The Power of AI in Predicting and Protecting Against Evolving Cyberthreats

In the new digital age, artificial intelligence (AI) has proven to be a double-edged sword.  

For many, it's a transformative force that’s pushed the envelope on how technology is used in our day-to-day lives. Its capacity to automate tasks, analyze vast datasets, and make complex decisions in real time has ushered in unprecedented efficiencies across various industries. However, the very same capabilities that make AI a force for positive change also pose significant challenges. Its use in cybercrime has grown exponentially, posing substantial risks to many businesses and their cybersecurity. 

Understanding AI and ML 

Before delving into the risks and benefits of AI in cybersecurity, it's important to have a clear understanding of what it is and how it functions. AI is a branch of computer science that focuses on creating intelligent machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. It involves the development of algorithms and models that enable machines to learn from data, recognize patterns, and make informed decisions. A subset of AI is machine learning (ML). ML algorithms allow machines to learn from large datasets, identify patterns, and make accurate predictions or classifications when presented with new information. This ability to learn and adapt is what makes AI-powered tools so effective in a business context. 

The Rise of AI-Powered Cybercrime 

In today's digital landscape, the threat of cyberattacks looms large. Cybercriminals are constantly devising new and sophisticated methods for infiltrating systems and stealing sensitive data, and AI has become an effective tool in their weapons arsenal. 

AI has already been seen to significantly enhance the scale and sophistication of today’s attacks. According to one Deep Instinct 2023 report, 85% of security professionals who witnessed an uptick in cyberattacks over a 12-month period attributed that rise to the use of generative AI. From enhancing existing attack methods to creating new ones, AI has redefined the threat landscape in a number of ways. 

In one independent survey conducted by Integrity360, 68% of respondents noted concerns about cybercriminals using deepfakes to target their organizations. Deepfakes, a portmanteau of "deep learning" and "fake," refer to the use of AI to manipulate or create authentic-seeming audio/visual media. While those who are technologically savvy may think they can spot falsified content from a mile away, as deepfakes become more sophisticated, their impact becomes all the more real. Only recently, a company in Hong Kong lost almost $26 million to a scam involving a deepfake video of the firm’s chief financial officer (CFO). While elaborate, the efficacy of this scam raises concerns about the misuse of AI technology and the risks it can pose to businesses.  

The popularity of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT has already been linked to a 1265% surge in malicious phishing emails since Q4 2022. These emails bait employees into clicking on malicious links or downloading and installing malware, providing attackers with access to an organization's internal networks and sensitive information. Once infiltrated, cybercriminals can exploit this access to carry out a range of activities, including unauthorized data exfiltration, disruption of operations, or even ransomware attacks. While phishing and social engineering attacks are not new threats, AI chatbots have made it much simpler for criminals to create personalized and convincing email communications that are more successful at evading traditional security measures. This makes it much more difficult for organizations to defend themselves, and for users to spot a potential phishing lure. 

The Benefits of AI in Cybersecurity  

While AI and ML are powerful tools in the hands of cybercriminals, their application to the cybersecurity landscape can tilt the scales in favor of defenders, providing organizations with a number of benefits: 

Enhanced Threat Detection and Response 

In the event of a cyber incident, time is of the essence. One of the most significant benefits of AI in cybersecurity is its ability to enhance threat detection and response times. Machine learning algorithms can sift through vast amounts of data in real time, identifying anomalies or patterns that could be indicative of malicious activity. In this way, AI has the potential to detect security threats early, give advance warning to cybersecurity teams, and minimize the impact of an attack. 

AI can also be used to automate response mechanisms, ensuring that immediate action is taken upon the detection of a threat. Whether isolating affected systems, applying patches, or blocking malicious activities, AI-driven automation significantly reduces the crucial time gap between identifying a potential threat and mounting an effective response. This speed is instrumental in minimizing the impact of cyberattacks and safeguarding critical digital assets. 

Greater Accuracy and Efficiency 

Accurate and efficient cybersecurity measures are pivotal in the face of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. Through advanced machine learning algorithms, AI systems can continually improve over time as they acquire new data. This iterative learning process enhances the system's ability to distinguish between legitimate and malicious activities, significantly reducing false positives. This enables more precise threat detection, meaning organizations can focus their resources on genuine threats. 

Tedious and time-consuming security tasks can also be automated through the use of AI, allowing cybersecurity professionals to focus on more critical tasks and proactive security measures. By automating these processes, organizations can achieve greater efficiency and reduce the risk of human error, while scaling their security operations without significant hardware or personnel costs. This scalability is particularly important as the volume of data and the complexity of cyber threats continue to grow. 

AI-Powered Security Tools: Fighting Fire with Fire 

Given the proliferation of AI-powered cybercrime, maintaining a business’ cybersecurity has become an around-the-clock job. Yet 24/7 security monitoring places significant pressure on cybersecurity teams, particularly when 63% of security professionals are already experiencing burnout, and more than 80% are facing increased workloads. While humans will always need proper rest and sleep, AI-powered cyber threats never have a day off. In order to combat them, businesses must adopt a comprehensive approach that combines advanced AI-driven cybersecurity solutions with human expertise.  

While 90% of the 900 security professionals surveyed for a Tines 2023 Voice of the SOC report agreed that automation would help to maintain their work/life balance, AI can also be used to fill the current gaps in the cybersecurity labor force. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, 3.5 million cybersecurity positions were unfilled last year, and this number of vacancies is expected to persist through 2025. This shortage can be mitigated by implementing various AI-powered tools: 

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) 

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) is a security management system that combines security information management (SIM) and security event management (SEM). SIEM provides real-time monitoring and analysis of security-related data, aiding organizations in detecting potential threats and vulnerabilities. 

In addition to threat detection, SIEM also automates many of the manual processes associated with threat detection and incident response. SIEMs are commonly used in security operation centers (SOCs) for security and compliance management. 

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) 

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is a cybersecurity solution designed to monitor and protect individual devices within a network. This includes laptops, servers, mobile devices, and more. EDR goes beyond traditional antivirus solutions by leveraging cyber threat intelligence and machine learning to detect sophisticated, previously unseen threats. 

EDR records and analyzes data on queries, behaviors, and security events, allowing cybersecurity teams to detect and analyze suspicious activity over time. If a breach or detection occurs, EDR isolates the malware and analyzes it in a secure sandbox environment. This solution also conducts a thorough root cause analysis and aids in faster incident response.  

Managed Detection and Response (MDR) 

Managed Detection and Response (MDR) is a cybersecurity service that provides round-the-clock security monitoring, threat hunting, and response capabilities. Unlike EDR and SIEM, which are technologies, MDR is a service that combines these technologies and is delivered by teams of experts. 

MDR services function as an extension of an organization's internal security team, relieving them of the response burden. MDR can rapidly address advanced threats using existing tools and resources, making it an ideal choice for organizations struggling to fill skills gaps in their IT teams.  

Extended Detection and Response (XDR) 

Extended Detection and Response (XDR) is a step beyond EDR. Rather than focusing solely on endpoints, XDR provides comprehensive threat detection and response by analyzing data from various sources within an organization's environment. These sources include endpoint devices, network traffic, user behavior, cloud, and other security tools like firewalls and intrusion prevention systems. 

XDR's broader visibility enables it to detect threats that may otherwise be invisible through single-source monitoring. This ability to provide a comprehensive view of an organization's security posture makes XDR a powerful tool in a proactive cybersecurity strategy. 

Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) 

Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) is the pinnacle of cybersecurity services. It combines the most advanced detection technologies with specialized human expertise to provide 24/7 security monitoring, threat hunting, and response capabilities. 

MXDR services take immediate targeted actions while sharing insights that strengthen longer-term security posture. By combining the benefits of integrated XDR technology and services, MXDR provides a comprehensive, end-to-end cybersecurity solution.