Cisco analysis finds shadow AI exposes gaps in enterprise cybersecurity

• Unapproved enterprise AI use is outpacing governance, increasing breach costs and exposing gaps in access controls.
• Organizations with extensive shadow AI incurred $670,000 more in average breach costs; one in five reported a breach linked to it.
• Among organizations experiencing AI-related security incidents, 97% lacked proper AI access controls.
• AI-enabled attacks accounted for one in four malicious breaches in 2026, costing about $6 million on average.
• Extensive AI and automation use in security reduced breach costs by about $1.93 million compared with organizations using neither.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Cisco Systems Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief on October 14, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.