UK firms face surge in state-sponsored cyberattacks amid AI escalation

A record number of UK businesses were targeted by state-sponsored threat actors in 2025, with IT leaders identifying generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) as a key factor escalating cyberwarfare risks, Tech Radar reports.

The 2026 Armis Cyberwarfare Report, based on interviews with nearly 2,000 IT decision-makers globally, revealed that 54% of UK companies experienced a state-sponsored attack last year, an increase from 47% previously. A significant 80% of respondents believe the current political climate heightens the risk of such attacks, with 92% expressing concern about widespread cyberwarfare. Furthermore, 76% fear state-sponsored actors could severely disrupt critical infrastructure. The report also indicates that AI is increasingly being weaponized, with 69% of respondents seeing it make cyber-conflicts more persistent. Half of businesses reported suffering an AI-powered attack in the past year.

Despite the recognized threat, many organizations struggle to implement AI-powered defenses due to a lack of expertise (45%) and budget (46%). This gap leaves businesses vulnerable as attackers leverage advanced capabilities at machine speed.

Source: Tech Radar