Much has been written about the threats that artificial intelligence (AI) can pose to an organization’s security, but the technology can also transform security teams, helping them address the key challenges they face. confronted. Recently opening speech at BSides and RVAsec, Caleb SimaPresident of the Cloud Security Alliance AI Security Alliance, highlighted how AI can revolutionize cybersecurity by addressing key challenges facing security operations center (SOC) teams.
SOC teams face persistent challenges in areas as varied as vulnerability management, detection, compliance, measurement, third-party incidents, and least privilege, as Sima highlighted in its discussions. He added that solutions to these challenges are hampered by issues related to media coverage, context and communication. But all these challenges can be addressed by AI, Sima emphasized.
Here are highlights from Sima’s talks, along with important insights from other experts on how to harness AI to improve your cybersecurity posture.
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In today’s threat environment, it’s a question of scale
With growing threats such as software supply chain security (SSCS) being exacerbated by attackers’ use of AI, security teams need to expand their coverage, and AI’s ability to scale is key to success. Vulnerability detection and response can be automated, along with status reporting and tracking of security measures such as privilege reduction. AI can also prioritize vulnerabilities based on their severity, potential impact and exploitability, ensuring that the most critical issues are addressed first, and can make recommendations for remedial actions. Such assistance would have gone a long way toward avoiding some high-profile violations of the past, Sima said. “It’s highly likely that in most successful attacks we actually saw the event, but no one looked because it was buried among the countless medium and low alerts.”
“Coverage, in my opinion, is responsible for 99% of violations. It’s all about width and depth. It’s not about having the technology to detect a problem, but rather being there to see it and not letting it slip through the cracks. Coverage has the biggest impact.
—Caleb Sima
He explained that your organization could use AI to analyze every technical discussion, every requirements document, and every code commit for security-related issues, allowing you to “Dramatically improve your coverage and make a substantial difference in your security posture.
Create context with AI for more actionable results
SOC teams face information overload, making it difficult to synthesize information. AI can help by analyzing the context of each vulnerability, taking into account factors such as how critical a system is to an organization, the data it manages and the current threat landscape, Sima said .
“A single vulnerability alert in a dashboard requires an enormous amount of work, like an iceberg underwater. That’s why things don’t change, because we have to deal with thousands of icebergs. Context is everything and applies to everything.
—Caleb Sima
Context is the most difficult aspect, but it’s also one of the easiest to solve with AI today, Sima said. “You can create information oracles where AI agents can communicate with each other, extract relevant information, synthesize it correctly, and present it in a meaningful way.”
“ChatOps, which is making a comeback, can be a real game-changer when combined with AI. If you need context, an AI can engage in a conversation with an engineer via Slack, ask follow-up questions, collect data, summarize it, and send it back. Not only is it possible, but it’s already happening today.”
—Caleb Sima
AI can also improve communication by tailoring data to audiences. AI takes the data, synthesizes it, formats it, and translates it for the intended recipients.
“At its core, communication is a question of translation. It’s about translating a version of the truth to another person or system, whether through reporting, system-to-system communications, or interactions with auditors, regulators, and partners. It’s about presenting one version of the truth to different audiences in a meaningful way.
—Caleb Sima
Integrate AI into your SecOps tools
Others in the industry offer tips for realizing the security benefits of AI. In the coming months, organizations will increasingly make AI-based tools a top priority due to their clear benefits. Making these new tools work with your team’s existing tools is essential, said Amit Zimerman, co-founder and product manager at Oasis Security. “To successfully integrate AI-based security tools and automation, organizations must start by evaluating the effectiveness of these tools in their specific contexts,” he said.
“Rather than being swayed by marketing claims, teams should test tools against real data to ensure they provide actionable insights and highlight previously unseen threats. Existing security frameworks may need to be updated, as older frameworks were designed for non-AI environments. A flexible approach allowing continuous evolution of security policies is essential.
—Amit Zimerman
While AI has become common in tools like SIEM (security information and event management), by 2025, generative AI will augment almost every level of cybersecurity, from endpoint protection to business intelligence. threats, said Steve Wilson, chief product officer at Exabeam.
“The ubiquity of these systems will enable a much more dynamic and resilient security posture, capable of confronting complex threat landscapes with speed and precision. »
—Steve Wilson
Expand your training programs in the age of AI
To prepare for this trend, organizations should invest now in AI security certifications and frameworks, positioning themselves to meet new regulatory and compliance requirements around AI in cybersecurity, Wilson said . This foundation will be essential as more AI systems are integrated into security architectures, he emphasized.
Expanding AI capabilities within security teams will now run into a problem the entire industry now faces, Zimerman said. “There is currently a skills shortage in AI security, and this is a trend to watch in the coming year. »
“To address the AI security skills shortage, organizations must invest in upskilling their teams through dedicated AI security training programs. These programs should focus on both fundamental AI security knowledge and emerging threats such as rapid injection.
—Amit Zimerman
Partnerships with universities and industry certification bodies to develop standardized curricula can help bridge the gap, Zimerman said. And by encouraging cross-functional collaboration between AI specialists, security professionals, and software engineers, teams can stay ahead of evolving threats. “Implementing AI security tools that provide real-time threat detection and learning capabilities can also alleviate the skills gap by automating the identification of vulnerabilities like rapid injection,” he said. -he declared.
AI can revolutionize your approach to cybersecurity
In the future, AI-driven security will provide detailed context for alerts, automate vulnerability fixes, and streamline access requests – and has the potential to automate status reporting and simplify tracking security measures such as privilege reduction, Sima emphasized in his recent discussions:
“AI can revolutionize the way organizations approach security challenges, particularly in the areas of context, coverage and communication,” he argued, “and it has the potential to make their security journeys easier and more effective security. »
***This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from ReversingLabs Blog written by John P. Mello Jr.. Read the original message at: https://www.reversinglabs.com/blog/how-ai-tackles-key-challenges-facing-cisos-and-soc-teams
