91% Hit by Cyber Incidents, Yet Only 8% Prepared: Why
ET Edge Insights, Thursday, October 1st, 2026
Cisco data shows 91% of firms suffered a disruptive cyber incident, but fewer than 1 in 10 feel able to keep pace with AI threats.
ET Edge Insights examines Cisco's Relentless Defense report, a survey of 8,000 security professionals across 30 markets, in which 91% experienced a material disruptive incident last year, 35% involving AI-related attacks, yet fewer than one in 10 leaders are confident they can stay ahead of AI-uncovered threats.
Six in 10 practitioners say organizational blockers such as procurement delays, fragmented ownership and unclear escalation mattered more than technology, and an Indian CSO's example shows how unclear authority to shut systems down slows response.
While 98% plan AI agents in SecOps, only 54% are confident they could detect a compromised agent.