While one in three (31%) cybersecurity professionals say their organization is using AI for cybersecurity today, 50% of them are actively working on its adoption.
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, April 22, 2024–(BUSINESS FEED)–80% of cybersecurity decision-makers say accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence is critical to their organization’s resilience in the face of evolving threats, but only 31% say their organization is using AI today, according to a new study from MeriTalkthe first digital platform for the government IT sector, and RSA Conferencethe world’s leading information security conferences and exhibitions.
The study – which compiles qualitative data from five in-depth interviews with senior cybersecurity leaders, as well as quantitative data from 100 federal and 100 private sector cybersecurity decision-makers, examines early victories for cyber AI and asks cyber professionals how they want to work with them. AI is moving forward. While 86% believe that human-AI collaboration will become the cornerstone of effective cybersecurity strategies, only one in five fully trust AI to automate cybersecurity decisions. When it comes to the ideal distribution of responsibilities, cyber leaders want humans to retain majority ownership of more nuanced efforts such as strategic planning, innovation, and governance; while AI takes the lead in data-intensive efforts like cyber risk assessments and threat detection and response.
Although most organizations view their current AI governance as adequate, there are critical policy gaps. Less than half have documented policies regarding decision-making models or formal guidelines for ethics or program testing, and only 40% report policies specific to critical infrastructure. Additionally, only 30% believe their organization is well prepared to combat AI-related cybersecurity threats. The challenges with the greatest impact on AI adoption are fear of increased attacks on new AI models, data or services, lack of skilled workforce for implementation and data quality, integrity or availability issues.
“AI technologies, such as machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP), are not new to cybersecurity, but their applications are rapidly evolving from optional enhancements to necessities strategies,” said Nicole Burdette, director of MeriTalk. “We are already seeing AI users improve vulnerability detection and speed up incident response times. The challenge over the next 6 to 12 months will be to put the appropriate safeguards in place so that organizations can maximize the adoption and benefits of AI while minimizing additional risks.
“The impact of AI on our industry is seismic, and we are clearly in the early days of understanding and adapting to the impact on teams and tools,” said Britta Glade, vice president, content and curation, RSA Conference. “As this research shows, the days and months ahead will be crucial, and organizations must clearly and deliberately evaluate and define the boundaries and guardrails of how AI will be infused into workflows and workflows. process.
When asked to envision the future of human-AI collaboration, cyber professionals demonstrated a mix of optimism and caution. Although many see immense potential for innovation, efficiency and improved safety, concerns about safety, ethics and responsible development remain.
To maximize the cyber impact of AI, the report recommends that organizations:
-
Start with increased human communication and collaboration
-
Emphasize a culture of continuous learning
-
Evaluate AI use cases based on technology maturity, mission value and risk
-
Integrate AI security from the start
-
Be realistic about expectations
-
Focus on thorough testing and evaluation
-
Embrace change
The art of teaming up between humans and AI in cybersecurity the report is subscribed by Fortinet Federal And Maxim. The report has a margin of error of ±6.93 percent at a 95 percent confidence level. To view the full results, visit: https://meritalk.com/study/art-of-human-and-ai-team-cybersecurity/?campaign=pr
About MeriTalk
The voice of tomorrow’s government today, MeriTalk is the government’s best digital IT platform. Our award-winning editorial team, world-class events and research staff produce unrivaled news, analysis and insight. The goal: a more efficient, more responsive and citizen-centered government. MeriTalk connects to an audience of 160,000 federal community contacts. For more information, visit www.meritalk.com or follow us on X, @MeriTalk. MeriTalk is a 300Brand organization.
About the RSA Conference
RSA Conference™ is the premier global event and year-round learning series for the cybersecurity community. RSAC is where the security industry converges to discuss current and future concerns and gain access to experts, unbiased content and insights that help individuals and businesses improve their cybersecurity posture and build stronger, smarter teams. Whether in person or online, RSAC brings the cybersecurity industry together and empowers “us” to combat cyberthreats around the world. RSAC is the ultimate marketplace for the latest technology and hands-on training opportunities that help industry professionals discover how to make their businesses more secure while showcasing the most enterprising, influential and thought-provoking thinkers and leaders in cybersecurity today today. For the latest news regarding the cybersecurity industry, visit www.rsaconference.com. Where the world talks about security.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240422245883/en/
Contacts
Emilie Bois
ewood@300brand.com
(703) 883-9000 ext. 127
Ben Waring
ben.waring@rsaconference.com
