Security leadership finds itself unwittingly in an arms race. Our AI-powered adversaries are launching attacks with greater volume, speed, stealth and sophistication. Traditional security programs, historically more reactive than proactive, do not stand a chance. It is analogous to bringing a knife to a gun fight. Though not perfect it is important to realize AI technology is equally available to the good guys and it is incumbent upon security leadership to embrace and adapt now.
Let’s explore this paradigm shift and identify ways to mobilize the next generation of security by leveraging artificial intelligence.
In addition to individual AI enhanced exploits, Evil AI is transforming the overall landscape for adversaries. Advanced technology aside, AI is automating the exploit chain from reconnaissance to execution. With this we are seeing the democratization of attacks that operate at machine speed and no human interaction. Technical proficiency and adversarial resources are no longer needed at scale. Adversaries are proliferating as inexperienced hackers launch sophisticated attacks powered by AI simply by downloading an exploit.
AI DOES NOT SLEEP
The dark side is mobilizing, investing and weaponizing AI, and it is just getting started. Nefarious uses of AI include:
Threat actors are bringing their A-game and now is the time for security leadership to step up to the challenge.
Artificial intelligence is not exclusive to the dark side. So too can the good guys leverage AI to transform their effectiveness and defend against these advanced adversaries. Amidst all the hype it is important not to lose sight, that at the end of the day, adversaries still exploit the same poor security hygiene of yesteryear. This includes unpatched systems, uninformed personnel, misconfigurations, compromised credentials and inferior data handling practices.
Taking care of the basics is still step 1 of a robust security program. Once the foundational protections are operating effectively, leadership must look to AI to complement the basics with the objective of matching the scale, speed and intelligence of the enemy.
In addition to advanced protection, AI can improve the overall trajectory of security programs by allowing teams to achieve greater results with the same or fewer resources. It is important to recognize that AI is a force multiplier for programs by allowing for:
Ready to stop bringing a knife to a gunfight? OBS Global helps security leaders harness AI to outpace today’s threats. Message us directly to explore AI-driven protections and strengthen your security program.
About the Author
Eugene Tyrrell is a Principal Consultant with OBS Global and is dedicated to safeguarding systems and data through robust security, privacy, and risk-management programs. An advocate for stakeholders on issues of privacy, security, and risk, Eugene brings extensive leadership experience with global clients and cross-functional teams to tackle ‘below the waterline’ initiatives. As a high-performing compliance professional, Eugene has built programs that meet and exceed industry standards and regulations, including PCI DSS, global data-privacy laws, the EU GDPR, and the ISO 27000 series.