Artificial intelligence, or AI for short, has entered many fields, including healthcare, education, manufacture, and even cybersecurity. As one of the most advanced examples of modern technological improvements, artificial intelligence technology has proven to be a valuable asset in battling against cyber criminals. The reality is that cyber attacks are not only becoming more common but they are also getting way too complicated for humans to resolve in time. In other words, cyber attacks are turning into complex equations that are more easily solved and defeated by non-human elements, that is, artificial intelligence software.
AI elements and programs can be used to reduce cybersecurity attacks by handling and neutralizing threats in a timely manner. It takes days for humans to process large amounts of data in order to spot a change or a possible threat in the system. The same amount of data can be processed and analyzed by AI within milliseconds, allowing people to respond to possible threats much faster. However, AI technology has improved so much that it can now recognize and battle against a security threat on its own, without any human interference.
What makes AI so attractive is the fact that, unlike humans, it is incapable of making a mistake. Thus, using AI programs in cybersecurity systems will eliminate the element of human error, making the system much more difficult to defeat. That is why more and more enterprises are beginning to invest in AI as their ultimate weapon against cyber criminals with the goal to create error-free security systems. However, even though AI programs can function on their own, placing them in the hands of an experienced professional can make for a great security combination.
Even though artificial intelligence might seem like the perfect addition to the cybersecurity industry, it also has a negative side. If you’re thinking about robots taking over the world, that’s not the kind of negative side we are thinking of. In fact, we want to emphasize that AI can be very dangerous if placed in the wrong hands. Artificial intelligence is a great tool for protection but, the thing is, hackers want to use it too and they’re not looking for protection.
On the contrary, cyber criminals have come up with ways to exploit AI technologies and use them against us. With a few modifications to the system, they are able to turn AI software against us and make it play for their team. The only way to fight against such a powerful attack weapon is to use the same type of defense. It looks like we are heading toward a period of AI vs AI battles in the cybersecurity field.
As you can see, artificial intelligence can be a great tool for improving cybersecurity but it can also be a lethal weapon. Enterprises across the world use it to collect data, improve storage capabilities and conduct different computing processes. As long as there is a proper security system in place, there will be no reason to worry about AI-related cybersecurity attacks.
However, in order to achieve a stable security system, we highly recommend complying to the NIST framework and following its guidelines to ensure all fields of security are covered. The framework, along with the 20 CIS controls, will help you establish a security system that is difficult to defeat. Keep in mind that complying to the NIST framework is not mandatory by law but it is recommended by professionals if you want to protect your business and sensitive data.