trustworthiness
• Network Resilience
• Cloud Reinforcement
• AI Fortification

Despite recognising the critical importance of these areas, the study found consistently low maturity levels across organisations. However, there is an optimistic trend, with 98% of companies indicating plans to significantly increase cybersecurity investments in 2025. The primary focus of these investments will be AI-driven security solutions, enhanced cloud defences, and comprehensive employee training programs.

For full details, analysis, and insights, access the complete Cisco 2025 Cybersecurity Readiness Index report here >>.