Australian Companies Face Increased Risk of Cyber Breaches as AI-Driven Threats Outstrip Cybersecurity Preparedness

New research from Accenture reveals that 97% of Australian organisations are inadequately prepared to defend against modern cyber threats, surpassing the global average of 90%. The findings, derived from Accenture’s annual State of Cybersecurity Resilience 2025 report, surveyed over 2,200 executives from large enterprises worldwide, each with annual revenues exceeding USD $1 billion. The data highlights a significant gap between cybersecurity ambitions and actual readiness, particularly as organisations increasingly integrate Artificial Intelligence into their operations. The rapid adoption of AI technologies is amplifying the speed, scale, and sophistication of cyber risks. Most organisations reported that attackers are now using AI to exploit weaknesses in legacy systems, while existing defences struggle to keep pace with these evolving tactics. Alarmingly, 80% of Australian businesses lack essential data and AI security practices necessary to protect their business models, data pipelines, and cloud infrastructure.

Accenture’s analysis indicates that only 22% of Australian organisations fully utilise critical data protection methods, such as encryption and access controls, to safeguard sensitive information. This vulnerability exposes many organisations not only to direct cyber attacks but also to inadvertent data exposure. The report categorises Australian organisations into three security maturity zones: the ‘Reinvention Ready Zone’, comprising just 3% of organisations with adaptive security postures; the ‘Progressing Zone’, accounting for 11% and showing strength in some practices but lacking strategic direction; and the ‘Exposed Zone’, which includes 86% of organisations that exhibit limited cyber readiness and a reactive approach to emerging threats. The report underscores that cybersecurity has evolved from a technical issue to a strategic business risk, as rising geopolitical tensions compel organisations to reassess their data and supply chain strategies, inadvertently introducing further vulnerabilities into enterprise systems. 

Categories: Cybersecurity Preparedness, AI-Driven Threats, Data Protection Maturity 

Tags: Cybersecurity, Australia, AI, Threats, Data Protection, Security Maturity, Breaches, Cloud Infrastructure, Geopolitical, Risk Management