CISA hosts cyber drill with AI for government and industry

TLDR:

• CISA conducted an AI-driven cyber tabletop exercise with government and industry.
• The exercise aimed at understanding and mitigating digital threats to AI systems.

In a recent tabletop exercise, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) collaborated with over 50 AI experts from government and industry to simulate a cybersecurity incident targeting an AI-enabled system. Led by the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC), the exercise aimed at updating information sharing protocols specific to disruptions in automated systems. The hypothetical scenario described hackers circumventing an AI defense agent in an organization’s email system, prompting participants to practice incident response efforts and collaboration.

The outcomes of the exercise will inform a playbook CISA and JCDC plan to release at the end of 2024 to guide AI-based cyberattack responses. Participants included a range of agencies and companies such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and the FBI. The larger Biden administration initiatives to harness AI’s benefits and mitigate negative outcomes were highlighted during the exercise, emphasizing AI’s role in supporting modern cybersecurity efforts.

The exercise showcased the importance of developing and delivering AI products with security as a top priority. Industry leaders like OpenAI emphasized collaboration and transparency in ensuring the safe development and deployment of AI technology. With AI playing a crucial role in cybersecurity and protecting critical infrastructure, the tabletop exercise served as a step towards enhancing collective efforts to reduce the risks posed by AI.