Why Human Led Cybersecurity is Crucial in the Age of AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) has taken center stage in a big way this year. ChatGPT is one of many generative AI programs that was introduced to the public in 2023 and it demonstrated some of the massive potential that sophisticated AI holds. The cybersecurity space, alongside many other industries are grappling with where AI fits in, so we’re going to cover some of the advantages and disadvantages of AI in cybersecurity.

While learning how to utilize AI in your industry and day-to-day workflow can give you an advantage in certain areas and will keep you updated on the developments in the rapidly advancing technology, it’s just as crucial to understand the current limitations and hurdles that AI is facing.

“In most knowledge-intensive tasks, workers will more likely find themselves augmented in partnership with machines than automated out of a job.”

Addressing cybersecurity needs as a small business is increasingly important in todays digital-first economy. Download DOT Security’s eBook, “The State of Cybersecurity for Small Businesses”, to learn more about how small businesses can better position their cybersecurity strategy.

Some of the Disadvantages of AI in Cybersecurity

Despite its unbelievable potential, there are still several concerns around AI implementation, which are also related to the disadvantages of AI in cybersecurity. The following sections will breakdown what some of these disadvantages of AI in cybersecurity are, and how they impact AI in security.

Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities

First and foremost, artificial intelligence needs to be trained on massive datasets. This becomes problematic in a world where sensitive data is one of the most valuable currencies there is.

In fact, the cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities posed by AI are one of the main hurdles the modern technology still needs to clear. Vulnerabilities in ChatGPT, for instance, have been exposed in a recent dark-web auction that put over 100,000 ChatGPT user credentials up for sale.

AI Biases

On top of that, the data that AI is trained on needs to be clean and free of bias. If there’s any detectable bias in the data set off which the artificial intelligence is trained, that same bias will be reflected exponentially in the decisions made by the algorithm. This makes AI systems and tools prone to identify false positives or present other flaws in their logic.

Decisions made on bad data, false positives, or other flawed logic can lead to disaster in the form of financial loss, damage to brand reputation, or even legal repercussions. Avoiding this pitfall takes conscious, pointed effort at high-caliber training for both the AI itself and the human AI operators/monitors.

The Upfront Investment

Another disadvantage seen with cybersecurity in AI is that it will take a hefty investment to get started between developing and training both the AI and hiring staff with the AI skillsets needed. On top of that, the most efficient cybersecurity practices embrace artificial intelligence as a tool, not a substitute.

Addressing the Disadvantages of AI in Cybersecurity

Artificial intelligence has a long way to go, and it’s certainly far from perfect. At the same time, though, we’ve seen AI make leaps and bounds of progress in just a short few months, not to mention the decades of foundational research and progress that paved the way for generative AI programs like ChatGPT and Midjourney.

While there’s a lot we still need to figure out with AI collectively, this type of technology is only going to continue advancing. Not only that, but the rate at which AI evolves is also going to rapidly increase, even to the point of being exponential.

As such, now is a great time to start learning how to responsibly, ethically, and practically develop and implement AI based solutions into your life, and organization. AI and cybersecurity are connected, but not synonymous. This is important to note because while AI language learning models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are impressive, they have very little to do with a cybersecurity practice itself.

However, since a cybersecurity incident response is so time-dependent, there is a ton of room within the cybersecurity space for verified, well-trained, AI programs as assistants to cybersecurity professionals who develop and execute the actual cybersecurity strategy.

The skills gaps and costs associated with artificial intelligence in cybersecurity are also surmountable through strategic recruiting and a dedicated tech budget.

The Importance of a Dedicated Tech Budget in the Age of AI and Cybersecurity

Artificial intelligence and cybersecurity are both tech-heavy spaces that rely on sophisticated technical equipment and professionals with updated skillsets. With a dedicated tech budget, modern organizations can find innovative ways to integrate technology, automation, and even AI into their operations on some level.

By investing in technology-based solutions, organizations can effectively save money over the long run and use those resources to further invest in the brand. This also emphasizes the importance of partnering with high-quality cybersecurity professionals who understand the advantages and disadvantages of AI in cybersecurity.

While cybersecurity and artificial intelligence can certainly form a symbiotic relationship, it’s vital to have experts in place who can mitigate the disadvantages of AI in cybersecurity and simultaneously leverage the advantages of AI in cybersecurity practices.

Modern organizations looking to stay competitive need scalable and efficient solutions. Creating and adhering to a dedicated tech budget can provide brands with the roadmap they need to future-proof themselves and address growing cybersecurity needs.

Recapping the Advantages and Disadvantages of AI in Cybersecurity

AI and cybersecurity are bound to cross paths. By implementing best practices when it comes to your cybersecurity efforts, and working with professionals who understand the current AI landscape, you can avoid facing off with AI in the form of a cyberattack, and instead rest assured that your cybersecurity experts are using it as a tool to help you avoid running into some of the major disadvantages of AI in cybersecurity that occur when AI is deployed recklessly.

AI works best in partner with human experts. This is even more so the case in cybersecurity. Download DOT Security’s eBook, “The State of Cybersecurity for Small Businesses”, to learn more about how small businesses can fortify their cybersecurity efforts.