Data security is in the public eye as never before. It seems like children are the only people who haven’t had their data stolen, and parents need to preemptively set up and freeze a credit file to protect them. New regulations like GDPR make failing to protect data extremely costly for businesses. As a result, companies need to look for effective methods to keeping data secure. Writing in Information Age, Dan Panesar looks at how artificial intelligence can be either a help or a hindrance in that effort.
Many companies today are making artificial intelligence a part of their defensive arsenal. Machine learning can keep pace with changes in the threat landscape faster than human analysts. AI can also rapidly recognize changes in the normal patterns of data use and network activity that often indicate a breach. Once a smart system detects a cybersecurity incident, it can implement a rapid, smart response, too.
The challenge is that it isn’t just the good guys who see the value of this technology; the folks wearing black hats are also leveraging artificial intelligence. Machine learning can figure out how to get around network defenses, enabling hackers to craft malware that succeeds in its attack.
AI won’t fully protect systems by itself, Panesar argues. Companies still need to adopt a comprehensive information security strategy using a defense-in-depth approach in order to ensure their data is kept secure. Read his full analysis here.