Updated on May 7, 2019

It’s no surprise to anyone that digital threats are evolving and becoming more complex than ever before. As attackers take their game to the next level, an organization’s cybersecurity program should grow and become smarter along with them. The latest step forward in digital defense comes in the form of machine learning and Artificial Intelligence algorithms that combine the reliability of traditional signatures with the power of Big Data analytics.

Legacy Tools No Longer the Answer to Growing Threats

With the ever-increasing sophistication of today’s security threats, traditional layers of defense like SIEMs, IDS/IPS, and antimalware applications are no longer sufficient. While these tools are certainly effective at thwarting routine port scans or spam emails, the smart security administrator needs to add another layer of security to be truly protected from advanced attacks. Signature-based defenses can’t scale fast enough or stay up to date with critical threats like zero-day attacks or a targeted phishing campaign, and reactive security programs are an open invitation for a data breach. While a business can add more resources to its SOC, or invest in the most engaging security awareness program, an organization’s defense is only as strong as the tools used in that defense. The reality is that security programs built on tools from as recent as 3-4 years ago are already outdated in the face of today’s threats.

Combining Traditional Defenses With Modern Data Analytics

 What is the answer to the increasing complexity of these attacks? By pairing the usefulness of legacy solutions with a boost from Big Data, machine learning allows administrators to identify and prevent new or anomalous threats while controlling attacks from traditional threat vectors. Beginning with a baseline of signature files and a sample of normal activity from the network, new security devices can implement machine learning to automatically detect and shut down advanced threats that would otherwise slip past legacy perimeters.

An important component of these AI-driven devices is the ability to aggregate and analyze data from all the environments they are installed in, across multiple customers and industries. For clients who choose to opt-in to the program, smart devices can share their anonymized data in a pool of information from other clients, greatly increasing the samples that algorithms can be based upon. By analyzing data from such a large pool, these devices can leverage predictive analysis to protect an organization from threats that are new to their market but have been seen before in other industries.

In summary, security professionals should be aware that traditional lines of defense are no longer sufficient against today’s evolving threats. Machine intelligence and Big Data are changing the cybersecurity game by combining legacy methods with modern analysis and behavior models and should be seriously considered while building a well-rounded security program. Click here to learn more about machine learning in cyber security.

PHOTO CREDIT: UNSPLASH | JASH CHHABRIA

It’s no surprise to anyone that digital threats are evolving and becoming more complex than ever before. As attackers take their game to the next level, an organization’s cybersecurity program should grow and become smarter along with them. The latest step forward in digital defense comes in the form of machine learning and Artificial Intelligence algorithms that combine the reliability of traditional signatures with the power of Big Data analytics.

Legacy Tools No Longer the Answer to Growing Threats

With the ever-increasing sophistication of today’s security threats, traditional layers of defense like SIEMs, IDS/IPS, and antimalware applications are no longer sufficient. While these tools are certainly effective at thwarting routine port scans or spam emails, the smart security administrator needs to add another layer of security to be truly protected from advanced attacks. Signature-based defenses can’t scale fast enough or stay up to date with critical threats like zero-day attacks or a targeted phishing campaign, and reactive security programs are an open invitation for a data breach. While a business can add more resources to its SOC, or invest in the most engaging security awareness program, an organization’s defense is only as strong as the tools used in that defense. The reality is that security programs built on tools from as recent as 3-4 years ago are already outdated in the face of today’s threats.

Combining Traditional Defenses With Modern Data Analytics

 What is the answer to the increasing complexity of these attacks? By pairing the usefulness of legacy solutions with a boost from Big Data, machine learning allows administrators to identify and prevent new or anomalous threats while controlling attacks from traditional threat vectors. Beginning with a baseline of signature files and a sample of normal activity from the network, new security devices can implement machine learning to automatically detect and shut down advanced threats that would otherwise slip past legacy perimeters.

An important component of these AI-driven devices is the ability to aggregate and analyze data from all the environments they are installed in, across multiple customers and industries. For clients who choose to opt-in to the program, smart devices can share their anonymized data in a pool of information from other clients, greatly increasing the samples that algorithms can be based upon. By analyzing data from such a large pool, these devices can leverage predictive analysis to protect an organization from threats that are new to their market but have been seen before in other industries.

In summary, security professionals should be aware that traditional lines of defense are no longer sufficient against today’s evolving threats. Machine intelligence and Big Data are changing the cybersecurity game by combining legacy methods with modern analysis and behavior models and should be seriously considered while building a well-rounded security program.

If you would like to learn more about machine learning in cybersecurity, click here to download "The Enterprise Immune System: Proven Mathematics and Machine Learning for Cyber Defense"...

PHOTO CREDIT: UNSPLASH | JASH CHHABRIA

Updated on May 7, 2019

Every other day, we hear disclosures about some new security breach that leads to damaged reputations, executive resignations and plummeting stock values. While It is tempting to become a wee-bit sarcastic and ‘normalize’ this state of affairs, the danger of cyber attacks can’t be understated. The gap between time to exfiltration vs time to quarantine is growing in favor of attackers. Thought leaders and Trillion-Dollar loss projections reinforce that information warfare is a serious threat that’s quickly becoming the #1 danger for businesses, governments and even individual liberties.

What is the Role of Cybersecurity?

Throw in a dizzying array of new technologies and new vendors, and it‘s no wonder cyber security executives, CFOs and CEO’s feel growing levels of pressure.  What we all need at this time is a change in attitude: The role of cyber security is to enable the business to reach its goals, not to be the goal in and of itself. No business exists for the sake of having an unbreachable security program, if such a thing can even be built. On the contrary, a good security program drives and supports the organization to reach its strategic goals.

In this non-stop ‘spy vs. spy’ game between good guys and bad actors, the solution is not to keep adding one shiny tool after another but rather focusing on a well-thought out strategy that includes multiple prongs: (a) Periodic audits, strong fundamentals, clear policies and well-trained team members  (b) adding advanced tools to automate, orchestrate and streamline processes while reducing costs, and (c) including cyber security within the C-level risk management view that balances acceptable exposure levels, qualifies the required investments and takes advantage of available risk transfer options.

What is the role of a trusted Cyber Security Solutions Provider?

Within this quickly changing environment, a trusted partner’s role is to help the clients reduce anxiety, become better risks and increase peace of mind.

A trustworthy partner will sit down and fully understand your needs before talking about any kind of product lineup. If you have security questions, contact us and let’s make a plan that works for you.

PHOTO CREDIT: UNSPLASH | TASKIN ASHIQ

Every other day, we hear disclosures about some new security breach that leads to damaged reputations, executive resignations and plummeting stock values. While It is tempting to become a wee-bit sarcastic and ‘normalize’ this state of affairs, the danger of cyber attacks can’t be understated. The gap between time to exfiltration vs time to quarantine is growing in favor of attackers. Thought leaders and Trillion-Dollar loss projections reinforce that information warfare is a serious threat that’s quickly becoming the #1 danger for businesses, governments and even individual liberties.

What is the Role of Cybersecurity?

Throw in a dizzying array of new technologies and new vendors, and it‘s no wonder cyber security executives, CFOs and CEO’s feel growing levels of pressure.  What we all need at this time is a change in attitude: The role of cyber security is to enable the business to reach its goals, not to be the goal in and of itself. No business exists for the sake of having an unbreachable security program, if such a thing can even be built. On the contrary, a good security program drives and supports the organization to reach its strategic goals.

In this non-stop ‘spy vs. spy’ game between good guys and bad actors, the solution is not to keep adding one shiny tool after another but rather focusing on a well-thought out strategy that includes multiple prongs: (a) Periodic audits, strong fundamentals, clear policies and well-trained team members  (b) adding advanced tools to automate, orchestrate and streamline processes while reducing costs, and (c) including cyber security within the C-level risk management view that balances acceptable exposure levels, qualifies the required investments and takes advantage of available risk transfer options.

What is the role of a trusted Cyber Security Solutions Provider?

Within this quickly changing environment, a trusted partner’s role is to help the clients reduce anxiety, become better risks and increase peace of mind.

A trustworthy partner will sit down and fully understand your needs before talking about any kind of product lineup. If you have security questions, contact us and let’s make a plan that works for you.

PHOTO CREDIT: UNSPLASH | TASKIN ASHIQ