Just when I thought it might be time to relax and coast a little as I moved to California, I chose to dive deeper into AI, enrolling in some Stanford classes that promise to stretch my understanding beyond its limits. This is despite the fact that I’ve been speaking about the subject and preaching about “AI vs AI” for almost a decade. What would prompt me to, once again, grab a backpack, sack lunch, and hit the classrooms?
The decision wasn't just about adding another credential; it was about embracing the future and ensuring my skills remain sharp and relevant. As one of my most respected mentors taught me a few moons ago, "If you keep up, you'll be fine. If you pause for even three months, you'll be obsolete."
Obsolescence Avoidance through AI Education
While technology-focused education has always been a passion, I feel it has never been more important than this particular moment in time, as we are witnessing the advent of mass use of AI and its exciting, ever-evolving spheres of associated knowledge. It's not enough to simply be aware of AI when its associated vectors, like Machine Learning, large language models, and even neural networks, blossom into new discoveries at a never-before-seen pace.
As founders, board members, and CEOs, we set the tone for our entire organization. Our approach to learning and adapting to AI cascades throughout the company, influencing how our teams perceive and embrace change. It’s crucial that we demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning, not just in words but in actions.
I know that in order to continue creating a safer online environment for people and businesses, we must have current, practical knowledge to bolster what decades of experience have already taught us.
Of course, we have all witnessed other technological breakthroughs during our lifetimes… the personal computer, mobile phones, internet connectivity, the cloud, advances in healthcare, and surgical methods.
➡️ The best technologists and innovators in any sector are those who never stop learning. They know technology doesn’t wait for them to have time to "catch up." Instead, the most impactful and successful technologists have perpetually run alongside the ever-ticking secondhand of advancement and innovation.
Learning is a dynamic and fluid process in which sometimes, yes, an academic whitepaper is read, but other times, this may look like simply taking the time to learn from a colleague in conversation. Many wouldn't necessarily think of themselves as lifelong learners but simply people who follow a natural curiosity that is often focused on their passions and interests.
Many Paths to Learn More About AI
One of the best things about our connected age is that it has made knowledge in many formats generally accessible.
Though I am currently enrolled in college courses (some online and others in-person), there are many ways to stay abreast of the latest uses, innovations, and discoveries of AI and its various applications. Whether an employee upskilling to leverage new AI-based tools in the workplace or a C-suite level innovator, this vastly expanding knowledge base is now accessible to all.
In addition to formal Stanford courses, I've found the following educational resources to be helpful in my quest to further my AI knowledge.
AI Education via Formal Workforce Training
Formal training is making up a large part of AI education at the moment, as we are witnessing the rapid evolution of entire swaths of the workforce. From customer service representatives to entire accounting, sales, and marketing floors of multinational corporations, organizations and individuals are realizing the necessity of continuing AI education.
If you’re interested in formal AI education for your teams, I suggest you look into Correlation One’s training programs. Their platforms are easy to navigate, and they have programs for workforce development, enterprise upskilling, or individual learners. Training is approached from a foundational level that gives context to the information provided. Their Generative AI readiness toolkit is a prime example of this.
Self-Guided or Independent Learning for AI Knowledge
Opportunities to learn about the AI ecosystem and its less-technical aspects—such as its potential societal impact or possible future applications—abound in the thousands of AI books that were released seemingly overnight.
Finding an engaging read (or listen, if you prefer audiobooks) by a credible source can be a daunting prospect. This curated list is a good place to start. Some books explore the technical and scientific aspects of AI, like Why Machines Learn: The Elegant Math Behind Modern AI by Anil Ananthaswamy. Others offer guidance to business leaders, like The AI-Savvy Leader: Nine Ways to Take Back Control and Make AI Work by David De Cremer. Still, other recent books examine and question the potential socioeconomic impact of this transformative technology as Parmy Olsen does in Supremacy: AI, ChatGPT, and the Race that Will Change the World.
Finally, professional and social networks can be an invaluable guide to finding useful information about whatever specific facet of AI education you're looking to pursue. In addition to knowledgeable recommendations, sometimes social media posts from respected industry leaders can be tremendously helpful. An excellent example of this includes this LinkedIn post and a helpful infographic from Denis Panjuta.
Leverage the Experience and Lifelong Learning Knowledge at CyVent
As a security professional, I am driven by intellectual curiosity and a deep, ongoing interest in advanced technology. I am equally passionate about leveraging my knowledge and experience to create safer online environments for business owners.
That's why I founded CyVent and why we’ve built our offerings to focus on a holistic approach to cybersecurity. This is the philosophy that guides our entire team of cybersecurity technologists, former CISOs, senior line executives, and academic thought leaders.
Our team has skillfully assessed cybersecurity solutions with what fits best for each unique client because, as a crew of lifelong learners, we all hold each other to the same standard of being current in the latest science, research, and technological knowledge. Contact CyVent today for a free consultation, and let us put that knowledge and experience into action to better protect your organization.
Looking Ahead: Our Responsibility as Leaders
As we navigate this journey together, let’s ask ourselves:
- How can we better integrate AI learning into our board and executive development programs?
- What steps can we take to ensure our organizations are prepared for AI-driven disruptions in our industry?
- How can we leverage our growing AI knowledge to create sustainable competitive advantages?
By embracing lifelong learning in AI, we set a powerful example for our entire organization and pave the way for innovation and growth in the years to come.
~Yuda
Artificial Intelligence and Information Security: Fact vs Fiction
Machine learning, deep learning, generative adversarial networks and other AI technologies have burst onto the cybersecurity scene over the last year. Software vendors and MSSPs are scrambling to bring their particular flavor of AI cyber security to market and claim their stake as industry leaders.
While AI has quickly become table stakes for an effective security posture, some of it can also seem to be overhyped in some respects. In this post, we’ll aim to cut through the superlatives and provide a few thoughts on the role of artificial intelligence in cyber security.
Artificial Intelligence in Cyber Security Does Not Replace Traditional Tools
By claiming that AI will replace traditional tools while lowering labor costs and probably making coffee at the same time, some advertising has put AI on a pedestal that it may not have achieved yet.
Here are some things that AI cyber security definitely will not replace. Security teams will still need to keep around:
- Employee training and a security-sensitive culture
- Smart policies and processes
- Qualified architects, managers, engineers, and analysts
- Rock-solid, layered infrastructure with effective controls around it
If you find yourself saying, “Wait, that’s 95% of my security program,” you’re right. Artificial intelligence in cyber security is a complement to a well-run cyber framework, not a replacement for it.
Must-Ask Questions When Evaluating AI Cyber Security Tools
We all have seen that technology can be promoted with grand promises backed by sometimes disappointing results. To avoid a dud in your AI implementation, you may want to sit down with your security team and your vendor rep to go over a few questions:
- How do your AI algorithms actually work? How mature is the technology? What are its blind spots?
- How well does it avoid false positives and false negatives?
- How do you measure the incremental benefits and the expected ROI?
- How will it protect us from insider threats?
- What’s your definition of ‘real-time’?
- Which attack vectors, file type, operating systems do you cover?
- How frequently does it need to be updated?
- How does it handle APT’s, zero-days and zero-hours?
- What outside support are we going to need to implement and maintain this?
- How much additional training will we need to use this effectively?
- Does it produce usable reports that actually mean something?
- What results have your other clients seen from it?
- Does it outperform what I already have, or will it be just another software bloating up my network?
Pitfalls to Avoid When Implementing an AI Cyber Security Solution
Adding software to your organization’s toolkit is rarely a trivial matter, and even less so when you’re dealing with AI. Here are some potential mistakes when deploying an AI cyber security tool:
- Expecting a “set-and-forget” solution that will replace the whole security program: See the first section of this post.
- Thinking that an in-house developed solution will be best-in-show without exploring other available options.
- Expecting that the AI tool won’t require any customization or integration.
- And possibly the most delicate one: Thinking it’ll all work out on automatic pilot without specialized AI expertise on your team or assistance from AI safety experts.
The fact of the matter is that it is no longer viable to delay implementation of robust AI cyber security tools. Bad actors have already started using AI.
A talented cybersecurity team and company-wide awareness trainings go a long way. Artificial intelligence in cyber security simply brings a needed support structure that can assist your teams to prevent attacks and accelerate mitigation if needed. As businesses undergo the digital transformation, it is imperative they also leverage new developments in cyber capabilities and include them in their thinking from the very beginning of their process. Cyber security cannot be an after-thought.
CyVent is a Certified Partner of global leaders in augmented intelligence applied to cybersecurity. Our cutting edge, AI-driven solutions help organizations transition from the classic remediation approach to security to a more pre-emptive posture, which ultimately increases prevention, decreases times-to-resolution and automates cybersecurity operations.
Responding to Cybersecurity Threats: How to Assess Your Tools and Cyber Strategy
Cybersecurity is in crisis. Cybersecurity threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and pervasive. Bad actors have access to all the latest technology and tools, including artificial intelligence, for free or very little cost. They have endless time and resources to send out millions of cyberattacks – and need only a single successful attack to reap a windfall. It’s asymmetric warfare, and the attackers’ tools just keep improving.
In response, dozens of new cybersecurity providers seem to enter the market every day. Artificial intelligence, new tools and easy access to information mean that innovation keeps accelerating daily. With cybersecurity threats regularly making headlines, and pressure on companies to secure their data (and customers’ data) growing, new cybersecurity providers barely need to advertise to gain customers’ attention. For the same reasons, venture capitalists are eager to fund cybersecurity firms. The traditional big players in the market are rushing to upgrade their outdated packages. It’s a noisy marketplace, and companies trying to protect their data and systems are confused about how best to do so.
How Companies Are Addressing Cybersecurity Threats
Companies have responded to the crowded cybersecurity marketplace in different ways. Some just bury their heads in the sand, deciding to deal with incursions when they occur, or to hope that they’re too small to be worth targeting with a cyberattack. Others are spending way too much money on cybersecurity, experimenting with every new product that hits the market.
Many companies believe that they already have all the tools they need to combat cybersecurity threats, but haven’t properly patched their existing systems, which need regular updates to combat ever-changing cyber threats. On top of that, many companies experience dozens of little attacks every day, from all sides, and it’s hard to know where to put resources.
But burying your head in the sand or sticking with old tools that don’t counteract today’s cybersecurity threats is simply not an option. And throwing money at whatever strikes a chord isn’t an effective strategy, either.
What Is an Effective Strategy for Managing Cybersecurity Threats?
Resolving the cybersecurity crisis starts with an honest cyber vulnerability assessment, either by your internal experts or by outside experts.
Ultimately, this cyber vulnerability assessment should give you a map of where your company is in terms of cybersecurity. Next, you’ll need a map of where you’re going. Your experts should prepare a plan that:
- Closes your cybersecurity gaps over time
- Analyzes the financial risks of not closing gaps and prioritizes closing the gaps that put the company at the most risk
- Includes a company cybersecurity policy that every employee is expected to follow (much like a dress code or conduct policy)
This cyber vulnerability assessment and plan give you a framework for cybersecurity decisions. Armed with an understanding of your risk profile, your budget, your weaknesses and the consequences of various breaches, your experts should be able to recommend cybersecurity investments that will provide the best ROI for your company. The key is to remain true to this framework, even as new cybersecurity threats rear their ugly heads. Certainly, you want to maintain some flexibility, with strategies adjusting as truly required. But stick with what you know to be important to your business, and let that lead your investment decisions.
Wondering about your ability to respond to cybersecurity threats? Schedule a free, confidential assessment today.
To thwart cyber attacks, the traditional approach has been to focus on the perimeter to repel intruders. But over time the perimeter has become a sieve. Today’s hackers easily break through it or find ways around it. In fact, a new study by RiskIQ estimates the cost cybercrime at $856,000 per minute. AI cybersecurity solutions directly address these challenges, which is why many now view the technology as the future of cybersecurity.
Going Beyond the Perimeter Is the Future of Cybersecurity
Focusing on defending the perimeter has been akin to wearing a Hazmat suit in a hostile environment: Any small perforation, and you were doomed to unexpected consequences at the hands of hackers who had the time and intellect to play games with your critical assets.
Not only are perimeters fragile and the gap in available talent huge, but most IT teams are often so stretched for resources that they can’t keep up with the updates necessary to protect against the myriad attacks that can penetrate a company’s external defenses. WannaCry was just an example of that.
Over the years, computing speed has grown exponentially –multiplying more than 3,000x since 1991 – to the point where even a $5 Raspberry Pi can now run deep learning algorithms. So it’s not a surprise that, in recent years, focus has shifted to using AI cybersecurity to complement traditional defenses in many ways and neutralize stealthy, unknown threats that may have already breached the perimeter before any irreparable damage to network or data is done.
Applying Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity
In AI cybersecurity programs, which are now being embedded in companies’ networks, endpoints and data are evolving into immune systems that allow internal defenses to shorten the dwell-time and pre-empt the devastation that can follow a breach.
While there is no need to abandon the perimeter, today’s smart CISOs are squarely focused on increasing their AI-driven pre-emption capabilities and boosting their own auto-immune systems. Artificial intelligence in cybersecurity is by no means perfect yet, but cybercriminals are already using automation and machine learning 24x7x365. In the never-ending cat-and-mouse game, AI is slated to continue gaining ground to build predictive capabilities and strengthen defenses for the foreseeable future.
To learn more about how AI is impacting the future of cybersecurity, download this white paper from Darktrace: Machine Learning in Cybersecurity.
ICS Cybersecurity: Using AI in Operational Technology Security
Updated on May 7, 2019
Recent headlines have been abuzz with ICS experts warning of grid vulnerability to hacking. Digital threat actors have become exceptionally skilled at infiltrating every type of computer network. Industrial Control Systems (ICS) are no different: While ICS networks were generally thought to be more secure due to not communicating outside of the corporate network or on the internet, attackers have managed to compromise them and steal valuable production data.
Some of the most effective tools for ICS cybersecurity are the emerging technologies in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. By combining real-time data monitoring with orchestration and automated response, AI/ML solutions are proving their value when compared to legacy systems and human-intervention driven response times.
A Real-World Example of Using AI for ICS Network Security
At the 2017 Black Hat Europe conference, security research firm CyberX demonstrated how data exfiltration was possible from a supposedly air-gapped ICS network. By delivering a payload of specific ladder logic code into Programmable Logic Controllers, the attack was programmed to send out copies of data through encoded radio signals which can be received by AM radios and analyzed by special-purpose software. As the communication channel is outside the TCP/IP stack, there is no encryption to safeguard the data once it’s captured.
How does AI respond to this threat? In this case, Machine Learning can be used to craft an algorithm which establishes a “normal” state and monitors traffic and configurations to compare against that state. This baseline can include network traffic, equipment settings, and even the source code of PLCs. With its continuous heartbeat checks, the algorithm can detect when the system deviates from the baseline and immediately alert security staff of the change.
Another real-world example involving operational technology security comes very recently from the ransomware attack on Norsk Hyrdo, one of the world’s largest aluminum producers based in Norway. The ransomware infected multiple systems across the organization in a number of locations.The company’s production environments were forced to stop production or change to manual systems. The ransomware supported the changing of administrator passwords, and as the majority of servers were under the same domain, the attack could spread more rapidly than if there had been a combination of network segmentation and separately administered domains. In the case of Norsk, an AI cybersecurity layer would have been able to spot irregularities in system access and lockdown channels before the hackers could manipulate the permissions.
AI and ICS Cybersecurity: Adding Value to Existing Systems
Where does AI fit into your existing ICS network security program? You already have the ICS equipment sectioned off on its own VLAN(s), firewalled, monitored, and protected by IDS/IPS, SIEMs, and other security tools. Where does it make sense to insert AI/ML into the equation?
The biggest advantage of implanting an AI solution for ICS cybersecurity is its real-time response and orchestration. AI tools don’t need to wait for security staff to make a decision. They don’t see a black and white picture of firewall rules which often miss malware traffic flying under the radar, masquerading as “normal” network signals. Machine algorithms can detect abnormal data exchanges and immediately respond to the threat, long before a SOC resource would be alerted. Some AI offerings can even monitor devices that don’t communicate over TCP/IP, creating powerful visibility into non-networked equipment.
A particularly interesting tool to protect industrial control systems is Cyberbit’s ScadaShield, a layered solution to provide full stack ICS network detection, visibility, smart analytics, forensics and response. ScadaShield performs continuous monitoring and detection across the entire attack surface for both IT and OT components and can be combined with SOC automation to trigger workflows that accelerate root cause identification and mitigation.
Large-scale processes operating at critical power generation, electrical transmission, water treatment, and refining sites, as well as major manufacturing plants are more at risk than ever. The good news is that new developments in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning have created new ways to protect these systems and improve ICS cybersecurity.
If you haven’t already done so, this is a good time to consider adding an AI/ML solution to your security perimeter to take your prevention and response times to the next level. Click here to contact us if you would like to learn more about artificial intelligence in cyber security.
PHOTO CREDIT: UNSPLASH | RAMÓN SALINERO
Artificial Intelligence and ICS Cybersecurity: Filling Gaps in Operational Technology Security
Recent headlines have been abuzz with ICS experts warning of grid vulnerability to hacking. Digital threat actors have become exceptionally skilled at infiltrating every type of computer network. Industrial Control Systems (ICS) are no different: While ICS networks were generally thought to be more secure due to not communicating outside of the corporate network or on the internet, attackers have managed to compromise them and steal valuable production data.
Some of the most effective tools for ICS cybersecurity are the emerging technologies in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. By combining real-time data monitoring with orchestration and automated response, AI/ML solutions are proving their value when compared to legacy systems and human-intervention driven response times.
A Real-World Example of Using AI for ICS Network Security
At the last Black Hat Europe conference, security research firm CyberX demonstrated how data exfiltration was possible from a supposedly air-gapped ICS network. By delivering a payload of specific ladder logic code into Programmable Logic Controllers, the attack was programmed to send out copies of data through encoded radio signals which can be received by AM radios and analyzed by special-purpose software. As the communication channel is outside the TCP/IP stack, there is no encryption to safeguard the data once it’s captured.
How does AI respond to this threat? In this case, Machine Learning can be used to craft an algorithm which establishes a “normal” state and monitors traffic and configurations to compare against that state. This baseline can include network traffic, equipment settings, and even the source code of PLCs. With its continuous heartbeat checks, the algorithm can detect when the system deviates from the baseline and immediately alert security staff of the change.
Another real-world example involving operational technology security comes very recently from the ransomware attack on Atlanta’s municipal infrastructure, which involved encrypting city files, locking access to online services, and blocking the city from processing court cases and warrants. This is just the latest in a string of attacks on American cities. Previously, hackers gained access to Dallas’s tornado warning system and set off sirens in the middle of the night. In the case of Atlanta, an AI cybersecurity layer would have been able to spot irregularities in system access and lockdown channels before the hackers could manipulate the permissions.
AI and ICS Cybersecurity: Adding Value to Existing Systems
Where does AI fit into your existing ICS network security program? You already have the ICS equipment sectioned off on its own VLAN(s), firewalled, monitored, and protected by IDS/IPS, SIEMs, and other security tools. Where does it make sense to insert AI/ML into the equation?
The biggest advantage of implanting an AI solution for ICS cybersecurity is its real-time response and orchestration. AI tools don’t need to wait for security staff to make a decision. They don’t see a black and white picture of firewall rules which often miss malware traffic flying under the radar, masquerading as “normal” network signals. Machine algorithms can detect abnormal data exchanges and immediately respond to the threat, long before a SOC resource would be alerted. Some AI offerings can even monitor devices that don’t communicate over TCP/IP, creating powerful visibility into non-networked equipment.
A particularly interesting tool to protect industrial control systems is Cyberbit’s ScadaShield, a layered solution to provide full stack ICS networkdetection, visibility, smart analytics, forensics and response. ScadaShield performs continuous monitoring and detection across the entire attack surface for both IT and OT components and can be combined with SOC automation to trigger workflows that accelerate root cause identification and mitigation.
Large-scale processes operating at critical power generation, electrical transmission, water treatment, and refining sites, as well as major manufacturing plants are more at risk than ever. The good news is that new developments in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning have created new ways to protect these systems and improve ICS cybersecurity.
If you haven’t already done so, this is a good time to consider adding an AI/ML solution to your security perimeter to take your prevention and response times to the next level. Click here to get in touch with our team today.
PHOTO CREDIT: UNSPLASH | RAMÓN SALINERO
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Cyber Security: Separating Fact from Fiction
Machine learning and artificial intelligence have exploded onto the cybersecurity scene over the last year. Software vendors and MSSPs are scrambling to bring their particular flavor of AI cyber security to market and claim their stake as industry leaders.
While AI has quickly become table stakes for an effective security posture, some of it can also seem to be overhyped in some respects. In this post, we’ll aim to cut through the superlatives and provide a few thoughts on the role of artificial intelligence in cyber security.
Artificial Intelligence in Cyber Security Does Not Replace Traditional Tools
By claiming that AI will replace traditional tools while lowering labor costs and probably making coffee at the same time, some advertising has put AI on a pedestal that it may not have achieved yet.
Here are some things that AI cyber security definitely will not replace. Security teams will still need to keep around:
- Employee training and a security-sensitive culture
- Smart policies and processes
- Qualified architects, managers, engineers, and analysts
- Rock-solid, layered infrastructure with effective controls around it
If you find yourself saying, “Wait, that’s 95% of my security program,” you’re right. Artificial intelligence in cyber security is a complement to a well-run cyber framework, not a replacement for it.
Must-Ask Questions When Evaluating AI Cyber Security Tools
We all have seen that technology can be promoted with grand promises backed by sometimes disappointing results. To avoid a dud in your AI implementation, you may want to sit down with your security team and your vendor rep to go over a few questions:
- How do your AI algorithms actually work? How mature is the technology? What are its blind spots?
- How well does it avoid false positives and false negatives?
- How do you measure the incremental benefits and the expected ROI?
- What outside support are we going to need to implement and maintain this?
- How much additional training will we need to use this effectively?
- Does it produce usable reports that actually mean something?
- What results have your other clients seen from it?
- Does it outperform what I already have, or will it be just another software bloating up my network?
Pitfalls to Avoid When Implementing an AI Cyber Security Solution
Adding software to your organization’s toolkit is rarely a trivial matter, and even less so when you’re dealing with AI. Here are some potential mistakes when deploying an AI cyber security tool:
- Expecting a “set-and-forget” solution that will replace the whole security program: See the first section of this post.
- Thinking that an in-house developed solution will be best-in-show without exploring other available options.
- Expecting that the AI tool won’t require any customization or integration.
- And possibly the most delicate one: Thinking it’ll all work out on automatic pilot without specialized AI expertise on your team or assistance from AI safety experts.
The fact of the matter is that it is no longer viable to delay implementation of robust AI cyber security tools. Bad actors have already started using AI.
A talented cybersecurity team and company-wide awareness trainings go a long way. Artificial intelligence in cyber security simply brings a needed support structure that can assist your teams to prevent attacks and accelerate mitigation if needed. As businesses undergo the digital transformation, it is imperative they also leverage new developments in cyber capabilities.
CyVent is a Certified Partner of Darktrace, a global leader in machine learning applied to cybersecurity, whose technology can detect and autonomously respond to cyber threats that legacy systems miss. Learn more about Darktrace’s capabilities in this white paper.