Businesses are embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to boost productivity and reduce expenses. UK businesses are in an ongoing race to implement the latest AI solutions and get an edge over the competition. However, in this drive to take the lead, companies ignore cyber threats that can cause financial and reputational damage.
A report published by Microsoft at the start of 2024 revealed that 87% of UK organisations are susceptible to cyberattacks. The flip side is that AI can also be used to enhance security.
AI vulnerabilities that pose a risk
Cyberattacks are getting more sophisticated, and the increased reliance on technology only works in criminals’ favour, creating more avenues for exploiting user and financial data.
Hackers are modifying their strategies in response to security features. Companies have to be aware of the most frequent cybersecurity threats, such as:
- Inference: AI learns from large datasets, and an inference attack aims at the machine learning model, attempting to make the system reveal sensitive data. There are various types of interference attacks, such as Membership Inference (MI), Attribute Inference (AI), and Approximate Attribute Inference (AA). Many AI models have failsafe methods to counter this type of exploit.
- Evasion: These attacks infuse altered data that is created to resemble the expected data. The goal is for the tampered information to confuse the classifier by creating a blind spot. The AI mistakenly classifies the object when interpreting the stop signal input.
- Extraction: It’s a prominent attack on artificial intelligence, which also targets machine learning models to steal training data.
- Legal Challenges: AI collects a lot of data from clients and employees to perform reliably. This can be in conflict with laws demanding businesses respect customers’ privacy. Companies must learn what type of data is stored and how that affects regulatory compliance.
How AI can improve businesses security
Cloud storage is powering remote work and gives companies more room for growth. However, criminals find ways to access databases and siphon off valuable information. There are various cybersecurity threats identified by David Todva that are looming over UK businesses. Most companies do not have budgets for full-time cybersecurity professionals. This is where AI can step in and fix some gaps in the security fence, even improving the protection for limited expenses.
Around the clock cyber surveillance
AI systems provide real-time analysis and can automatically identify threats. AI does not take breaks or experience lapses in concentration. These systems monitor data traffic from different sources 24/7. It can analyse surveillance cameras to ensure physical property is secure. AI is useful for supervising databases, recording each login and spotting unauthorised intrusion. The ability to identify patterns enables it to determine if suspicious behaviour is occurring.
Fast incident response
AI not only enhances detection capabilities but can also provide fast response to security incidents. These systems can automatically perform contentment of the data breach or prevent such an issue from occurring. It can also notify the responsible team to take necessary measures. One advantage of AI is the ability to allocate resources effectively, reducing the room for human error. AI models can be updated daily and nearly instantly, and such a fast pace of training is not something a regular staff can achieve.
Scalability of operations
As companies grow, AI can keep pace with increased operations and adapt to the increased workflow. The transitional period is fast for an AI system. Another perk is the ability to customise the system to new objectives. The maintenance of AI tools is cost-effective and generally does not hamper regular operations.
Staying in tune with AI trends
AI-powered security is a necessity in today’s digital environment. Although AI technology is not perfect, it’s still a good resource to improve exciting capabilities. AI technology offers speed and reliability that can’t be matched by humans. It’s a great tool as an intrusion detection system and analytics platform that contributes to a comprehensive security system.
However, artificial intelligence can also pose a risk to companies. It’s crucial to understand the underlying vulnerabilities and mitigate potential risks with a proper security strategy. AI is not going away, and ignoring its benefits can hamper a company’s growth. However, believing it’s a perfect system that does not need maintenance and updates is a common fallacy and can be detrimental to a prosperous future.
About author
David Todva is an experienced writer who has worked in the sports industry for many years. He also enjoys writing about tech, business and real estate investments as a freelance writer. David’s background as a Russian native gives him a unique perspective on Eastern European business culture and current security trends. When he’s not writing, David enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children.
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