Stay safe from AI cyber threats with these firm strategies

TLDR:

• Cyber-attacks are on the rise, with a significant increase in the last two years.
• Generative AI poses new threats to cybersecurity, but there are ways firms can protect themselves.

Across the world, cyber-attacks are increasing, with a spike of 8% in global cyber-attacks in the second quarter of this year. As generative AI adds new layers to cyber threats, businesses can protect themselves by prioritizing staff training, investing in research and development, and implementing controls on the sharing of sensitive information with AI chatbots.

Prioritising Staff Training

Employees play a crucial role in identifying and responding to cyber threats, but many lack basic cybersecurity skills training. Companies need to upskill cybersecurity professionals and educate employees on AI-powered threats like AI-driven phishing.

Investing in Research and Development

Businesses must continuously invest in R&D to develop innovative security solutions to tackle AI-related threats, like prompt injection attacks. Custom software and hardware can be explored to develop tailored solutions to enhance cybersecurity efforts.

Controlling the Sharing of Sensitive Data

Employees often share potentially sensitive data with generative AI tools without fully understanding security implications. Companies should impose access controls on sensitive data sharing, provide training on best practices, and develop clear data security policies to protect sensitive information.

Overall, businesses need to have the right guardrails in place to benefit from AI technologies without compromising security.