The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning mechanisms to improve cybersecurity have been on the rise in recent years.
AI can be used in various cybersecurity applications, such as network security, endpoint security, threat intelligence and identity and access management.
With the increasing volume and complexity of cyber-attacks in recent years, traditional security methods are no longer sufficient, according to CMTG Director Carl Filpo.
“AI offers a new approach to cybersecurity that can help organisations stay ahead of emerging threats and respond to attacks in real-time,” he explains.
“The use of AI in cybersecurity is only expected to continue to grow as businesses look for new ways to protect their systems and data from constantly evolving cyber threats.”
AI technology cannot only protect businesses systems and networks from cyberattacks, but it can even predict attacks before they happen.
AI can predict cyberattacks using machine learning algorithms that analyse data and identify patterns and anomalies. This uses a combination of behavioural analysis, threat intelligence, anomaly detection, predictive analytics, and natural language processing.
AI can help automate organisations security operations and allow security teams to focus on tasks requiring human intuitions and let the machines thwart attacks before they happen or during a breach.
“When it comes to threat detection, AI algorithms can be trained to identify patterns in data that could indicate the presence of a cyber-attack,” Carl says.
“These algorithms can analyse large amounts of data in real-time, performing the work quicker and more effectively than a person could and instantly alerting the cyber security team to potential threats.”
AI can also be used to detect and prevent fraud by analysing large volumes of financial data and identifying suspicious transactions and behaviours.
Mr Filpo explains you have probably already seen AI in action to improve cybersecurity when surfing the web or using internet banking apps.
“It’s common now to have an app or website determine the strength of your passwords that are protecting your data,” he says.
“This isn’t a human reviewing your password security, but an AI algorithm that considers things like the length of the password, its complexity, common patterns such as sequential and repeated characters, as well as previous breaches.
“Based on these factors the algorithm can assign a score to the passworded indicating its strength and either prompt the user to use a stronger password or enforce a password policy that requires stronger passwords.”
AI can play a significant role in improving the security of organisations existing IT infrastructure and protect them from cybersecurity threats.
Layering protection into current IT infrastructure is critical, including measures such as firewalls, anti-virus, remote access management and content filtering.
Mr Filpo warns that for many organisations, it is not a matter of if but when they will be subject to cyber- attacks.
“Most companies are probably unaware there already malicious actors, or ‘hackers’, targeting their systems for vulnerabilities,” he says.
“AI will continue to play an increasing role in protecting against these constantly evolving threats, and it is vital for all companies to either have a dedicated in-house or external IT provider to ensure systems are in place to utilise the latest technology to keep private data secure.”