As artificial intelligence leaders debate what secure AI means and whether it means we are on a path to disaster, the cybersecurity community continues to challenge businesses and customers today. We are working hard to determine how to best protect you. AI brings immense challenges and opportunities, an explosion of new applications, and rapidly evolving threats. That's why it's more important than ever for the cybersecurity community to work together to stay ahead of the bad guys.
As nearly 50,000 security professionals prepare to participate in RSA 2024, we look forward to seeing how AI will dominate and shape the conversation, and how recent SEC guidelines will help CISOs, executives, and boards of directors. Let's take a look at how we are changing the roles of our members.
At the forefront of the AI revolution
At last year's RSA, there was a lot of talk about whether AI is the next big thing in cybersecurity and how to get past the hype. As RSA 2024 approaches, large-scale language models (LLM) and machine learning (ML) have not only arrived, but will likely fuel much of the year's conversation.
There's a lot to consider when it comes to the convergence of AI and risk management, and we hope to see a lively discussion about the double-edged sword posed by this burgeoning technology.
My colleagues and I discuss how we can use the same technology to strengthen our defenses and protect businesses from shadowy AI-powered operators. Here are some themes we expect to surface at RSA.
How AI powers hackers and malicious attackers
With physical security incidents costing businesses $1 trillion in 2022, AI-powered cyberattacks continue to grow in sophistication, speed, and adaptability. This makes attacks difficult to detect and mitigate, but services like DarkGPT and FraudGPT make it even easier for malicious actors to cause harm without the need for coding skills.
AI algorithms can transform vast amounts of data from social media and other sources into targeted and persuasive phishing attacks and other forms of social engineering. For example, in the race to harness generative AI, hackers are already exploiting ordinary users with fake ChatGPT websites and phishing scams that mimic the real site. Such attacks against unsuspecting employees can result in unauthorized access to critical systems.
At the same time, in their rush to enter the market, legitimate GenAI clients often fail to include security as a priority when developing their apps. Products like Google's Gemini are vulnerable to attacks, so early adopters are augmenting their workforces with third-party apps that leave them vulnerable. This means employees may willingly reveal sensitive company information without realizing it.
As the cybersecurity community learns how to defend against a range of AI-powered attacks, this technology will only embolden the bad guys. Our teams will increasingly face advanced persistent threats (APTs) and more sophisticated, evasive malware that can more accurately and quickly infiltrate and manipulate industrial control systems. .
How AI empowers cybersecurity defenders
In an AI-accelerated world, the challenges security leaders face are growing faster than ever. Thankfully, we have the same technology and can leverage AI-powered solutions to strengthen our defenses and wage aggressive campaigns against bad actors.
By incorporating AI/ML-type models into security programs, our cybersecurity teams gain a deeper understanding of their data and uncover risks that would otherwise be missed. AI tools combined with automation can sift through large datasets, compare the behavior of data clusters, respond to potential dangers before humans can, and quickly isolate exposed systems from a company's infrastructure. can.
Additionally, just as bad actors are using GenAI to create stronger and more deceptive threats, businesses can use this technology to build proactive training scenarios. This controlled environment allows teams to practice, test, and improve their defenses, preparing them for countless real attacks. On a more day-to-day basis, implementing GenAI will allow CISOs to use natural language to ask questions about programs and receive accurate answers with predictive insights.
While employee training and education remains essential, defeating today's cybercriminals requires robust and evolving technological defenses. The SEC's recent regulations reflect the importance of this battle.
The new role of cybersecurity personnel
The SEC's four-day disclosure rule presents significant new challenges for companies. This is directly relevant to the AI discussion. AI can help with early detection alerts and reduce response times to identify breaches within that framework.
At the same time, the SEC also requires public companies to annually share important information about their cybersecurity risk management measures. This creates a need for clear visibility into historical data.
With increased responsibilities, today's CISOs are not necessarily as hands-on as they once were. They are likely to view the program from a higher perspective, take a more holistic approach to cyber defense strategy, and be able to direct actionable, data-driven intelligence to their teams.
Embracing AI/ML is critical to helping CISOs achieve this holistic view and analyze the vast amounts of data they need to sift through.
Exploring the Art of the Possible Together at RSA 2024
AI capabilities appear to be accelerating at breakneck speed, continually opening up new possibilities on both sides of the divide. To stay ahead of empowered bad actors and create resilient and adaptive ecosystems, the cybersecurity community must work together to discover and adopt enabling techniques in risk management and threat prevention. there is. That's why I look forward to researching RSA 2024 and collaborating on initiatives such as: Identify solutions and strategies that help continue to shape a safer world.
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