Data security and privacy are among the biggest challenges brands and businesses are facing today, particularly in light of the swarm of breaches companies have experienced in the generative AI age, which is making earning precious consumer trust extra tough. AI has emerged as one of the biggest threats to security, but new research from cybersecurity solutions firm MixMode not only reveals how this new threat can be curtailed, but how AI can be turned on its heels to become your ally in fighting cybersecurity as a whole.
The firm’s inaugural State of AI in Cybersecurity Report 2024, based on a survey conducted by the Ponemon Institute of US cybersecurity professionals who share how AI is used for cybersecurity in their organizations, provides insights into how organizations are leveraging AI to enhance their security posture and effectively detect and respond to cyberattacks. It also highlights the current and future trends, challenges, and best practices of AI adoption in cybersecurity.
Some of the key findings of the report include:
- 53 percent of organizations are at the early stages of AI adoption, while only 18 percent are at the advanced stages.
- 45 percent of organizations experienced one or more cyberattacks in the past year.
- 70 percent of respondents say AI is highly effective in detecting previously undetectable threats, yet 67 percent use AI mainly to create rules based on known patterns and indicators of cyber threats.
- Organizations are still feeling the effects of the cybersecurity skills shortage, yet only 50 percent use AI to address the problem.
“AI is a game-changer for cybersecurity, as it can automate and augment the detection and response capabilities of security teams, as well as reduce the noise and complexity of security operations,” said John Keister, CEO of MixMode, in a news release. “However, AI also poses new challenges and risks, such as the threat of AI being used for adversarial attacks and the need for specialized operator skills. [Understanding the complexity of AI] helps enterprises rapidly recognize new malware and insider risks to help strained security teams automate mundane tasks and focus on higher-level defenses.”
The report also offers recommendations and best practices for organizations to successfully implement and optimize AI for cybersecurity, such as:
- Aligning AI initiatives with business goals and security strategies.
- Investing in training and upskilling security personnel on AI tools and technologies.
- Evaluating and selecting AI vendors based on their capabilities, performance, and trustworthiness.
- Implementing a robust governance framework and ethical principles for AI use and oversight.
- Collaborating and sharing intelligence with other organizations and stakeholders.
“We believe this study on AI is unique because it reveals both its value in strengthening the cybersecurity posture of organizations and the challenges when leveraging the technology to detect and respond to cyberattacks”, said Dr. Larry Ponemon, chairman and founder of the Ponemon Institute, in the release. “It is our hope that the findings will help organizations that are in the process of adopting AI minimize the barriers to deployment and more quickly achieve the benefits.”
