Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools are prevalent in the cybersecurity field. AI-powered tools are critical in identifying cyberattacks, mitigating future threats, automating security operations, and identifying potential risks. On the other hand, the introduction of AI in the global cybersecurity industry has enabled the automation of various tasks. However, it has also enabled threat actors to design and attempt more sophisticated attacks. Additionally, AI is being recognized as a foundational element of future cybersecurity as researchers continue to develop advanced computing systems that can effectively detect and isolate cyberthreats. AI advances in cybersecurity hold great promise in enhancing the resilience and effectiveness of defense mechanisms against evolving cyber risks.
As the use of AI increases, we can also observe an increase in potential risks and challenges in the form of privacy concerns, ethical considerations for autonomous decision-making, and the need for continuous monitoring and verification. There is a nature. So the question also arises as to whether the industry should regulate the use of AI in the cybersecurity space. Cyber āāsecurity Exchange reached out to Mr. Rakesh Sharma, National Australia Bank’s Enterprise Security His Architect, for his perspective on the role of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity and the need for AI regulation. Rakesh Sharma is a cybersecurity expert with over 17 years of interdisciplinary experience working with global financial institutions and cybersecurity his vendors. Throughout his career, Rakesh Sharma has consistently achieved outstanding professional achievements and demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing resilient security strategies. His extensive experience and strong leadership qualities have established him as a key driver of innovation that prioritizes data integrity and confidentiality and protects organizations from emerging cyber threats.
1 What are your thoughts on the current role of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity? What are some of the key areas where AI has been effectively applied?
AI has the potential to revolutionize the way organizations defend against evolving cyber threats. By harnessing the power of AI, organizations can automate many tasks previously performed by human security analysts, resulting in faster threat detection and remediation. AI can adapt to new threats and constantly update algorithms, keeping organizations one step ahead of cybercriminals.
AI is being applied to many important areas of cybersecurity, such as automating incident response, improving vulnerability identification and management, enhancing user authentication, and enhancing behavioral analysis for malware detection. This helped security teams detect unknown malware, suspicious patterns, fraud, anomalous behavior, insider threats, unauthorized access attempts, and more. Actionable insights provided by AI-enabled cybersecurity systems help organizations make better security decisions and effectively protect their networks, data, and users.
2 What do you see as the key benefits that AI will bring to cybersecurity? Can you give some concrete examples or use cases?
One of the key benefits of AI-powered cybersecurity systems is the ability to analyze vast amounts of data in real time. This enables organizations to detect and respond to threats more quickly, minimizing potential damage from attacks. Traditional manual threat detection and analysis can be time consuming and error prone.
Another key benefit is continuous learning and adaptation. AI technologies, especially unsupervised machine learning, have the ability to learn from new data and adapt to the changing threat landscape. This allows AI systems to improve their detection capabilities over time and stay up-to-date with new threats and evolving attack techniques.
One of the common use cases where AI plays an important role is SIEM, security analytics and SOAR platforms on the cloud. AI enables faster and more accurate threat detection, harnessing threat intelligence, analyzing behavior, automating response actions, and facilitating proactive threat hunting. . It helps organizations strengthen their cybersecurity defenses and respond effectively to evolving threats.
3 Conversely, what are the potential risks and challenges associated with the increased use of AI in cybersecurity, and how can these be mitigated?
AI in cybersecurity has the potential to be a huge force, but it also comes with certain challenges. We hear more and more about adversarial AI, which means that AI systems themselves can become targets of adversarial attacks because attackers manipulate or trick them into making wrong decisions. means that there is These systems can be complex and can introduce unknown vulnerabilities.
Since these systems rely heavily on input data, data accuracy and bias are important factors to consider when training AI models. Additionally, there are privacy and ethical concerns about the use of sensitive data for decision-making, and AI systems appear to be black boxes to end users, so rather than relying solely on AI systems, it is important to include humans in the decision-making process. You need governance and oversight to get you involved. AI system explainability can be an intellectual property issue related to system complexity or AI algorithms, how the AI āāsystem makes decisions and performs tasks impartially A challenge arises because the end user needs to understand to determine
Other concerns relate to regulatory compliance and legal requirements, which are still evolving and not applicable to all industries and countries.
4 As threat actors increasingly incorporate automation and AI into their intrusion campaigns, how can security teams mitigate these AI-driven risks?
Security teams must deploy AI-powered security solutions to detect and respond to emerging threats in real time to gain an edge in cybersecurity. AI systems can automate repetitive security operations activities, freeing up security analysts to focus on high-priority tasks such as threat hunting.
You also need to stay vigilant and stay up to date with the latest advances in AI technology and the tactics used by threat actors. Applying adversarial machine learning techniques to detect and counter AI-generated attacks can improve the security and resilience of AI systems.
Regular penetration tests and red team exercises should be conducted to identify vulnerabilities in AI systems and assess their effectiveness against AI attacks. Adhering to relevant regulations and frameworks governing AI and cybersecurity is critical to ensuring compliance with standards and protecting against legal and operational risks. Collaboration with other organizations, security vendors, and industry groups is key to fostering information sharing and exchanging insights on AI-powered threats.
5 Why do you think it is necessary to regulate the use of AI in the cybersecurity field? Should these regulations also be expanded to cover the impact of AI on workforce replacement?
As AI systems become more sophisticated over time, I believe they will become attractive targets for malicious actors looking to exploit their potential. AI can be used to launch targeted attacks, make mission-critical decisions, endanger lives, or cause bodily harm. It must be designed around AI principles and requires a robust governance framework and oversight.
AI can also be abused to spread misinformation and disinformation. AI algorithms can be used to generate fake news articles, social media posts, and even deepfake videos to manipulate public opinion, sow discord, and lead to social, political, and economic chaos. It can be used to encourage mistrust. Therefore, it is important to have regulations regarding the application of AI.
AI will shift some of the workforce, but it will also create new jobs to develop, maintain, and secure AI systems. Regulation can certainly strike a balance between promoting AI innovation and protecting employee interests.
6 With AI evolving rapidly, do you think current regulations adequately address the potential risks and ethical concerns surrounding AI in cybersecurity? Why or why not?
Current regulations may not adequately address the potential risks and ethical concerns posed by AI advances in cybersecurity. This is mainly due to the lack of specificity of existing regulations, rapid technological progress, and the multidisciplinary nature of AI and cybersecurity. The language and scope of current regulations may not comprehensively cover the unique challenges of AI cyberthreats. Moreover, the rapid evolution of AI technology often outpaces regulatory developments, making it difficult to address emerging AI risks.
7 What do you think should be the key elements of AI regulation in the context of cybersecurity? Are there any specific principles or guidelines that should be implemented?
Considering jurisdiction-specific requirements and industry trends, it is critical that regulations address several key factors to promote the responsible and safe use of AI in cybersecurity.
These regulations emphasize the need for transparency and accountability of AI systems, ensure data privacy, promote the ethical use of AI, prohibit abuse, and establish a framework of responsibility and accountability. , require independent audits, involve human oversight, and encourage collaboration and information sharing and training. Enable users to use AI systems safely and responsibly.