AI could change how cybersecurity and IT operations work together to better protect against breaches. Here are a few ideas on how companies can enhance cybersecurity with AI.
While many technologies help fight cyber risks, AI is fast becoming a leader in the pack of security tools. There are a number of reasons for this.
AI can simulate potential cyber-attack scenarios, generate secure code examples, and analyze large datasets to identify security flaws. These attributes are increasingly making AI an invaluable asset for modern cybersecurity practitioners.
Some Thoughts on AI in Cybersecurity
it is critical to mention here that Industry leaders agree, that AI is a double-edged sword. The result of its superlative powers depends on who wields the sword.
In 2024, AI will impact cybersecurity even more than before. It will play a dual role again- enhancing attack capabilities and identifying weak points in defenses.
Recent advances in AI have given cybersecurity defenders and malicious actors new tools and capabilities.
But at the same time, AI tools in the hands of security teams can help reduce the time it takes to respond to threats.
More about this dichotomy in the podcast –The Role of AI and ZT in Ensuring Better Security.
However, there is no doubt about the efficacy of using AI for fighting threats and vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity teams are preparing for a new wave of AI-driven threats. ironically, they are also using this technology to fight them.
Read here for more instances of how AI is used in cyber-security.
Cybersecurity with AI: Ways AI can Support Cyber Security Strategies
The following are some major techniques for using AI to improve cyber security.
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Simulating Possible Cyber Attack Scenarios
Cybersecurity professionals can use AI-powered simulation tools to understand and mitigate potential threats. These simulations allow organizations to create controlled environments to test their defenses against various attack scenarios. These simulations can become more sophisticated and realistic with the use of artificial intelligence tools.
Since these tools learn from used data, the efficacy of their security abilities increases with use. As a result, the more incidents the AI tools encounter, the sharper the security skill becomes. Here are a few ways the tool ensures this:
Also Read: Seven Ways How AI Transforms Cybersecurity
- Behavioral Analysis: AI can examine historical attack data to detect patterns and behaviors associated with various cyberattacks. It can then simulate these attacks to create learnings on an organization’s vulnerability.
- Red Team Operations: AI-powered red teaming enables organizations to simulate real-world attacks by mimicking actual threat actors’ tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). This also aids in identifying security vulnerabilities.
- Predictive Analytics: AI can predict potential attack vectors and vulnerabilities by analyzing current security configurations and historical data. This allows organizations to strengthen their defenses proactively.
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AI Augments Human Intervention for Security Strategies
The ISC2 annual cybersecurity workforce study surveyed nearly 15,000 cyber professionals, “The industry’s skills gap has reached a new high. Approximately 4 million professionals are required to adequately safeguard the digital world, representing a 13% increase over the previous year.”
Under the circumstances, enterprises need to develop newer and more efficient technologies that will fight cyber risks faster, and more accurately. AI tools can then be the biggest go-to for CISOs to set up a strong enough fight.
The standard approach to detecting and preventing cyber-attacks relied on specific software, firewalls, antivirus, and other tools. This necessitated updating the system and software at regular intervals.
It’s important to note that human intervention is still necessary to determine the appropriate level of security for websites and virtual platforms.
On that basis, Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a crucial role in identifying potential security threats, and helps in mitigating them.
However, it needs to work in tandem with human skills to deliver optimal security to enterprise infrastructure.
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Recognizing Threats in Database Updates
AI plays an important role in keeping database updates secured. The ML algorithms that drive the AI tools will efficiently collect extensive data from various records or earlier threats and incidents.
Earlier cyber-attacks would thus become a learning ground for the prediction of vulnerabilities. The information about these vectors and vulnerabilities can be further analyzed to identify threats.
AI can even recognize spyware, malware, and virus trends with an accurate analysis of data from multiple channels.
In many cases, AI can detect threats quickly and very accurately. There is a very high chance of developing an adequate response even before the threats actually turn into incidents and cause harm.
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Recognize Unusual Activities:
AI tools continuously scan networks and data, instantly detecting abnormalities. They can identify uncharacteristic behavior or abnormal activity that is not in line with the usual process or operation semantics.
These threats can be caught and neutralized before they turn into an incident.
With companies quickly adopting a zero-trust stance, any unauthorized access can be caught and eliminated immediately. AI can also help in detecting unauthorized access.
When an uncharacteristic entry is detected, they can determine whether it is a genuine threat or a false alarm.
The data will be stored as a learning and can be used for the same purpose in the future too.
The learnings of ML-based AI tools accumulate over time, giving them the ability to detect even minor anomalies. As a result, AI would point to anything erroneous running in the system almost immediately, even in the future.
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Buffer Data Flaw Detection:
A buffer overflow occurs when applications use more data than is normally required. AI can help detect data overflow in a buffer. This overflow could be a result of bad planning or a breach.
In addition, human error could also lead to a breach of key data.
AI can also detect these errors in real-time and identify the real reason behind them, avoiding further risks. This way, AI tools can precisely locate cyber security errors, bugs, and other flaws. Machine Learning further assists AI in identifying suspicious data sent by any application. It can catch and restrain the viruses or malware sent to gain system access, steal data, or exploit programming language vulnerabilities.
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Adequate and Timely Threat Prevention and response:
AI tools are in a constant state of evolution. Various applications are using newer and more updated forms of AI. With each advancement in its capabilities, there are increasing chances of its ability to detect a system or data usage flaw or abnormality.
It would also automatically prevent anyone from exploiting those flaws. It can install additional firewalls and repair coding errors that expose risks. Over a period of time, this ability becomes stronger and delivers more accurate security.
Response strategies work only after the threat has entered the system.
As previously stated, AI identifies unusual behavior and creates an outline of viruses or malware. Armed with this knowledge AI tools can take appropriate action against the virus or malware.
The advantage it brings is speed, which helps reduce business downtime. Sometimes it also controls the damage in terms of financial and reputation impact.
IT tools can remove the virus, repair the flaw, and administer to the damage caused. These tools then plug the gap to ensure that such an incident does not happen again and take appropriate precautions to avoid it.
Conclusion:
AI is expected to have a significant impact on the threat landscape. Security teams have an equal opportunity to use AI to improve threat detection and response.
Today, the use of AI tools can enhance threats as well as fight them better. It is really up to the enterprise to leverage its strengths best.
These tools work on all aspects of being threat-ready. With their ability to collate and analyze data instantly, they can enhance data privacy while reducing the impact of threats.
AI tools work alongside security teams, augmenting security skills and ensuring greater security protection to enterprises.
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