AI Shrinks Cyberattack Exploit Time From Years to Days

SANS Institute's Robert T. Lee on AI-Driven Attacks Outpacing Cyber Defense Tom Field (SecurityEditor) • March 29, 2026

Artificial intelligence has transformed cyber operations by reducing the time needed to exploit vulnerabilities - from years to days now, with attackers moving toward execution in hours or minutes. This acceleration has shifted the balance, leaving defenders struggling to match the pace of modern threats, said Robert T. Lee, chief AI officer and chief of research at SANS Institute.

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Attackers have embedded automation across the entire attack life cycle, Lee said, which has not only increased efficiency but also expanded the scale and reach of cyber operations, enabling small groups of attackers to execute complex campaigns.

"What used to take thousands of personnel on a nation-state team can now be accomplished with just two individuals," he said.

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