Deepfake-as-a-Service: The Next Challenge for Enterprise Cybersecurity

Purpose: This study investigates the emerging threat of Deepfake-as-a-Service (DFaaS) and its implications for enterprise cybersecurity. It aims to explore how the commodification of synthetic media is reshaping threat landscapes, operational vulnerabilities, and strategic responses within organizational settings. Methodology: An exploratory qualitative design was adopted, combining thematic document analysis with expert commentary. A corpus of 85 peer-reviewed articles, industry reports, and threat intelligence briefs published between 2018 and 2024 was systematically reviewed. NVivo software facilitated thematic clustering, while Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework guided data coding and interpretation. Findings: The study reveals five key themes: (1) DFaaS platforms are increasingly accessible and sophisticated, (2) enterprises face specific threats such as executive impersonation, internal disinformation, and financial fraud, (3) current detection infrastructures are inadequate against adversarial synthetic media, (4) corporate governance and policy responses are fragmented and reactive, and (5) resilience strategies such as content provenance, cross-channel verification, and employee training are emerging but unevenly adopted. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice, and Policy: Theoretically, the study introduces the construct of Cognitive Authenticity to reframe cybersecurity around perceptual integrity. In practice, it outlines a DFaaS Attack Lifecycle Model and recommends enterprise-level operational shifts to address synthetic threats. From a policy standpoint, it advocates for legal recognition of synthetic identity fraud, mandates for content authenticity standards, and international cooperation on AI-enabled cyber norms. These contributions bridge technical, organizational, and regulatory perspectives in confronting synthetic deception.