Why Cybersecurity needs a human firewall upgrade

By Aniket Amdekar, General Manager, Cyber Defence Education, Great Learning

The rapid evolution of Generative AI has ushered in a new era of cyber threats: hyper-personalised phishing campaigns, deepfake-based impersonations, and misinformation that can bypass even the most advanced detection systems. In this budding threat environment, the traditional approach to cybersecurity awareness, solely done through periodic training and checklist-based compliance, is no longer enough. Organisations must rethink cyber resilience through the lens of human intelligence augmented by AI literacy. The concept of the ‘Human Firewall 2.0’ represents the transformation where a workforce is equipped to recognise, respond to, and mitigate AI-powered digital deception in real time.

The Shifting Threat Landscape

Cybersecurity has always been a race between attackers and defenders. But with generative AI, the pace and sophistication of attacks have accelerated dramatically. According to IBM’s 2025 X-Force Threat Intelligence Index, phishing attacks have surged ...