Accenture has announced an expansion of its cybersecurity services, incorporating generative AI, deepfake protection, and quantum-safe data security solutions. These enhancements are designed to help clients across various industries strengthen their cyber resilience and adapt to the evolving threat landscape.
Addressing the Rise of AI-Driven Cyberattacks
Accenture’s cyber intelligence (ACI) researchers have observed a significant increase in the use of AI by cybercriminals. Specifically, they reported a 223% surge in deepfake-related tool trading on dark web forums in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This trend underscores the need for organizations to implement advanced cybersecurity measures capable of detecting, responding to, predicting, and preventing AI-driven threats in real time.
New Cybersecurity Services to Counter Emerging Threats
To address these evolving challenges, Accenture is introducing several new services. Each of these are targeted services aiming to help deal with specific threats and address potential security vulnerabilities that may come as a result.
Foremost among them are Accenture’s Secure AI Solutions that focuses on building resilience throughout the entire AI program lifecycle. It includes best practices for developing secure AI frameworks, policies, and processes. It also provides capabilities to assess and protect access, data, models, and infrastructure, building trust in AI systems by design. Red-teaming and adversarial simulations are used to identify vulnerabilities in AI systems, including large language models (LLMs), and a Generative AI Security Diagnostic is available to detect and secure unauthorized AI deployments.
Together with this, Deepfake Protection will provide security testing, monitoring, and detection of deepfakes, leveraging partner technologies such as Reality Defender. This aims to protect organizations from the impact of deepfakes on customer contact centers, business video conferences, and other critical communication channels.
Accenture is also introducing a cloud-based solution called its Business Cyber Crisis Recovery. This cloud-based solution is designed to help organizations in sectors like healthcare, telecommunications, and oil & gas quickly restore essential infrastructure following a cyberattack. The goal is to significantly reduce downtime, enabling operations to resume in hours rather than weeks.
Rounding up its offerings, the Quantum Security Suite brings a bevvy of services that help organizations develop robust quantum security strategies. It includes identifying vulnerable encryption across the enterprise and replacing outdated technology with the latest quantum-safe algorithms recommended by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Enhancing Core Cybersecurity Services with Generative AI
Accenture is also integrating generative AI into its core cybersecurity offerings through Accenture mySecurity, a centralized suite of assets. This integration aims to improve the speed and efficiency of cyber resilience services across various areas, including supply chain, cloud, applications, and identity and access management. This enhancement is intended to help clients better protect against AI-driven threats. An example of this in action is Accenture’s work with the Kuwait Government Central Agency for Information Technology to establish and manage a National Security Operations Center, leveraging gen AI to enhance threat detection and remediation.
Expanding Global Cybersecurity Capabilities
To support the delivery of these enhanced services, Accenture is expanding its global network of Cyber Future Centers. New locations include a gen AI Security studio in Brussels and Washington, D.C.; a Quantum Security Center and Lab and a Cyber Physical Security center in Bengaluru; and a Sovereignty Hub in Malaga. This expansion brings Accenture’s total number of cybersecurity facilities to more than 40 across 22 countries.
Investing in Cybersecurity Expertise
Accenture has significantly increased its cybersecurity workforce, growing by more than 30% in 2024 to over 25,000 professionals. The company has also made strategic acquisitions and investments in cybersecurity, space, and quantum security companies.
