AI and machine learning are slowly becoming an integral part of cybersecurity systems.
In 2019, the AI in cybersecurity peaked at $8.8 billion and experts are predicting an increase to $38.2 billion by the year 2026.
These figures are an indicator of how much AI is infiltrating the cybersecurity landscape. The ever-increasing incidents of cyber attacks, the increasing popularity of IoT, and the endless vulnerabilities in internet security systems have led to the increase in the popularity of Artificial Intelligence as a cybersecurity solution.
In this article, we will discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of cybersecurity
What Is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence refers to the intelligence exhibited by machines and computers to imitate human intelligence. Artificial Intelligence uses computers and machines to solve problems and make decisions in a way similar to what humans do.
Machine learning makes it possible for machines to assess large amounts of past data and behaviors to establish a pattern and make predictions. Artificial Intelligence combines trends, probability, and ‘logic’ to make decisions and predictions. AI is meant to augment human abilities and essentially make life smoother and hassle-free for humans.
The Good Side Of AI In Cybersecurity
AI in cybersecurity is the future and it comes with both a good and a bad side, let’s look at some of the advantages of using AI in cybersecurity.
Early Warning System And Breach Prediction
Four companies fall victim to ransomware attacks every minute and this makes an early warning system invaluable.
Using AI in your business means that you will be able to spot potential threats before they happen.
AI uses past trends and assesses copious amounts of data to predict future events with unmatched accuracy. AI has the ability to keep track of all company data which includes records of all employees and their clearance levels, devices, and applications. These predictions will help you to steer clear of problem areas and reinforce any weak points in your cybersecurity.
Real-time Cybersecurity Solutions
With AI, your business is protected around the clock. AI can run security diagnostics and analyze large amounts of data for any anomalies at any time. AI allows your IT experts to focus on legitimate threats while it takes care of the repetitive task of running security diagnostics. 560,000 new types of malware are detected daily. Traditional methods of warding off cyberattacks may not be effective when used on their own. Adding AI to your cybersecurity plan will help you to process larger amounts of data at lightning speeds and also respond to threats in record time.
Around 80% of respondents in the telecommunications sector stated that they believe that their respective organizations would fail to combat cyberattacks without help from AI.
AI Can Easily Adapt To New Trends
The technology landscape is continuously evolving, nothing stays the same for too long and this means that adapting is a necessity. AI makes use of machine learning and algorithms to keep up with new IT trends. Machines do not ‘learn’ as the name suggests, but they store and assess past and present trends to come up with future predictions. AI has the capability to analyze the latest trends and make the necessary adjustments to its algorithm. This means that AI can scan the news and all data networks to identify the next possible threat and make adjustments to your security systems with very little human intervention.
Artificial Intelligence does not take away the need to have IT professionals keeping an eye on your security. AI is there to help IT experts respond faster to potential malicious threats and also to help improve cybersecurity threat predictions. Some emergencies may need you to improvise and you will need IT experts to be at the helm when this happens.
The Bad Side Of Artificial Intelligence In Cybersecurity
Every new, cutting-edge technology comes with a few drawbacks. Familiarizing yourself with both the good side and the bad side will help you to be aware of the weaknesses of the system that you are using so you can better fortify them. Let’s look at some disadvantages of using AI in cybersecurity.
AI Technology Can Also Be Used By Hackers
Artificial Intelligence can also turn into a very useful tool in the hands of hackers. AI can give cybercriminals the ability to develop even more sophisticated ways of hacking your systems, so it’s both a blessing and a curse. AI makes it possible for cybercriminals to pinpoint vulnerabilities in different computer systems and extract data at even faster speeds.
AI Still In Its Infancy Stage
Not enough is known about most AI technology when it is released into the market. This means that you might come across some weaknesses that you were not previously made aware of by the vendors. If cybercriminals are aware of those weaknesses, this might spell disaster for your business and its data.
Implementing An AI System Is Costly
Another setback is that adopting an AI system for your business can be costly. Let’s look at a company that adopted the use of AI.
Apple spent a whopping $200 million to acquire its virtual assistant SIRI.
AI is costly because of the complexity of the engineering process. Maintaining it will also cost your business an arm and a leg, so as attractive as AI may be, it requires a huge investment that might turn into a loss if not planned and executed properly.
The Future Is In AI-Human Blend
AI can help to boost response time, detect potential malicious threats early, generally improve the efficiency of your cybersecurity and reduce burnout. However, AI works best when used to augment and improve the security systems that are already in place. It is still unclear how efficient 100% AI-powered cybersecurity plans are.
It is best to combine the human aspect and AI so that one can counteract the weaknesses of the other. Cybersecurity experts can use their expertise and pinpoint any gaps or weaknesses in the AI system. An AI system can also be hacked and start working against your company and making decisions that are based on corrupted information. Cybersecurity experts should be there to ensure this doesn’t happen.
Tap into the potential of an AI-Human blend and ensure that your business is protected in every possible way.