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Companies are racing to deploy AI to help with various business operations, including cybersecurity. A 2023 survey by Forbes revealed that 51% of businesses adopt AI to automate processes, 53% to improve production processes, and 52% to optimize cybersecurity budgets.
Despite these apparent benefits, AI systems have loopholes that attackers can exploit. Traditional cybersecurity defenses are reactive, overburdened, and struggle to keep up with emerging threats. Fortunately, AI has emerged as a reliable tool in the fight against cyber security threats.
Below are several tips on how organizations can strengthen cybersecurity defenses with artificial intelligence.
A McKinsey report analyzes the growing cybersecurity hurdles IT organizations face. Cybercrimes are evolving thanks to automation and machine learning. Nevertheless, AI excels in cybercrime prevention because it analyzes large data volumes to spot potential security issues.
Machine learning algorithms empower the dynamic real-time monitoring of network traffic, relevant data sources, and online behavior to spot and stop potential security threats. Companies must continuously integrate AI as a comprehensive cyber strategy, not just as a plug-in solution.
A study by Positive Technologies shows that in 93% of all hacking cases, hackers easily breach internal firewalls and compromise local network files. Such sophistication in cybercrime causes companies to employ knee-jerk reactions such as hiring more cybersecurity experts.
Equipping your IT teams with the right AI tools can increase the productivity and efficiency of the implemented defenses. An IBM’s 2022 Cyber Security Intelligence Index Report revealed that human error was responsible for 95% of all breaches. Automation can help to reverse the trend.
AI data collection and analysis tools enable companies to maximize their security resources and concentrate on tasks that require highly skilled human intervention.
Cyberattacks where cyber criminals deceive people into releasing sensitive information are a significant threat to organizations. A recent Email Security Risk Report 2024 revealed that 94% of companies were victims of phishing attacks.
96% of survey respondents were adversely affected by the attacks. For this reason, CISOs should deploy generative AI to detect and prevent phishing attempts. AI algorithms look for anomalies and warning signals for phishing throughout the metadata of the email content.
However, the cost of using AI models to monitor all incoming messages can be prohibitively high. In the future, the models will become more efficient and cost-effective as they become increasingly customized and goal-oriented.
Global efforts are underway to shape the responsible use of AI and strengthen AI-driven cybersecurity. Industry players have started making a significant impact on standardized AI, led by Quadrilateral Security Dialogues (QUAD) and the Global Partnership for Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)
These AI and cybersecurity gatherings are bearing fruit as more companies join the effort to shape the future of digital security. A Forbes study shows that 76% of enterprises are now prioritizing AI and ML in their cybersecurity budgets.
As we hurtle into an interconnected future, AI in cybersecurity will remain a potent vanguard on the frontlines, predicting, preparing, and preventing looming threats. Small businesses must adopt a proactive stance that’s always one step ahead of the relentless hordes of cyber adversaries.
