BT logs 2,000 signals of potential cyber attacks every second.
The company said that it found web-connected devices were being scanned more than 1,000 times each a day by known malicious sources.
BT said that there had been a 1,234 per cent increase in new malicious scanners across its networks over the last 12 months and warned that the rise could be attributed to more cyber criminals using AI-powered, automated bots to scan for vulnerabilities in security systems in order to evading tools designed to spot suspicious activity.
The UK's National Cyber Security Centre has previously warned that AI tools were upskilling cyber criminals and lowering the barrier to entry for carrying out cyber attacks.
According to BT's research, the IT, defence and financial services sectors were the most targeted for cyber attacks, but other areas, such as retail, education and hospitality were being increasingly targeted because they are perceived to have less focus on security.
The data was released at BT's Secure Tomorrow cybersecurity festival held at its Adastral Park research centre in Suffolk.
Tris Morgan, managing director for security at BT, said, "Today, every business is a digital business, and our data shows that every 90 seconds hackers are checking connected devices to find a way in like opportunistic burglars looking for an open window."Tools like AI provide new routes of attack, but they can also be the first line of defence. At BT, we're constantly evolving our network security to stay one step ahead and protect more than a million businesses, day in, day out."
The warning about cybersecurity comes in the wake of government announcing that it was designating all UK data centres as Critical National Infrastructure, putting them on an equal footing to energy, water and emergency services infrastructure. They will now receive more government support and protection to protect them from cyber attacks, IT blackouts and environmental disasters.