Artificial intelligence has huge potential in cyber security. Used correctly it can be trained to identify cyber threats and new types of malware, as well as protect valuable or sensitive information.
The benefit of using artificial intelligence in anti-malware software is that it can learn and adapt overtime; this improves a network’s security as it recognises patterns and behaviours. AI detects threats and recognises deviations – and can be programmed to alert users.
AI can identify unknown threats. Due to human error being the biggest risk to a business some threats can go unnoticed. With the increase in the amount and complexity of cyber-attacks, the use of AI means that these threats can be identified before it’s too late.
Artificial intelligence can handle more data which means threats can be detected faster. This leads to improved vulnerability management as issues within a network can be identified and addressed more rapidly. This helps businesses to focus on weaknesses within their security and secure their IT systems.
Artificial intelligence, of course, can also be used by cyber criminals and is already playing a big role in cyber-attacks. It is being deployed to transform conventional malware and make it more effective by utilising intelligence to infect computers faster and make the attacks more efficient.
How can SMEs protect themselves?
SME businesses have become one of the biggest targets for cyber-attacks in the past few years. As a result of inadequate security and a lack of awareness and training for staff, they have become easy prey. The pandemic worsened this as many business owners were unaware of the risks that working from home has on their cyber security defences – and neither their business systems or their staff’s home networks were set up for the situation. Also, as business leaders were distracted by the impact of the coronavirus, cybersecurity tended to take a back seat.
Unfortunately, cyber criminals were all too aware of this and the rise in attempted and successful cyber-attacks has been exponential.
Now that remote working and hybrid working have become the norm businesses are still neglecting their cyber security. The biggest problem we find is that people do not value cyber security until after an attack. Training and awareness are few and far between, so criminals can take advantage, using malware to infect IT systems through emails, downloaded attachments and malicious software.
It has become a matter of when cyber-attacks will happen rather than if they will happen.
Malware can easily be introduced to a business’ IT system through phishing attacks, unsafe URLs and software. Untrained employees do not know the warning signs to look out for, which then leads to their device becoming infected and the data encrypted.
Staff training is key to awareness
99% of cyber-attacks occur due to human error. With proper training employees can identify the warning signs such as recognising urgency within an email to do something. Quite often an attacker will create a sense of urgency to rush someone into sending sensitive information or to download an attachment or click on a link without thinking things through first.
With adequate security and training in place, SMEs can manage the risk of a cyber-attack. Educating employees on best practices is critical to safeguarding the business.
Password protection and system updates
The importance of strong and unique passwords is nothing new; by using the same password for multiple accounts, all accounts can become vulnerable in the event a malicious party gets access. However, by implementing a password manager, SMEs can store strong and unique passwords for each account without the worry of forgetting them.
In addition, regularly checking for security and system updates will ensure that vulnerabilities can be fixed and the risk of a cyber-attack is reduced.
