In brief

Microsoft argues that AI is changing both how growing businesses operate and how cybercriminals attack them. The article says small and medium-sized businesses face a difficult balance: they want to adopt AI to move faster, but attackers are also using AI to automate phishing, create more convincing scams, and adapt malware more quickly. Microsoft highlights that AI-automated phishing is far more effective than traditional attacks, while modern cybercrime increasingly targets identities such as user accounts and access credentials.

The article frames cybersecurity as a core business risk rather than a purely technical issue, especially for companies without large security teams or constant monitoring. Disruptions from ransomware, fraud, or account compromise can interrupt operations, damage customer trust, and slow growth. Microsoft’s recommended response is to make security simpler and more integrated, using built-in protections for devices, identities, email, cloud apps, and data through tools such as Microsoft Security and Microsoft 365 Business Premium, so businesses can improve resilience without adding excessive operational complexity.

Source: Microsoft Security Blog

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