Artificial intelligence is transforming the way modern businesses operate across Bahrain, while simultaneously reshaping the cybersecurity landscape that surrounds them.
While providing organisations faster threat detection capabilities, AI is enabling cyber criminals to automate attacks with unprecedented scale and speed.
With companies rapidly adopting cloud platforms and digital operations, experts warn that cybersecurity can no longer stop at the network perimeter.
Organisations must build resilience across their systems, data, and third-party vendors.
“AI is fundamentally changing the cybersecurity landscape, creating both opportunities and new areas of risk,” said Grant Thornton Bahrain senior partner Jatin Karia. “The priority should be to anticipate disruption, respond effectively, and maintain confidence.”
While AI helps security teams spot anomalies and prioritise software vulnerabilities, bad actors are using it for automated reconnaissance and generating convincing malicious content.
Operational risks also extend beyond traditional IT failures; disruptions to cloud providers or vendor networks can instantly freeze customer services and financial workflows.
The rise of autonomous AI agents adds further exposure. Major vulnerabilities include prompt injection attacks, AI-driven data exposure, identity breaches, and the rise of ungoverned “shadow AI” tools used by employees without authorisation.
“Securing these systems requires ongoing monitoring rather than a single assessment,” emphasised Grant Thornton Bahrain technology advisory director Shams Khan.
“Businesses need to balance innovation with strong governance, identity controls, data protection, and human oversight,” noted Grant Thornton Bahrain technology advisory senior manager Vitesh Sharma.
Experts stress that mitigating these risks demands a mix of technical safeguards, corporate governance, and employee awareness.
As Bahrain drives its national digital economy, industry specialists agree that firms embedding continuous resilience into their business strategy will be best placed to guard against emerging threats while capitalising on AI’s growth potential.
avinash@gdnmedia.bh
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