The Dual Role of AI in Cybersecurity
Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
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Events
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Next-Generation Technologies & Secure Development
Bob Ackerman Discusses How AI Shapes Offensive, Defensive Cybersecurity Strategies
Advancements in artificial intelligence have “redefined the table stakes in cybersecurity,” said Bob Ackerman, managing director at AllegisCyber. AI is helping enhance defensive mechanisms, making it easier for analysts to differentiate relevant data from background noise, thereby boosting productivity. At the same time, it has enabled the rapidity and the sophistication of cyberattacks.
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Ackerman highlighted the challenges of phishing attacks that have become more personalized and difficult to detect, as well as breaches where AI-powered strategies enable attackers to navigate and compress dwell times drastically.
“If you look at the nature of cybersecurity, there’s an offense and a defense. Almost all of the innovation in cybersecurity originates on the offensive side, highly capable from a technical perspective, sometimes better motivated and unconstrained to their behavior,” he said. “I think they are going to be leading us in defining the new threat vectors that we’re going to be dealing with from a defensive perspective.”
In this video interview with Information Security Media Group at RSA Conference 2024, Ackerman also discussed:
- How AI enables more personalized and hard-to-detect cyberattacks;
- How integrating data can help with assessing cyberthreats more accurately;
- Why regulatory bodies and insurers are demanding more detailed cyber data.
Ackerman has 20 years of experience in successful cybersecurity investing and serves on the board of directors of numerous cybersecurity companies. He was the president and CEO of UniSoft Systems and the founder and chairman of InfoGear Technology Corp.
