Gartner predicts spending on securing AI to grow 68.7% in 2027

Spending on tools that secure enterprise AI will reach almost US$4.8 billion next year, with AI usage control and application security drawing a wave of new vendors into the two fastest-growing segments.

Spending on securing AI will reach almost US$4.8 billion in 2027, a 68.7% increase over 2026, according to Gartner. The research firm also forecasts that by 2028, the market will grow to almost US$7.7 billion.

Gartner defines securing AI as the software and platforms that help organisations use AI safely and in line with regulation. It is a separate market from AI security, which covers cybersecurity products that use AI and machine learning to improve threat detection and response.

Shailendra Upadhyay, senior principal analyst at Gartner attributed the surge to the urgent need for enterprises to secure AI systems, while addressing emerging vulnerabilities and strengthening defences against sophisticated cyberthreats.

"This is compounded by growing vulnerabilities and supply chain attacks involving third-party and open-source software in AI projects. Without adequate security and visibility controls, enterprise AI initiatives face a high risk of failure,” Upadhyay said.

The table from Gartner below shows the opportunity in the different segments of securing AI that Gartner is predicting to see a strong growth in 2027.

Upadhyay highlighted that traditional security investments will not cover AI-specific threats. "Traditional security tools often treat AI applications like any other software and need significant updates to address AI-specific threats," he said. "Specialised solutions, such as AI usage control and application security, will see rapid growth as solutions that address these challenges."

Where the vendor competition sits

Competition varies by segment, according to Gartner. AI governance platforms and AI gateways build on existing enterprise systems for governance, data and API management, and Gartner expects the major vendors already holding those estates to keep their lead by adding AI capability or integrating specialised products.

AI application security and AI usage control are a different picture. Gartner said both segments are seeing a wave of startups enter the field, and they are also the two fastest-growing lines in the forecast. That combination points to a shifting vendor roster in exactly the areas where spending is accelerating.

"As the market grows, we can expect increased consolidation and acquisitions, with larger cybersecurity companies buying these startups to broaden their offerings," Upadhyay said. "Overall, the fast-paced growth in this space is fueling intense competition among vendors as they vie for market share."

As defenses like AI runtime protection and dedicated gateways become more reliable, Upadhyay reckon organisations will gain confidence in these tools, accelerating adoption.

"At the same time, as businesses expand their AI initiatives, the need for specialised AI security solutions will further grow, especially as autonomous AI introduces new vulnerabilities beyond the reach of traditional monitoring."

Gartner predicts that more than half of successful cyberattacks on AI agents will exploit access control weaknesses and prompt injections by 2029. The firm advises organisations to pair their existing security systems with specialised AI security tooling rather than treating one as a substitute for the other.