Written by Guy Golan, founder and executive chairman of Performante.
PWC reports that artificial intelligence is projected to donate £1.6 billion in business revenue to the economy by 2030.
From the early use cases of manual task automation to using the real-time machine learning capabilities of technology to maintain organizations’ cyber-safety, AI is everywhere, and businesses need to educate them on how to deploy technology safely.
As businesses increase their use of AI across cybersecurity, hackers are doing the same from the other side. Tools powered by AI help you execute more advanced attacks, and easily develop faster, larger cyberattack methods, manipulate data, violate systems, manipulate vulnerabilities, and probe vulnerabilities.
AI allows hackers to automate processes that previously took days or weeks. As they move beyond programming, they focus more on managing continuous attacks targeting targets in organizational armor.
Recent incidents highlight how realistic this risk has become. Just a few months ago, the US Treasury network was successfully compromised using AI methods implemented by the APT Group in China. Additionally, American mobile provider AT&T Data has been accessed by “almost every” wireless customer, and 109 million data records have been leaked to hackers.
So how do companies navigate this technology to become AI-secure?
Increased risk of cybersecurity attacks
The evolving cyber threats and many successful attacks that have betrayed businesses large and small have already created inadequate cybersecurity turmoil. It’s fair to say we’re in the midst of a cybersecurity war, with the fear that hackers are using powerful AI right now.
Hackers’ methods have become more diverse, making the offensive surface even busier places that can only be tracked by cyberprofessionals without powerful defence tools. Wide range of attacks on servers and networks, as well as the incredibly persuasive phishing scams, are two examples of how hackers use technology.
Companies that do not acknowledge that AI defense tools are consistent with AI attack tools lack the aggressive pillars of cyber safety, with serious consequences for financial and reputational equity.
How can your business stay safe?
AI cyberattacks have traditionally targeted victims for ransom data, money or opportunities. Otherwise, these are state-driven and often seek personal information from a variety of countries.
First, AI attacks can adapt constantly – meaning that automation features allow them to be launched significantly. Machine learning also allows for some degree of customization for each future victim. With AI, the age of carbon copying, which makes it easy to catch phishing emails, is a thing of the past.
As AI-based threats evolve, all but the most aggressive cybersafe organizations accept that normal defenses have not evolved quickly enough to ensure protection.
Beyond the constant vigilance offered by a “cybersecurity” approach, the best opportunity for businesses to stay safe is to ensure that their chosen cybersecurity system understands the threats of AI. Here, in collaboration with specialized cyber companies, the biggest players quickly deployed the right solution.
From data overload to viable intelligence
The influx of data requires companies to focus on transforming raw information into meaningful insights. Very popular data can go a long way in enhancing AI cybersecurity systems.
Security strategies need to evolve too. Relying on basic password protection and traditional firewalls is no longer enough. Companies need to implement more advanced protection measures, such as real-time threat detection systems, layered encryption, and stronger access control.
For example, solutions like Microsoft Security Copilot can reduce violations.
This technology can help you enhance it in four important ways:
1. Real-time Threat Analysis – By continuously monitoring network activity, Copilot quickly detects anomalies, provides actionable insights to security teams, and reduces response times to emerging threats.
2. Context Incident Response – Using AI-driven insights, Copilot prioritizes security alerts and provides the next recommended step to mitigate risk before escalating.
3. AI-Driven Threat Intelligence – By analyzing a vast dataset from Microsoft’s security ecosystem, Copilot uncovers vulnerabilities, identifies attack patterns, and helps businesses expand security gaps.
4. Proactive Threat Detection – Copilot allows security teams to predict and prevent attacks by recognizing early metrics of cyber threats and providing a preemptive approach to defense.
As these risks continue to grow, companies that focus primarily on the sectors aimed at finance, technology and clients will need to remain strong. Adopting AI cybersecurity tools allows you to add additional layers of protection needed to protect your critical data to avoid violations.
Keep cybersecurity automation clean
As organizations generate AI-driven defense mechanisms, a focus on clean automation is essential for success. “With trash, the trash can” is more than just a proverb. That is an important reality for AI security. Without ensuring high quality data entry, businesses risk enhancing AI into flawed systems, making them vulnerable to breaches and cyberattacks.
Human touch or human error?
Training employees to recognize AI-driven threats is critical to ensuring business protection. Human error is one of the biggest vulnerabilities, especially when it comes to phishing scams, identity scams and social engineering.
Regular security awareness training should include actionable guidance on finding AI-generated scams and preventing accidental data leaks.
Future preparation for AI in business
The use of AI in business operations is set to grow, but organizations need to be aware of the risks associated with it. Those who take an aggressive approach are well suited to harness the benefits of AI without being exposed to unnecessary threats caused by violations or attacks.
Making security a central part of AI adoption helps businesses ensure that these new technologies continue to be tools for growth, as opposed to dangerous omissions.
Protecting sensitive data, protecting your network, and informing you about new risks is key to staying trust and resilient through digital transformation.
