Five worthy reads is a regular column on five noteworthy items we’ve discovered while researching trending and timeless topics. This week, sticking with October’s cybersecurity awareness theme, we’ll take an in-depth look at both the good and the bad of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in cybersecurity.
It’s that time of year when everyone’s talking about cybersecurity and spreading awareness on the importance of keeping IT workspaces safe, be it personal or professional. October is also a popular time to take a look at cybersecurity trends to learn about any advancements made in existing technology and any new solutions or capabilities expected to hit the market soon. Among these trends, AI and ML are being leveraged both for and against cybersecurity measures.
AI has had a substantial impact in terms of reinventing the approach to cybersecurity. By learning unique patterns of malicious behavior, AI can quickly detect potential issues and alarm the IT systems of such activities. Over time, ML techniques—which use past data, analyze situations, and provide answers—will be able to analyze situations and provide answers for complex threats that may occur in the future, with some help from humans, of course. Not limited to these, AI can also help in detecting abuse of insider data and compromises made on biometrics, shining a light on any trojan infiltrations in the system and much more.
While AI and ML can help reduce a lot of the time and effort required to protect IT systems, these technologies are unfortunately quite popular among cybercriminals as well, who have learned to make their malware AI-proof. Some have experimented with disguising their malware as good code or genuine files entering the systems. So, while useful in analyzing vast amount of data and providing faster answers, AI and ML still have a long way to go in accurately detecting cyberthreats.
There’s a lot to consider when adopting AI and ML. Here are some worthy reads from multiple perspectives to help you leverage AI and ML to secure your IT systems:
1. AI application overlooked in cyber security research
Learn about the importance of AI and ML in cybersecurity for tackling invisible threats and anomalies. Not only will AI and ML help with blind spots in your network, they can also help you comply with regulations, making it easier to do business around the world.
All humans make mistakes, especially with mundane tasks like pouring over vast amounts of data looking for anomalies. But since computers “never get bored,” they’re great with tasks like data correlation and crunching numbers. You can leverage AI and ML for automated network analysis and user behavior modeling to develop a strong defense against cyberthreats.
3. The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Cyber Security
There have been advancements in the technologies used to defend against malicious activities, but the tools cybercriminals are using have also evolved. Trying out traditional cybersecurity techniques with a twist of AI and ML capabilities may be your best bet.
4. How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Cyber Security Landscape and Preventing Cyber Attacks
It’s important to gain a clear understanding of the pros and cons AI and ML have to offer. Technologies related to passwords, authentication, vulnerability management and threat detection, and user behavioral analytics are growing at a fast pace. Keeping a close eye on these technologies will help with mitigating attacks.
5. Is AI fundamental to the future of cybersecurity?
The motto is to remove as much human intervention as possible to protect the IT systems from malware. Smarter AI-based systems will help solve problems related to identity and access management (IAM) such as passwords, providing analysis on vast data using natural language processing (NLP), blocking threats using security information and event management (SIEM), and much more. But, if businesses do not have the budget to invest in AI tools, they face a major roadblock.
Although still in their early stages of development, AI and ML seem to be promising technologies for establishing a cybersecure IT environment. But, it’s important to have a clear view of the IT network to avoid unprecedented problems. Since cybersecurity involves managing every IT element, it’s vital to leverage AI to help speed up the process of identifying and solving threats to your network, so you can avoid spending tons of time, effort, and money in the aftermath of a cyberattack.
** Optrics Inc. is an Authorized ManageEngine partner
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