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Cybersecurity Management and the Role of Artificial Intelligence
How Artificial Intelligence Is Affecting the Field of Cybersecurity Management
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly developing field that may soon affect everything from human/computer interaction to the Internet of Things to many activities in our daily lives. But what is artificial intelligence, and should we be concerned about it?
Let’s begin with some definitions.
What is artificial intelligence?
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the ability of computers or software to mimic human intelligence and creativity. Existing AI applications include:
- Advanced search engines (Google)
- Algorithm-based recommendation systems (such as those used by YouTube, Amazon and Netflix)
- Human speech programs (Siri, Alexa)
- Self-driving cars (Tesla, Waymo)
- Chatbots and content generators (ChatGPT, AI art
What is cybersecurity management?
According to a Washington University in St. Louis blog, cybersecurity is the art of protecting networks, devices and data from unauthorized access or criminal use. Cybersecurity management is carried out by cybersecurity experts who direct and protect critical information infrastructures.
The convergence of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity management
As AI continues to evolve, concerns about how AI is being used—and could be used in the future—are growing. According to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), top concerns about AI include:
- Lack of transparency of AI tools
- Susceptibility to inaccuracies, discriminatory outcomes and embedded and inserted bias
- Surveillance practices and data-gathering
- Fairness and risks to human rights and other fundamental values
Cybersecurity management is a top tool for addressing these and other concerns about AI.
Learn how to become a cybersecurity management professional.
Top Cybersecurity Management Threats of Artificial Intelligence
As with any form of new and evolving technology, AI can be used in negative ways. Some of the top threats AI poses include:
Social engineering schemes
These schemes use psychological manipulation to trick individuals into providing sensitive information or access to personal data or accounts. While schemes of this nature have existed for years via phishing and email compromise scams, AI is allowing cybercriminals to automate many of the processes to create more personalized, sophisticated and effective messaging to fool unsuspecting victims.
Password hacking
Cybercriminals use AI to improve the algorithms they use to decipher passwords. This provides quicker and more accurate password decoding, allowing hackers to become more efficient and successful. The increased success of password hacking using AI may lead to an even greater emphasis on password hacking by cybercriminals.
Data poisoning
Cybercriminals can poison or alter the learning data used by an AI algorithm to influence the decisions it ultimately makes. In short, feeding an algorithm deceptive information creates outputs that benefit cybercriminals. Data poisoning, even once discovered, can be extremely difficult and time-consuming to correct.
But before you start thinking AI is only a tool for cybercriminals, there is good news. Cybersecurity management companies and professionals are using AI to help them build better cybersecurity systems and programs to defend against AI-based cyber-threats.
Cybersecurity Management Leverages Artificial Intelligence for Good
Cybersecurity management professionals have discovered ways to employ AI to aid in their efforts to thwart new and emerging cyberattacks. For example, AI allows cybersecurity management professionals to analyze massive quantities of risk data to speed threat response times.
Let’s look at just a few ways AI is being leveraged to assist cybersecurity professionals in reacting to threats and taking down cybercriminals:
- Analyzing huge amounts of incident-related data rapidly so cybersecurity teams can act more quickly to contain threats
- Detecting cyberattacks more accurately than humans, creating fewer false-positive results and prioritizing responses based on real risks
- Identifying suspicious emails and messages often used in phishing campaigns
- Pairing AI with human intelligence to extend visibility and effectiveness
- Simulating a variety of attacks to help identify potential vulnerabilities before cybercriminals exploit them
Learn more about our MCSM degree program, including admission requirements and deadlines, courses, resources and attending an information session.
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WashU’s Master of cybersecurity management degree program is available part-time, either fully online or in person with on-campus classes held in the evening.