Guarding the Gates — Why Your Cybersecurity Depends on AI-Literate Teams

Liora N., Lead Editor Risk & Security
Jan 6
4 min read

Updated: Jan 22

Image of a vault, with the blog title Guarding the Gates

By: Liora N.

Lead Editor, Risk and Security

If 2025 taught us anything, it’s this:

Cybersecurity is no longer just a technical concern — it’s a human one.

From phishing attacks that mimic executive voices to deepfake videos designed to deceive finance teams, the past year introduced a tidal wave of AI-powered threats. And while headlines focused on the rise of generative AI in business, a quieter, more dangerous trend was brewing beneath the surface:

Many organizations believed that avoiding AI would somehow protect them from it.

But as Sarah-Mae shared in her kickoff to this series, last month, 2025 revealed a widespread disconnect between AI tools and team readiness. Particularly in cybersecurity, that disconnect is already costing companies more than just productivity — it’s threatening their people, processes, and reputations.

Welcome to the Million Dollar Myth:

"If We Don't Use AI, We Won't Be Targeted by It"

This belief is understandable — even comforting. With AI-powered scams evolving faster than most IT policies can keep up, some leaders responded by limiting exposure: banning AI assistants internally, blocking access to browser-based tools, and delaying all AI initiatives “until regulations catch up.”

The intention was protection.

But the result was something more dangerous: a workforce left unequipped to recognize AI-generated threats.

Let’s be clear. You don’t need to use AI to be targeted by it.

Voice cloning scams are now mimicking CEOs and finance leaders in real time.
Hyper-personalized phishing emails are generated in seconds with scraped LinkedIn data.
Deepfake videos are being used to create false vendor requests, identity fraud, and urgent financial transfers.

Without internal awareness training, your team members may not even recognize they’re being manipulated — until it’s too late.

The Shift: From Firewalls to Human Firepower

While firewalls and zero-trust architectures remain vital, they’re no longer enough. In an AI-powered threat landscape, the most overlooked vulnerability, which is still your greatest asset — your people.

Here’s what forward-thinking organizations did differently in 2025:

Rolled out AI literacy training that helped team members identify common tactics used in deception attacks.
Created role-based scenarios for customer service, finance, and operations teams to practice spotting AI-enhanced fraud attempts.
Developed behavioural change programs, where HR and L&D teams partnered with security to create messaging rooted in awareness, not fear.
Reframed AI not as a threat to jobs, but as a tool to help every employee become smarter and safer in their role.
Managers attended training on what is AI and to use it ethically and responsibly

The best teams weren’t just securing systems — they were enabling mindsets.

The Opportunity in 2026: Don’t Sound The Alarm

As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, your approach must become more human-centric. Simply relying on the same old fear tactics, shifts the well-intentioned desire for hyper-vigilance and turns it into security-apathetic teams

But there's a way forward.

Here are three simple actions you can start today and improve security tomorrow.

1. Build an AI-Aware Security Culture

Move beyond technical policies and cultivate a shared understanding of how AI impacts fraud, deception, and access vulnerabilities. Host internal fireside chats, simulations, or even “AI scam of the month” briefings to drive awareness.

2. Involve the Whole Org in Security Design

Security is no longer just IT’s job. Partner with communications, operations, and people teams to embed security thinking into daily workflows. What are the real scenarios your people face? Design your defense strategy around that.

3. Demystify AI – Especially for Non-Technical Roles

Most successful social engineering attacks rely on confusion and urgency. Help your people understand what AI can and cannot do, and they’ll be far better equipped to pause, think critically, and escalate concerns before damage is done.

Transition From Human Risk to Team Readiness

In today’s environment, pretending AI doesn’t exist is not a strategy — it’s a liability.

Yes, firewalls matter.

Yes, compliance is essential.

But the most resilient organizations in 2026 will be those that treat their people as partners, not just endpoints. Because no matter how smart your tools are, it’s your team’s behaviour, awareness, and confidence that will determine whether your gates stay guarded — or breached.

Up Next in the Series

We’ve explored how AI is reshaping the frontline of cyber defence. But what happens when enterprises start rolling out AI across the entire business?

That’s where my colleague Dario, our Lead Editor for Transformations and Advisory, picks up the conversation. Over the past year, Dario and I have often compared notes — me, watching the threat landscape evolve in real time; him, guiding enterprise leaders through the complexity of AI implementation. We both saw a common theme: enthusiasm without enablement is a risk.

In Part 2, he will explore how leaders can move beyond experimentation and build structured, secure strategies for integrating AI tools across teams. He’ll also tackle a myth I’ve heard all too often in security briefings — that all AI assistants are created equal — and explain why making the wrong choice doesn’t just slow down productivity, it can put your company’s data at risk.

About the Editor

Liora is a trusted expert in cybersecurity, enterprise risk, and strategic acquisitions. With a background in both regulatory compliance and digital transformation, she guides businesses through critical decisions with foresight and structure. Her expertise spans risk mitigation, cyber-readiness, and M&A strategy..