AI's Impact on Endpoint Protection

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a cornerstone in security solutions, particularly in endpoint security. According to recent surveys, an impressive 73% of global security leaders believe in the promise of AI and are actively implementing AI-driven solutions.

AI models are revolutionising the field by flagging unusual events that traditional rules-based systems may overlook. This is possible due to AI's ability to detect underlying intent and semantic behavior, thereby enhancing threat identification.

The benefits of AI extend beyond threat detection. AI can identify and execute next best actions to manage an incident on a case-by-case basis, accelerating the path towards remediation-response automation for many organisations. In fact, AI is considered better at maintaining accuracy at speed when identifying threats, with 69% of respondents attesting to this. Additionally, AI minimises errors, according to 66% of those surveyed.

The importance of AI is further underscored by the fact that 39% of cybersecurity purchases or renewals are currently dependent on the presence of AI within the vendor's offering.

Endpoint attacks pose a significant threat, with 68% of organisations reporting that they have experienced one or more endpoint attacks that compromised data or IT infrastructure, according to The State of Cybersecurity: 2025 Trends Report. AI can facilitate faster, more accurate detection of previously unknown malicious activity by establishing a baseline of "normal" activities on the endpoint.

AI can help organisations move into a proactive endpoint security stance, shifting from a reactive approach of continually "detecting and responding" to threats, to a preventative one. This is evidenced by the fact that 72% of buyers are looking to AI for better threat prediction and prevention, with 70% expecting to increase their detection capability through AI models and technology.

AI can also aid in the detection and response to ransomware, a top global threat, by identifying and analysing suspicious behaviour on an endpoint. Furthermore, AI can help detect various types of non-traditional malware such as fileless malware, polymorphic malware, and zero-day malicious code.

Arctic Wolf AuroraTM Endpoint Security, an AI-driven solution, delivers advanced prevention, detection, and response, stopping threats before they disrupt business. AI's ability to conduct analysis and reach conclusions faster than humans offers numerous benefits, including reducing alert noise, improving alert filtration, and shrinking investigation and response times.

Moreover, AI enhances endpoint security capabilities by understanding behaviours and turning them into patterns for precise identification and detection. The company Darktrace published a study in 2021 addressing the future of artificial intelligence in endpoint security and explaining how AI-driven security solutions can be implemented in organisations.

The emergence of AI-powered capabilities includes next-generation detection systems that apply deep learning and neural networks to process massive volumes of data, delivering faster, more precise identification of malware and other threats. In 2024, over 500,000 new malware samples were identified daily, underscoring the need for such advanced technologies.

In conclusion, AI is transforming the field of endpoint security, offering organisations a proactive and effective means of threat detection, prediction, and response. As the volume and complexity of cyber threats continue to grow, the role of AI in maintaining robust and resilient endpoint security is set to become increasingly important.