By Annika Mehta
“Artificial Intelligence in cybersecurity can be a double edge sword”
As we all know AI and cyber security are the need of the hour. Where artificial intelligence takes place, cyber security or electronic information is a must. Without a properly secured system, Artificial intelligence is a bane.
Artificial intelligence (AI) security solutions are programmed to distinguish "safe" from "malicious" behaviors by comparing the behaviors of users in one environment with that of a similar environment. This process is often referred to as "unsupervised learning" in which the system creates patterns without human supervision. For some AI platforms, such as Vectra,"deep learning" is another important application for detecting malicious behaviours. Inspired by the biological structure and function of neurons in the brain, Deep Learning is based on large, interconnected networks of artificial neurons. These neurons are organized in layers, with individual neurons connected by a series of weights that adjust in response to new incoming inputs.
Sophisticated AI cybersecurity tools for cybersecurity can compute and analyse large amounts of data, allowing them to develop patterns of activity that indicate potentially malicious behaviors. In this sense, AI mimics the threat detection capabilities of its human counterparts. In cybersecurity, AI can also be used for automation, triaging, alert summarization, alert sorting response automation and more. AI is often used to complement first-level analyst work.
Artificial intelligence helps to improve Cyber Security.
According to the Capgemini report, Fraud detection, malware detection, intrusion detection, network risk assessment and user and machine behaviors analysis are the top five AI use cases for improving cybersecurity. AI and ML solutions are redefining how organizations handle cybersecurity and ensure customer trust at a time when users are taking control of their data and privacy.
Major corporations such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Apple have invested heavily in AI tools to combat cyber threats and data breaches. Here are some ways AI and ML are playing an important role in improving cybersecurity:
Threat detection:
AI and advanced machine learning algorithms help organizations detect threats, intrusions and malicious activity. The use of AI software for threat detection is not new, as most cybersecurity organizations use AI algorithms to automate investigation and identify indicators of attacks. Detecting deviations and behavioral changes in real-time helps organizations respond faster and smarter.
Network security:
Many AI-powered intrusion detection software is deployed at the network level to ensure better network security. Since AI tools are capable of self-learning and pattern recognition, they are fast enough to observe hundreds of objects such as files, IP addresses, phishing links, visitors, and a huge amount of data. AI is faster than human detection because humans are not able to review millions of websites and addresses. Real-time detection and automated processes help organizations respond quickly and efficiently.
Attack prevention:
Companies can use AI to mitigate the risk of DDoS and phishing attacks. Traditionally, it can take days or even months to detect security breaches and take appropriate action. By using AI-driven security methods, organizations can find an automated and efficient way to prevent attacks before they happen, rather than taking action after the damage has potentially occurred. AI algorithms are programmed to process a large amount of data in seconds, which is not possible for humans. AI tools are widely used in anomaly detection - a process that identifies rare and suspicious observations, items, or events that deviate from the majority of data sets. For example. Gmail uses AI to block 100 million additional spam messages every day.
Predictive analytics:
AI can help with user behavioral analysis. With this AI capability, algorithms can learn the behaviour of users themselves and create a pattern in terms of usage, time, and platforms. This behaviour includes login times, IP, address, typing and scrolling patterns, and timing. AI-powered tools monitor data consistently and in real time and can detect irregularities in data or behaviour immediately, reducing the likelihood of potential harm.
What Cybersecurity Executives Think About AI
The Capgemini Research Institute has analysed the role of AI in cybersecurity and their report, Reinventing Cybersecurity with Artificial Intelligence, suggests that strengthening cybersecurity defences with AI is urgent for modern businesses.
Respondents to the survey (850 cybersecurity, IT information security and IT executives from 10 countries) believe that an AI-powered response is necessary because cybercriminals are already using AI technology to carry out cyberattacks.
Some of the key findings from the report are:
Three out of four executives’ surveys believe AI will enable their organisation to respond to security breaches faster.
69% of companies believe AI is necessary to respond to cyberattacks. Three in five companies say the use of AI improves the accuracy and efficiency of cyber analysts.
As networks get bigger and data gets more complex, AI offers better solutions to a company's cybersecurity needs. Simply put, humans are not capable of handling the growing complexity on their own, and sooner or later the use of AI becomes inevitable.
Drawbacks of AI in cybersecurity.
While AI does indeed provide an answer to most cybersecurity challenges, it is not yet the final solution. Currently, AI is still difficult to implement on a small scale and the technology itself still needs to be improved. In our opinion, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, but that does not change the fact that AI solutions have some disadvantages compared to humans.
Cybercriminals are also AI-savvy: AI solutions for security can also be used by hackers. The practices of cybersecurity teams are much more open than those of cyber criminals. It is unlikely that we can benefit from the experience of hackers, while they could potentially tap into the progress of companies and reverse engineer their findings to create a better threat.
Cyber threats evolve: even if you introduce AI into your business, it does not mean you are automatically immune to all threats. Viruses and malware are constantly evolving, and AI systems also need to be constantly redesigned, improved and maintained.
High acceptance barrier: Artificial Intelligence still requires a lot of manpower and computing power compared to typical antivirus programmes. You can simply install ready-made software instead of investing time and money in developing a custom AI solution. The good news, however, is that AI is becoming increasingly available and even small businesses can afford to build a neural security network.
Future of AI in cybersecurity
AI in cybersecurity may seem like an oxymoron at first glance. But it’s the wave of the future that will change how you think about the field forever. Artificial Intelligence is not enough to stop cybercrime. However, it can be a very important tool in helping to do so. There is no doubt that AI has a great future in cybersecurity. Here are some reasons why:
Identify threats more quickly and accurately than humans can.
Prevent attacks by automatically blocking suspicious activity.
Improve the resilience of networks against attack.
Speed up the process of recovering from a cyberattack.
Improve the overall security of digital systems.
AI has already started to play a role in cybersecurity. Its role is only going to become more important in the future. Organizations that want to stay ahead of the curve should start investing in AI-based security solutions now
Conclusion
Artificial intelligence and machine learning can improve security, while at the same time making it easier for cybercriminals to penetrate systems with no human intervention. This can bring significant damage to any company. Getting some kind of protection against cyber criminals is highly recommended if you want to reduce losses and stay in business.
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Proud mother. Excellent work. Keep it up 👍🙂