The realm of artificial intelligence, or AI, is one that continues to show increasing value within many sectors and industries. The world of cybersecurity is no exception, and AI programs and concepts are making an impact in several different ways for individuals and businesses looking to stay secure and protected from threats.
At Elevated Networks, we offer high-quality managed cybersecurity solutions to clients around St. George, Salt Lake City and other parts of Utah as part of our overall IT and telecom programs, and we’re happy to discuss important concepts like the use of AI within security setups. Let’s dive into what AI actually is (for those unaware), plus some of the key ways it’s often applied to cybersecurity today – and how it might benefit you or your business.
AI Basics and Types
Before we dig into the ways AI can be applied to the world of cybersecurity, let’s look at some basics about the general concept of AI. In a nutshell, artificial intelligence is an area of study that focuses on creating machines (by way of computer programming and other methods) that can mimic human-like behavior. The goal here is to enable computers and machines to do tasks normally done by people, typically more quickly and accurately than any human could ever accomplish.
AI can typically be broken into three broad categories: Assisted intelligence, augmented intelligence and autonomous intelligence. Assisted intelligence is the simplest form of AI, and these types of systems are often used to provide helpful guidance or suggestions based on a user’s input. Augmented intelligence, as the name implies, takes existing processes and tasks used by humans and enhances them with the use of AI-driven programs that improve efficiency. Finally, autonomous intelligence requires no human input in order to make decisions or perform tasks.
Within these categories, AI can be seen in several different ways. Machine learning programs, for instance, use algorithms and data sets to learn from past decisions and provide more accurate results each time. Natural language processing (NLP) is another type of AI that enables machines to understand, interpret and act on human speech or text.
Our next several sections will go over some of the key applications of AI to cybersecurity in many settings.
Constantly Updating Threat Trends
One of the key functions of any cybersecurity program is identifying and updating users on the latest threats and trends that could potentially affect them. This is an area where AI can be incredibly useful, as it can quickly detect changes in patterns of behavior or network traffic to flag potential threats before they become serious issues.
By using AI-based programs, businesses can also more easily identify certain types of malware or malicious software, as well as identify potentially vulnerable areas of their networks that need more protection. This can be a huge time-saver for cybersecurity teams, as they don’t have to constantly be manually monitoring and evaluating threats in order to stay ahead of the curve.
IT Assets and Inventory
Another important area of focus for many cybersecurity setups is the management and optimization of IT assets. This includes keeping a full inventory of all hardware, software and other network resources that a business has at its disposal. AI can make this much easier by automatically cataloging these items, as well as providing an up-to-date view of how each asset is performing or could be improved.
AI-based systems can also keep track of user access rights and privileges, ensuring that only those with the right authority are accessing sensitive data or resources. This can be especially important in larger organizations, where manual oversight may not be as effective or efficient.
Incident Response Needs
In any situation where a security breach or other incident has occurred, time is of the essence in order to mitigate any potential damage and restore normal system operations. AI can be invaluable here as well, allowing businesses to take advantage of machine learning programs to quickly identify what happened and determine the best course of action for getting things back on track.
AI-based incident response systems can also be used to detect and respond to suspicious user activity, such as unauthorized access or attempts at data theft.
Break Risk Predictions
As mentioned earlier, one of the biggest benefits of using AI in cybersecurity is its ability to detect changes in behavior or network activity and make predictions about potential threats. By taking into account past events and data, AI can more accurately identify areas where a system may be vulnerable and suggest ways to reduce risk. This can be especially helpful for larger organizations looking to build a more comprehensive security strategy.
Importance of Explaining AI Programs to Employees
For any employees who may be interacting with AI-based systems, it’s important to ensure that they understand how these programs work and why they are being used. This will help everyone better understand the benefits of using AI in cybersecurity and how it can improve overall security posture.
Ultimately, the use of AI in cybersecurity is something that should be taken seriously by businesses in all industries. By enabling machines to make rapid decisions and detect potential threats, AI can help businesses stay one step ahead of hackers and other malicious actors. As AI technology continues to evolve, it will become even more important for businesses to make sure that they have the right tools in place to protect themselves from cyber attacks.
For more here, or to learn about our cybersecurity, cloud storage or other managed IT services for clients around SLC, St. George and other parts of Utah, speak to our team at Elevated Networks today.
