Latest news with #Abnormal
Forbes
12-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
People Are A Cybersecurity Liability—But They Could Also Be A Solution
Anyone who works in IT knows this basic fact about cybersecurity: People are the weakest link. As long as there has been cybercrime, scammers have exploited this fact. According to a new study from AI-powered cybersecurity company Abnormal, attackers tried to steal more than $300 million from companies through scam emails impersonating vendors in the last year. While you may be conducting trainings on email safety and continually testing employees with fake scam emails, the scammers are still successful. By monitoring activity in 1,400 organizations' email accounts, Abnormal found a 44.2% engagement rate with these fake emails. They were some of the most often replied and forwarded emails throughout company inboxes, with large companies' employees responding and forwarding them 72% of the time. And the vast majority of these incidents—98.5%—were not reported to the IT department. It's a difficult problem to solve. Abnormal found that most of the engagement with scam emails came from more entry-level employees, who are likely unaware of the extent of phishing emails and company processes. Adding a section on phishing email training to onboarding might not have the desired effect, considering new hires could be overwhelmed. Abnormal suggests using an AI-powered platform to scrutinize suspect emails, like ones that come from slightly misspelled domain names, or that ask for more information about past transactions in completely different email threads. But a more holistic approach might be leaning on education, so that people in the company better police their inboxes. If they know what to look for, are told the stakes, have an established reporting process and potentially earn rewards for stopping fraudsters, employees will have a reason to pay attention and care—something every IT department hopes they can find. AI is transforming everything about the way we do business. If you are ready and have a plan to utilize it, AI can take your business to the next level. If you aren't ready, your business could be left behind. Boomi CEO Steve Lucas wrote a book about preparing for the change called Digital Impact: The Human Element of AI-Driven Transformation. I talked to him about that transformation, and an excerpt from our conversation is later in this newsletter. Scale AI cofounder and CEO Alexandr Wang Meta is known for putting a deep stake in the ground around up and coming areas in technology, like the VR metaverse and AI-enabled smart glasses. This week, reports indicated it's making a big move toward the goal of AI 'superintelligence'—a system that outperforms human capabilities. Forbes' Rashi Shrivastava writes Meta has its eye on a 49% stake in AI evaluation startup Scale AI, reportedly costing it $14.8 billion. In this potential deal, Scale AI's CEO Alexandr Wang would join Meta as part of a new AI superintelligence lab. The New York Times reports Meta is also trying to woo other top AI figures to work for its new lab. Reports indicate that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has grown impatient with the company's progress in AI so far, and this acquisition would help Meta close some of the distance between it and other top AI companies. Meanwhile, this week the Browser Company released the beta form of Dia, its generative-AI-enabled browser, writes Forbes senior contributor Barry Collins. Dia includes several features that allow generative AI to get to know users, as well as summarize and compare information open in different browser tabs. Its standout feature 'remembers' everything you do online: every tab you open, every search you do, the work you've been doing online, and even your writing style. Browser Company CEO Josh Miller said in a video introducing Dia that at the end of a week, month or year of browsing, Dia will 'know you as well as your closest friends and colleagues.' Collins notes the Browser Company doesn't provide details about how it would keep this information secure. Salesforce headquarters in San Francisco, California In the last month, three top tech companies made acquisitions in the data space worth nearly $9.3 billion, writes Forbes senior contributor Peter Cohan. Analytics company Databricks is spending $1 billion to buy cloud-based open source database company Neon. Salesforce is spending $8 billion to purchase data management provider Informatica. And data cloud service Snowflake is spending $250 million to buy data warehouse provider Crunchy Data. Cohan writes that these acquisitions have one thing in common: Many of the larger companies' customers are demanding better data platforms and organization in order to more effectively use AI. Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks during the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 09, 2025 in Cupertino, California. This week was Apple's WWDC, its anticipated annual conference where the tech behemoth usually announces new software updates. This year, many of Apple's announcements were about AI, bringing more features through Apple Intelligence, which will come to devices with the iOS 26 update this fall, writes Forbes senior contributor Kate O'Flaherty. (Apple is changing its iOS naming conventions to be the same as the year they are released. Updated devices now run on iOS 18.5.) Some of the major updates include the ability to search and take action on whatever users are viewing across apps—they can ask ChatGPT for more information about what's onscreen and easily search across Google to find similar products. It can recognize when someone is looking at an event and suggest adding it to their calendar. It can screen text messages from unknown senders, keeping them silenced until users accept them. And it will be able to do live translation, which will be integrated into Messages, FaceTime and the phone itself—but the translations will stay on devices and remain personal. O'Flaherty writes that another new feature, reported on by MacRumors, will basically serve as a secure digital ID verification. The feature, called Verify with Wallet on the Web, will allow users to verify important ID details—like age when renting a car—without having to upload a photo of their actual ID. It will allow users to store state-issued IDs, driver's licenses and passports online for identification purposes. The data will be protected by end-to-end encryption, so the underlying data will only be accessible to the user. It will also prohibit the use of fake IDs. Last but not least, Apple is rolling out a refreshed design. Called Liquid Glass, it updates the traditional look of the iOS experience to look, feel and reflect like glass panels. The appearance of screens, toolbars, icons and functions themselves will become more reactive to touch and motion, and will feature more rounded corners. Apple is extending the Liquid Glass look to all of its platforms with the fall's operating system update. It's received mixed reviews so far. Steve Lucas Integration and data management platform Boomi CEO Steve Lucas realized that the capabilities and possibilities of AI were zooming toward businesses like a meteor—but with deep changes that could translate to a wipeout for businesses that aren't prepared and cannot embrace it. He wrote his new book, Digital Impact: The Human Element of AI-Driven Transformation, to look at what AI can do and help businesses take full advantage of the possibilities. I talked to Lucas about what companies need to do to not just survive, but succeed in the AI era. This conversation has been edited for length, clarity and continuity. How do you recommend a company get all of its data sprawl, apps used by various employees and departments, and legions of APIs under control? Lucas: The first thing is acknowledging you have a problem. The first thing is recognizing the digital fragmentation—a term I use frequently—exists and it is a real problem. The second thing is then assessing within your organization: What are the systems, the applications, the data, the business elements that I need to run and operate my business? What are the core things that I must absolutely have on a day-to-day basis? The third is mapping the processes within your organization, what I characterize as the hidden processes today. So think about this for a minute. How many CEOs could say: 'I know exactly how our income statement is assembled at this company… all the systems required to pull that data together … the spreadsheets that are sitting out there with the magic translation that my accounting team does.' Knowledge processes are very different than business processes. A business process is a manufacturing process, and I know every step that goes into the assembly. The knowledge process: Do I understand what elements go into the assembly of the income statement as a product? Most organizations don't have a good model for what their knowledge processes are, so you've got to inventory that. Once you do that, you have the ability to weigh: Here's my knowledge processes. Here's my business processes. What systems and applications do I really need to achieve this? Ultimately, where we're going with this is probably 75% to 90% of the knowledge processes that we rely on today, that human beings work on, will go to AI. How does the transformation to AI impact contracts you already have for SaaS and with other tech vendors? You can't rely on your suite anymore—rigid architectures, closed systems. By the way, these vendors know that they're in deep trouble. Your competitors, the ones that aren't weighed down with these rigid architectures, are building flexible, agent-driven, highly composable systems. You have to learn how to extract value from your existing stack, not invest in your existing stack. Companies are not going to win by replacing their core systems. Those are very, very expensive. I go back to a simple example: Hundreds of thousands of companies all over the world rely on antiquated billing systems that are 20, 30 years old. If I want to go in and have my billing system be more intelligent so it's not sending collection notices to my most important customers, the average company today has to spend tens or hundreds of millions of dollars upgrading their infrastructure just to do that. That doesn't make any sense at all. Keeping your existing technology, but making it more composable and more flexible with AI, that's where this stuff is going. The last thing I would say is silos are a massive liability. If you've worked really hard to create this stack that is siloed in nature, when you hear things like your competitors are moving more quickly, they're more nimble, it's because they've invested in an integration automation orchestration platform. What advice would you give to a CIO who is working toward bringing in AI agents and wants to make sure they're going about it the right way? Prioritize integration, automation and orchestration. Companies that do, that can build modern composable, AI-driven workflows, will win. Build your digital nervous system early. Invest in a platform layer that lets systems, data and agents communicate. Without that layer, your AI is blind and isolated; you'll build terrific AI that is totally unable to orchestrate meaningful workflows. I don't think we're in a 'rip and replace' world. I think we're in a 'wrap' world, where we can wrap our silos and our systems in intelligence and connectivity. Those systems that you already own, wrapping them in intelligence and connectivity is extraordinarily transformative. Lastly, create out of the gate your AI or agentic governance strategy before the chaos arrives. I met with a hospital network, and they said, 'Steve, we all have the technology now to build an amazing AI that could help a doctor look at test results and go, 'Holy cow, your creatinine level was super high,' and then it could figure out [potentially related conditions the patient was] here for once upon a time. What we can't bring together is our digital past. The data for that sits in a hundred different systems, and how do we also operate and access all of those systems in a highly regulated environment where HIPAA still matters? How do we protect your privacy at the same time?' As compelling as that future is that has arrived, we have to rationalize it with our digital past. Leadership is never easy, but it's especially challenging right now with a volatile business climate and rapidly changing economic projections. Here are five mental concepts from other disciplines that can help you lead through whatever the world throws at you. Successfully bringing AI to your business probably requires a massive cultural shift, which could be met with resistance. Here are some ways to build an AI-first culture, setting expectations around an AI transition. Last week, Walmart unveiled its generative AI-powered shopping assistant embedded in its app. What is it called? A. Walter B. Roly C. Rover D. Sparky See if you got the answer right here.
Business Wire
10-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Abnormal AI Named to CNBC Disruptor 50 List for Second Consecutive Year, Showcasing Continued Innovation and Leadership in AI-Powered Cybersecurity
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Abnormal AI, the leader in AI-native human behavior security, has been named to the prestigious CNBC Disruptor 50 —a list spotlighting the most innovative and forward-thinking private companies transforming the economy. In its second consecutive year, Abnormal moved up to No. 25 on the list, reflecting the company's sustained momentum, scalability, and impact across the AI and cybersecurity landscape. Abnormal AI was selected for its significant business growth and transformative product ecosystem. The annual list is curated by CNBC's editorial team with input from data partners PitchBook and IBISWorld, and the Disruptor 50 Advisory Council, composed of experts in innovation and entrepreneurship who evaluate companies based on a blend of quantitative and qualitative insights. This award acknowledges how Abnormal is leveraging bold ideas, cutting-edge technologies, and scalable models to challenge incumbents and drive real-world impact. 'It's an incredible honor to be recognized as a CNBC Disruptor once again,' said Evan Reiser, CEO and founder of Abnormal AI. 'Earning this accolade for the second consecutive year validates our relentless focus on innovation, our commitment to our customers, and our continued creation of breakthrough technology that's reshaping the future of cybersecurity through the power of behavioral AI.' Since its founding in 2018, Abnormal AI has emerged as a category leader, protecting over 3,200 organizations, including more than 20% of the Fortune 500, with unparalleled speed and accuracy. Its behavioral AI platform has mitigated over $10 billion in annual risk, with adoption accelerating globally. The company has continued its strong trajectory by continuing to hit landmark milestones—launching breakthrough AI agents that reimagine security awareness training, achieving FedRAMP authorization in just 256 days, and announcing plans to expand into new countries across Europe and Asia. In addition to this back-to-back CNBC Disruptor 50 recognition, Abnormal has also been honored with several other accolades in recent months. A few of these distinctions include placement Fortune's Most Innovative Companies of 2025, making the CRN AI 100 as a top 20 hottest AI cybersecurity company for the second consecutive year, winning two 2025 Cyber Defense Magazine Global Infosec Awards for Cutting Edge Cybersecurity AI and Pioneering Email Security and Management, as well as securing spots on the Rising in Cyber 2025, SC Awards Europe (for Best Email Security Solution and Best Behavior Analytics/ Enterprise Threat Detection), and 2025 InfraRed 100. Michael DeCesare, president at Abnormal AI added, 'This recognition on the CNBC Disruptor 50 reinforces the traction that we are seeing in the market as appetite grows for AI-native solutions. Our go-to-market strategy is accelerating alongside this rising demand, especially as organizations across industries face escalating threats—including those powered by AI. We're turning the tables: using good AI to fight malicious AI.' For the full CNBC Disruptor 50 list, visit here. About Abnormal AI Abnormal AI is the leading AI-native human behavior security platform, leveraging machine learning to stop sophisticated inbound attacks and detect compromised accounts across email and connected applications. The anomaly detection engine leverages identity and context to understand human behavior and analyze the risk of every cloud email event—detecting and stopping sophisticated, socially-engineered attacks that target the human vulnerability. You can deploy Abnormal in minutes with an API integration for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace and experience the full value of the platform instantly. Additional protection is available for Slack, Workday, ServiceNow, Zoom, and multiple other cloud applications. Abnormal is currently trusted by more than 3,200 organizations, including over 20% of the Fortune 500, as it continues to redefine how cybersecurity works in the age of AI. Learn more at
CNBC
10-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
25. Abnormal AI
Founders: Evan Reiser (CEO), Sanjay JeyakumarLaunched: 2018Headquarters: Las Vegas, NevadaFunding: $546 millionValuation: $5.1 billionKey Technologies: Artificial intelligence, machine learningIndustry: CybersecurityPrevious appearances on Disruptor 50 list: 1 (No. 47 in 2024) Abnormal AI uses artificial intelligence to help big companies counter an old but dangerous problem: socially engineered attacks delivered via email, exploiting human vulnerability. These remain one of the largest cybersecurity threats. Unlike traditional cybersecurity that identifies markers of compromise, Abnormal Security uses artificial intelligence to create baselines for users' normal behavior, then uses the baseline to filter out malicious activity. Examples are emails sent at the wrong time of the day, with words that aren't right for that user, or an uncommon contact reaching out in a suspicious manner. Humans backstop the AI filter and respond to threats. The company can also detect attacks that bypass multi-factor authentication and guard against account takeovers. In 2024, Abnormal hit several key milestones: 100% year over year growth, $200 million in annual recurring revenue, and over 3,000 customers across 35 countries. The company has been expanding across Europe and to Japan, and has grown its headcount by 70% to more than 1,000. Abnormal has continued to roll out new products, including an AI system that works across cloud applications, including email and collaboration apps, and a security mailbox that automates user-reporting phishing attacks. This year, the company launched autonomous AI agents that offer employees personalized training replacing generic cybersecurity compliance modules, using actual attacks from the past to create simulations that train users. With systems designed for companies with thousands of employees, Abnormal AI says more than 20% of the Fortune 500 use its services. In April, the company secured a key authorization from the federal government to compete for contracts in the public sector. Last August, Abnormal announced a $250 million Series D funding round led by Wellington Management. Other investors include CrowdStrike Falcon Fund and Greylock Partners, where CEO and serial entrepreneur Evan Reiser incubated the company.
Business Wire
13-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Abnormal AI Reveals Gaps and Opportunities in Security Awareness Training Programs in New Report
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Abnormal AI, the leader in AI-native human behavior security, today released a new research report that highlights a stark disconnect between security awareness training (SAT) programs and their real-world effectiveness. While nearly every organization surveyed (99%) suffered a security incident tied to human error in the past year, the vast majority stated that they struggle to implement effective, scalable SAT programs that reduce this risk. Based on a survey of over 300 security and IT leaders in the United States and United Kingdom, Abnormal's research found that SAT is widely adopted, with 75% of organizations requiring employees to complete training at least quarterly. However, many programs exist only to satisfy regulatory or insurance requirements, which results in stale content, minimal engagement, and a perception of training as 'checkbox compliance.' 'When SAT content is one-size-fits-all and delivered against an annual or quarterly schedule to check a box, it can feel like a chore that employees are apt to tune out—and that opens the door to costly breaches,' said Mike Britton, CIO of Abnormal AI. 'Attackers' most vulnerable targets are people, not systems, and reducing avoidable user actions—like clicking on a suspicious link—needs to be front and center.' Unfortunately, the amount of time and effort required to run an effective SAT program was shown to be a major blocker preventing organizations from achieving success. Eighty-three percent of respondents agreed that their current SAT tools require substantial effort to operate and maintain, with more than half (53%) agreeing that the effort required to run them outweighs their impact. Despite widespread recognition that training can dramatically improve an organization's security posture, the reality is grim: SAT programs are currently insufficient, ineffective, or both. The good news is, organizations are prepared to act. The report's findings highlight the potential for AI to improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of training programs in reducing human error. Nearly all of the organizations surveyed (99%) are in favor of including AI in future SAT tools and workflows, and see the value in using AI to support various functions of their programs, including to: Automatically generate training campaigns and workflows (99%) Automate the creation of training videos (95%) Automatically create individualized attack simulations based on individual user profiles (95%) Conduct conversational coaching by leveraging LLMs (95%) Create dynamic risk scores based on past user behavior and the types of attacks targeting certain types of users (96%) The report highlights Just-in-Time (JIT) training as an untapped opportunity in SAT. JIT training delivers education to employees at the exact moment they need it—for instance, right when they encounter a suspicious email. This dynamic, adaptive learning can be tuned to current threats and individual user behavior, with lessons that are highly relevant to real-world risks. 'To truly defend against human-centric threats, enterprises must evolve their SAT programs to be continuous, dynamic, contextual, and personalized,' continued Britton. 'For years, this kind of training was something security leaders might have wished for, but implementing it in the real world would have been far too labor-intensive. Now, with AI, security teams have the power to make the dream of highly effective security awareness training a reality.' Download 2025 State of Security Awareness Training here. Learn more about Abnormal AI's AI Phishing Coach solution. About Abnormal AI Abnormal AI is the leading AI-native human behavior security platform, leveraging machine learning to stop sophisticated inbound attacks and detect compromised accounts across email and connected applications. The anomaly detection engine leverages identity and context to understand human behavior and analyze the risk of every cloud email event—detecting and stopping sophisticated, socially-engineered attacks that target the human vulnerability. You can deploy Abnormal in minutes with an API integration for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace and experience the full value of the platform instantly. Additional protection is available for Slack, Workday, ServiceNow, Zoom, and multiple other cloud applications. Abnormal is currently trusted by more than 3,200 organizations, including over 20% of the Fortune 500, as it continues to redefine how cybersecurity works in the age of AI. Learn more at
Business Wire
28-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Abnormal AI Launches Breakthrough AI Agents to Reimagine Security Awareness Training and Provide Instant Board-Ready Data Insights
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Abnormal AI, the leader in AI-native human behavior security, today unveiled its most ambitious product release to date—introducing autonomous AI agents that revolutionize how organizations train employees and report on risk, while also evolving its email security capabilities to continue to stop the world's most advanced email attacks. In a year defined by the explosive use of malicious AI for cybercrime, Abnormal is doubling down on its mission to protect people. With its AI-native platform, Abnormal's newest innovations bring intelligent automation to security awareness training, executive reporting, and advanced email threat detection. 'The most dangerous attacks don't target firewalls—they target people, and people need better protection,' said Evan Reiser, CEO and founder of Abnormal AI. 'Today, we're introducing true AI agents that not only protect people from advanced cyberattacks, but also eliminate the manual effort that's bogging down security teams. From personalized phishing simulations to autonomous reporting and expanded threat remediation capabilities, these innovations represent a massive leap forward in how AI can be operationalized across the security stack.' Introducing Two New AI Agents In a recent survey, 53% of security leaders agreed that the effort required to run and maintain their organization's current security awareness training program isn't worth the impact it appears to be having. To solve this pain point, the launch of AI Phishing Coach allows organizations to replace ineffective, generic training with a personalized, autonomous AI platform. By converting real attacks blocked by Abnormal into tailored simulations for each user, it delivers instant coaching modules when users click—no more canned videos or impersonalized courses. For company-wide training, AI-generated videos are created on-demand, branded, and customized to each organization's threat landscape. Unlike legacy training platforms that rely on static templates and outdated scenarios, AI Phishing Coach uses real-time behavioral threat data to deliver hyper-relevant training experiences. Because it's powered by Abnormal's behavioral AI engine, it learns from each organization's threat environment and adapts training dynamically—providing proactive education before attacks succeed. It's like giving every employee their own AI-powered security mentor—without adding any operational burden to security teams. In addition to AI Phishing Coach, Abnormal is also launching AI Data Analyst to turn complex security data into instantly usable intelligence—providing admins with better reporting tools and saving teams dozens of hours in manual data aggregation. AI Data Analyst acts as an intelligent agent that proactively delivers reports directly to customers, highlighting the value Abnormal is bringing to their organization. Customers can then interact with the agent to ask follow-up questions, explore specific data points, or request customized board decks—complete with interactive slides and plain-language insights—tailored to showcase the impact of Abnormal AI on their security posture. Enhancing Email Security to Replace the SEG As email attacks continue to bypass legacy secure email gateways (SEGs), the Abnormal Behavior Platform has consistently outperformed traditional tools—and even human analysts. Today, three-fourths of Abnormal customers have moved away from their third-party SEG. To support this shift and continue to provide more visibility and flexibility, Abnormal is rolling out three no-cost upgrades to Inbound Email Security, now available to all customers: Quarantine Release: Consolidates Microsoft-quarantined emails into the Abnormal platform for streamlined triage and faster response. URL Rewriting: Adds user-facing warnings and click tracking for suspicious links, improving protection without disrupting the email experience. Enterprise Remediation Settings: Allows administrators to tailor remediation actions based on threat type and business context. Together, these enhancements make it easier than ever for organizations to fully replace their legacy tools while maintaining control, visibility, and peace of mind. Expanding Globally, Scaling Securely Earlier this month, Abnormal achieved FedRAMP Moderate Authorization in only 256 days, paving the way for federal agencies to easily adopt the platform. Today, the company is also announcing expanded operations into Germany, with Japan and France to follow later this year. As we expand, the Abnormal Behavior Platform will be tuned for the nuances and language needs of each market. Additional Resources: Visit Abnormal at RSAC 2025: Abnormal will be showcasing these innovations throughout the week at Hotel Zelos in San Francisco. Demos are available upon request. Request an Invite to AI After Dark: On Tuesday, April 29, Abnormal AI is celebrating its customers with an exclusive party at The Warfield, featuring The Chainsmokers. You can request an invite here. Discover More about the Products: Read more about each of these product innovations in this blog post from CEO Evan Reiser. About Abnormal AI Abnormal AI is the leading AI-native human behavior security platform, leveraging machine learning to stop sophisticated inbound attacks and detect compromised accounts across email and connected applications. The anomaly detection engine leverages identity and context to understand human behavior and analyze the risk of every cloud email event—detecting and stopping sophisticated, socially-engineered attacks that target the human vulnerability. You can deploy Abnormal in minutes with an API integration for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace and experience the full value of the platform instantly. Additional protection is available for Slack, Workday, ServiceNow, Zoom, and multiple other cloud applications. Abnormal is currently trusted by more than 3,200 organizations, including over 20% of the Fortune 500, as it continues to redefine how cybersecurity works in the age of AI. Learn more at
