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Countering AI-driven cyberattacks with AI-driven cybersecurity
AI is already changing the way we interact with technology, but it can be challenging to identify where it can have the most impact. Cybersecurity is one area where AI can be highly effective in countering the increasing threat of AI-driven cyberattacks. Organizations across the globe have seen a significant increase in cyberattacks, with a rise of 8% in weekly cyberattacks in the first half of 2023 alone. These attacks can have severe consequences, from ransom payments to disruptions in critical services. As threat actors turn to AI to enhance their attacks, organizations must evolve and invest in AI-driven cybersecurity to prevent and respond to these threats.
Threat actors and AI
Threat actors are leveraging AI to launch sophisticated attacks at cloud scale. Social-engineering-based attacks, such as phishing, are particularly concerning, with at least 70% of malicious breaches stemming from these tactics. Generative AI models, introduced in 2022, have made phishing attacks even more dangerous, as threat actors can now create highly convincing and personalized phishing emails. Generative AI also lowers the barrier to entry in the attack life cycle, enabling actors to automate attacks, exploit vulnerabilities, manage botnets, and more. The use of AI by threat actors has resulted in a spike in email-delivered attacks, accounting for 86% of all file-based attacks recorded in 2023.
Mitigating risk with AI-driven cybersecurity
Organizations, regardless of their size, must prioritize cybersecurity to mitigate their risk in the face of mounting cyber threats. Cyberattacks can have significant financial and operational impacts, ranging from upfront ransom payments to leaks of sensitive information and lawsuits. While the insurance industry has revised premiums to account for cyber risk, the high costs often make coverage unattainable for many organizations. Human personnel alone cannot effectively defend against the scale and sophistication of modern cyber threats. Defensive AI, implemented through a consolidated cybersecurity platform, is essential for organizations to strengthen their cyber resilience. AI enables proactive detection and remediation, behavior analysis, and continuous improvement of zero trust policies to prevent attacks.
The importance of prevention-focused cybersecurity
As AI revolutionizes various sectors of society, it is crucial not to neglect the need for robust cybersecurity. New technologies, such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, create new entry points for malicious actors. To effectively combat AI-driven cyberattacks, organizations must embrace AI-driven cybersecurity as a preventative measure. Current cybersecurity solutions often result in blind spots and limited interoperability. Implementing a consolidated cybersecurity platform powered by AI can significantly enhance proactive detection, remediation, and overall cyber resilience. Prevention-focused cybersecurity is achievable for organizations of all sizes through AI-enabled solutions.
By prioritizing AI-driven cybersecurity, organizations can mitigate the increasing risk of AI-driven cyberattacks and protect their operations from potentially catastrophic consequences. AI is not only a powerful tool for threat actors but also a crucial weapon for defending against them. Investing in AI-driven cybersecurity is the next era of protection in the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape.
