As cyber threats increase in complexity and scale, AI offers transformative solutions that enable cybersecurity professionals to stay ahead of their adversaries. In this blog post, I will explore how AI, particularly in its predictive and generative forms, contributes to advancements in cybersecurity and the role it plays in strengthening defenses against sophisticated attacks.
The importance of AI in cybersecurity
The role of AI in cybersecurity cannot be overstated. With the rapid increase in unique cyberattacks — documented in the case of BlackBerry Global Threat Intelligence Report — traditional methods of threat detection and response are no longer enough. AI technologies provide the ability to analyze large amounts of data, identify patterns, and predict potential threats before they can cause damage. This shift from reactive to proactive cybersecurity strategies is essential to staying ahead of malicious actors who are also leveraging AI to bolster their attacks.
To learn more, watch the video below for the discussion I had at RSA 2024 with Shil Sircar, BlackBerry Senior Vice President of Product Engineering and Data Science, on this topic. Or keep reading to see some of the key points uncovered during our conversation.
Predictive AI: anticipating threats before they materialize
Predictive AI is a crucial necessity in the field of cybersecurity. By analyzing historical and real-time data, predictive AI models can identify anomalies and low-signal indicators that may precede a cyberattack. The ability to infer these signals from large volumes of data is the holy grail for data scientists and cybersecurity experts. Cylance® AI is a pioneer in using predictive AI to protect organizations and a recent independent analysis reveals it always outperforms its competitors.
Key Benefits of Predictive AI:
-
Early threat detection: Predictive AI helps identify potential threats before they fully develop, allowing organizations to take preventative action.
-
Resource Optimization: By focusing on high-risk areas, predictive AI allows cybersecurity teams to allocate resources more efficiently.
-
Reduced false positives: Carefully tuned advanced algorithms improve the accuracy of threat detection, minimizing the number of false positives and ensuring that critical threats are not overlooked. Check the Cylance false positives on VirusTotal.
Practical applications:
-
Behavioral Analytics: Tools that analyze user behavior to detect deviations from normal patterns, which may indicate a compromised account or insider threat.
-
Network traffic monitoring: Systems that examine network traffic for unusual activity that could signify a breach or attempted data exfiltration.
Generative AI: improving defensive capabilities
Generative AI, originally known for its ability to create content, is also making significant advances in cybersecurity. These models can learn from numerous data sets to generate predictions and simulate potential attack scenarios.
How Generative AI Works in Cybersecurity:
1. Learning sequences and probabilities: Generative AI models, such as those used in natural language processing (NLP), can understand sequences and predict probabilistic outcomes based on input data.
2. Improved machine learning models: Generative AI complements predictive models by providing enriched data that improves the accuracy and reliability of threat detection systems.
3. Accelerate response and reduce escalations: An example of this can be seen in taking context into account. Cylance® Assistant. The generative AI tool is integrated directly into the Cylance console. Here is a sequence of how it works:
- The alert appears on your Cylance dashboard.
- With a single click, in the same console, Cylance Assistant explains the importance of the threat, remediation steps, and areas where further investigation may be necessary.
- There is no need to search or guess the AI prompts; Cylance Assistant already understands the context of the situation and what you need to know.
- This allows the skills of junior analysts to be perfected and the number of reports to senior analysts to be reduced.
Watch the video below to see Cylance Assistant in action.
The AI arms race: defenders versus threat actors
Advances in AI that empower defenders also equip threat actors with new tools and techniques. This creates a continual arms race in which both sides continually evolve to outwit each other.
AI for adversaries:
-
Automated attack planning: Threat actors use AI to design and execute attacks more efficiently, selecting the most effective methods based on data-driven insights.
-
Evasion Techniques: AI helps attackers develop advanced evasion techniques to bypass traditional cybersecurity measures. This trend contributes to a continued increase in the number of new malware.
Integrate AI into your cybersecurity strategy
For cybersecurity professionals, integrating AI into your defense strategy isn’t just an option: it’s a necessity. Here are some steps to effectively harness the power of AI in your organization:
-
Invest in AI training: Make sure your team is familiar with AI technologies and their applications in cybersecurity.
-
Leverage advanced tools: Adopt AI-driven cybersecurity tools that offer a combination of predictive and generative capabilities.
-
Evaluate potential solutions based on findings: Cybersecurity vendors make a wide variety of claims about AI in cybersecurity. To sort them, ask about the proven results. Was the AI-based solution independently tested? Does he have a low false positive rate? If it uses generative AI for analysts, is tedious context switching or rapid creation required?
Embracing the Future of Cyber Defense
As we navigate the complexities of modern cybersecurity, AI is a critical ally in our efforts to protect sensitive data and maintain robust defense mechanisms. The integration of predictive and generative AI technologies provides a strategic advantage to anticipate and mitigate cyber threats. For cybersecurity professionals, adopting AI isn’t just about staying relevant—it’s also about taking the lead in the ongoing battle against cyber adversaries.
