Increased artificial power can lead to greater challenges, especially for Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) who are implementing generative AI. To mitigate the risks of losing in the AI conflict, security vendors must embrace general AI. This year, several top global businesses have faced setbacks due to their competitors’ innovative strategies in weaponizing artificial intelligence alongside social engineering tactics.
VentureBeat recently conducted interviews with 16 cybersecurity leaders representing 13 different companies to gather insights on the predictions for 2024. These leaders emphasized the critical need to establish strong partnerships between AI technologies and cybersecurity experts.
For AI to effectively combat cyber threats, it must be complemented by human insight. The synergy between AI and human expertise in identifying and neutralizing breaches before they escalate has been underscored by the results of the MITRE MDR stress tests. Michael Sherwood, the General Innovation and Technology Officer for the city of Las Vegas, highlighted the collaborative efforts of AI and human analysts in preempting security breaches.
Anticipating the impact of collaborative AI (colAI), Peter Silva, the Cybersecurity Product Executive at Ericom and Cradlepoint, emphasized the potential for AI to enhance threat detection by recognizing patterns such as attack signatures and emerging vulnerabilities. He also warned that AI advancements could make distinguishing between AI-generated and human-originated cyber threats more challenging, thereby improving the sophistication of malicious activities.
Elia Zaitsev, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at CrowdStrike, raised concerns about threat actors targeting AI systems as a new avenue for attacking businesses. He highlighted the risks associated with vulnerabilities in sanctioned AI operations and unauthorized usage of AI tools by employees, which could create blind spots for cyber intrusions.
Zaitsev further emphasized the importance of organizations proactively assessing the integration of AI within their operations, understanding associated risks, and devising robust guidelines to ensure secure and effective utilization of AI technologies.
Rob Gurzeev, the CEO of CyCognito, acknowledged the overall benefits of Gen AI for cybersecurity but cautioned against overreliance on AI solutions. He emphasized the need for maintaining human oversight to prevent vulnerabilities in security protocols.
Howard Ting, the CEO of Cyberhaven, discussed the evolving landscape of AI-driven security threats, highlighting the risks posed by employees using unauthorized AI tools. He emphasized the importance of leveraging large language models (LLMs) and Gen AI to enhance threat detection capabilities.
John Morello, the co-founder and CTO of Gutsy, highlighted the potential of Gen AI in assisting security teams in processing vast amounts of event data efficiently. By adopting more conversational AI systems, organizations can enhance their threat detection and response capabilities.
Jason Urso, the CTO of Honeywell Connected Enterprise, underscored the role of Gen AI in enabling closed-loop operational technology (OT) security. He emphasized the dynamic adaptation of security measures based on evolving threats and the automation of penetration testing to mitigate risks effectively.
Srinivas Mukkamala, the Chief Product Officer at Ivanti, emphasized the concerns of IT professionals regarding the impact of AI on job roles. Mukkamala highlighted the importance of transparent communication from business leaders to address employees’ apprehensions about AI replacing traditional roles.
Mukkamala also discussed the rising threat of AI-powered social engineering attacks, predicting increased challenges in distinguishing between legitimate and fraudulent communications due to advancements in AI-generated content.
Merritt Baer, the Field CISO at Lacework, emphasized the evolving nature of work in the context of AI adoption. Baer envisioned a future where automation facilitated by AI technologies streamlines routine tasks, allowing employees to focus on creative and strategic endeavors.
Ankur Shah, the SVP of Palo Alto Networks’ Prisma Cloud, highlighted the accelerating pace of software development driven by AI technologies. He emphasized the importance of leveraging AI for security teams to keep pace with rapid software deployment while emphasizing the significance of reliable security data for effective risk prevention.
Matt Kraning, the CTO of Palo Alto Networks Cortex, discussed the transformative potential of general AI in simplifying data analysis for security analysts. By enabling seamless interaction with vast datasets, general AI can enhance operational efficiency in cybersecurity.
Christophe Van de Weyer, the CEO of Telesign, warned about the misuse of Gen AI by fraudsters to enhance phishing attacks. He highlighted the need for organizations to strengthen their security measures to combat AI-driven threats effectively.
Rob Robinson, the head of Telstra PurpleEMEA, discussed the escalating challenges faced by security professionals in managing vast amounts of data. He emphasized the pivotal role of AI in revolutionizing risk detection and response capabilities within the cybersecurity industry.
Vineet Arora, the CTO of WinWire, envisioned Gen AI revolutionizing security operations by automating routine tasks and enabling security analysts to focus on strategic cybersecurity challenges.
Sanjay Kalra, the VP of Product Management at Zscaler, and Claudionor Coelho, the Chief AI Officer, highlighted the transformative impact of Gen AI on compliance processes. They emphasized the automation of compliance tasks through AI technologies.
Clint Dixon, the CIO of an international transportation company, emphasized the pivotal role of AI in reshaping cybersecurity practices. Dixon underscored the necessity of leveraging AI technologies to effectively manage and respond to the evolving cybersecurity landscape.
In conclusion, the integration of AI technologies in cybersecurity operations presents both opportunities and challenges. By fostering collaboration between AI systems and human expertise, organizations can enhance their resilience against evolving cyber threats and ensure robust security measures in the digital age.
