AI Adoption Grows Among Mexican SMEs, but Cybersecurity Lags

Sixty Four percent of Mexican SMEs have integrated AI solutions into their operations, reveals a new study commissioned by Microsoft. However, a critical gap persists in the implementation of cybersecurity strategies that guarantee a secure and sustainable digital transformation.

"As AI becomes integrated into SME operations, it also opens up new vulnerabilities that must be addressed," says Fernando Mendoza, Partner Solution Sales Manager, Microsoft Mexico. “The relationship between AI and cybersecurity is consolidating as a strategic axis to ensure efficient and resilient processes in an increasingly digitized business environment.”

The advance in business digitization has driven Mexican SMEs to adopt emerging technologies such as AI, with an increase of 11% points over the previous year. This adoption responds to the need to improve efficiency, optimize resources, and maintain competitiveness to face the constant evolution of the market. However, this technological transformation has revealed challenges related to digital risk management, particularly in terms of cybersecurity.

The Microsoft study also highlights that 73% of companies plan to continue investing in AI solutions, reflecting a positive view of the sector on the impact of these technologies. However, only 49% have internal policies in place to regulate their use, leaving a significant portion of the business ecosystem exposed to threats that compromise the integrity of data, people, and processes.

The research also reveals that 60% of SMEs surveyed have developed a specific strategy for AI integration. However, only 49% have formal institutional policies in place to regulate its use. This difference shows the urgency of strengthening technological governance and establishing internal regulatory frameworks to accompany the adoption of these tools.

Likewise, 24% of Mexican SMEs reported having faced security threats directly related to the use of AI. In this context, digital maturity requires not only technological infrastructure, but also a comprehensive approach that includes leadership, strategy, and organizational culture aligned with digital risk management.

The study identifies significant differences in the challenges companies face according to their size. For micro companies, the main challenges are related to attracting new customers (24% more challenging than for medium-sized companies) and sales volume (17% more complex compared to small companies). Small companies, on the other hand, must focus on improving efficiency through cost reduction and technology adoption. Medium-sized companies face challenges in cybersecurity, technology acquisition, and talent retention.

The solutions most commonly used by SMEs include hardware, cloud storage, and antivirus. Fifty-seven percent of those surveyed report frequent use of AI and 54% of Generative AI. Digital native companies showed higher incidence in the adoption of these technologies, as well as in customer care software and specific cybersecurity solutions.

In terms of investment, 70% of Mexican SMEs allocate budget to protection technologies and 75% are focusing on staff training to acquire AI and cybersecurity skills. This training approach comes as a direct response to the need to strengthen internal capabilities and effectively manage technology risks.

Ninety percent of business leaders surveyed have a positive perception of the impact of AI on their operations. However, Microsoft reports that the choice of technology partner is a decisive factor in the effective implementation of these solutions. Microsoft offers tools such as Microsoft Defender for Business and the Zero Trust model, which enable advanced levels of protection without compromising operational productivity.

“These solutions are designed to offer security standards comparable to those of large corporations, but adapted to the operational and budgetary capabilities of SMEs. The goal is to facilitate a trusted innovation environment in which companies can leverage the benefits of AI without compromising their digital integrity,” says Mendoza.