By Jaime Chanaga: Field Chief Information Security Officer at Fortinet Latin America, the Caribbean & Canada

As businesses strive to protect their assets and safeguard user privacy, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a new player in cybersecurity.

Relying solely on manual security is no longer practical in an era characterised by the rising importance of data.

AI has emerged as a valuable tool in incident response and threat mitigation. It provides insights that help organisations anticipate and respond to cyber threats effectively.

Additionally, AI-driven automated processes can significantly reduce response times while streamlining the incident resolution process.

Unlike traditional security systems, which primarily recognise known attack patterns, AI-powered systems excel at identifying anomalies and deviations from behaviour — even if they have never encountered a specific threat before. Taking an AI security-driven approach enables organisations to stay ahead of cybercriminals and protect their valuable data more effectively.

Furthermore, AI can contribute to the identification and analysis of new malware. With the increasing
sophistication of malware strains, traditional antivirus software often struggles to keep up with evolving threats. However, by leveraging machine learning algorithms these systems can continuously update their knowledge base ensuring their ability to detect evasive malware.

One of the challenges with striking a balance between security and AI lies in the shortage of professionals in developing and managing AI-powered security systems.

The demand for these professionals surpasses supply, necessitating investments in collaborative training programmes between academia, industry and government to bridge this gap.

Establishing a workforce with the skillset to develop and manage AI-powered security systems is vital for implementing and managing AI systems.

Organisations should prioritise investment in training programmes that equip employees with the
knowledge and skills to handle AI systems effectively.

It is essential for workforce skills development to include training on AI technologies, cybersecurity practices and the specific tools and techniques used in AI-powered security solutions.

The threat landscape is constantly changing, and staying updated with the advancements in both AI and cybersecurity is crucial. with vulnerabilities and attack methods emerging regularly.

The future lies in integrating AI with security measures. Organisations must be effective; they must strengthen their defence mechanisms to counter these evolving threats. By implementing these strategies, organisations can strike a balance between harnessing the capabilities of AI and ensuring security measures. This will unlock the potential of AI-driven cybersecurity.