Why is AI the Future of Cyber Security

  • Posted by AISmartz
  • /
  • November 7, 2019
AI in Cyber Security

In the digital era, volumes of sensitive data are maintained by governments and enterprises. Cyber security involves the deployment of various methods that protect this information technology from unauthorized access.

However, the nature of cyber-attacks is constantly evolving. Therefore, it becomes imperative that businesses and national bodies invest in artificial intelligence to bolster cyber security.

Artificial intelligence (AI) functions like a computer program focused on gaining success. Machine learning (ML) on the other hand, is a self-learning tool that evolves as it gains experience. A combination of the two can guarantee both accuracy and success in the cyber security industry.

  • Traditional Cyber Security

The fundamental problem with traditional cyber security measures is that it is simply not able to keep up with the scale of the threat today. Conventional methods to collect and analyze information leads to an overload of data. It is labor-intensive and therefore prone to manual errors. Since they lack visibility into the network, it is also very difficult to prepare against a potential threat.

  • AI in Cyber Security

In comparison, artificial intelligence in cyber security has a higher success in the detection of possible threats and defending against them.

1. Network Threat Identification

This is the most basic use case for AI in cyber security today. More than 70% of businesses today are dependent on AI-enabled network security platforms. As enterprises share sensitive data over networks, AI-enabled systems are better equipped to protect the data transmitted or stored.

2.    AI Email Monitoring

AI is used today to monitor incoming and outgoing emails to safeguard against cyber threats like phishing. The most probable risks are reported to the security personnel and appropriate action can be taken. This becomes very important in the finance sector. Here, anomaly detection is used to identify phishing attacks, misdirected emails, prevent data breaches and identify other cyber security threats.

3.    AI Antivirus Software

Traditional anti-virus software can scan files for known viruses. Without security updates on new viruses, the software cannot safeguard your data. On the other hand, software that uses AI is able to detect a threat owing to anomaly detection or unusual behavior. Therefore it is better equipped to predict, detect and prevent a cybersecurity threat.

4.    AI-based User Behaviour Modeling

In some cyber security attacks, the login id of a person can be manipulated by a complete takeover, without the person’s knowledge. The only way to identify and stop this is by identifying a change in the behavior pattern of their activity. With AI technology solutions, such changes can be easily detected and security can then be alerted to investigate the matter further.

Conclusion

Cyber security systems with AI can anticipate a threat and deploy necessary action to prevent an attack. More and more corporations today are making special allowance in their budgets for upgrading to AI-enabled cyber security systems. As long as companies continue to feed accurate data, any deviation from the baseline will be swiftly detected by the system.