A slew of cyberattacks hit Japanese companies in September, exposing the data of millions and prompting calls for security checks, as AI lowers hacking barriers (Sarah Hilton/Bloomberg)

A wave of cyberattacks on Japanese companies in September exposed data belonging to millions of people, creating operational disruption, regulatory risk, and reputational damage. The article underscores that AI is lowering the barrier to entry for attackers, meaning CIOs and IT leaders should expect more frequent, faster-moving intrusions and treat security posture reviews, detection capabilities, and employee awareness as immediate business priorities.