THE ROLE OF AI IN CYBER SECURITY

ENHANCING THREAT DETECTION AND RESPONSE

1. INTRODUCTION TO CYBER SECURITY

Computer security, cybersecurity, digital security, or

information technology security (IT security) is
Cybersecurity is the protection to defend internet-
connected devices and services from malicious attacks by
hackers, spammers, and cybercriminals. The practice is
used by companies to protect against phishing schemes,
ransomware attacks, identity theft, data breaches, and
financial losses.
 Critical Application Network security Cloud security
infrastructure security internet of Things
security (IoT) security

2. TYPES OF CYBER SECURITY

 3. CURRENT CYBER THREAT:
2. RANSOMWARE
1. Phishing
Ransomware attacks involve malware that encrypts a
remains one of the most prevalent cyber threats, where
victim's files, with attackers demanding a ransom to restore
attackers trick individuals into divulging sensitive information
access. These attacks have targeted critical infrastructure,
by masquerading as a trustworthy entity. Methods include
healthcare, and large corporations.
email, text messages, and phone calls.

4. MALWARE 3. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)

Malicious software designed to infect devices and systems, DDoS attacks overwhelm a target's resources, rendering

including viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, and spyware. websites or services inaccessible. These attacks disrupt

Malware can steal sensitive information, disrupt operations, and normal operations and can cause significant financial and

cause financial losses. reputational damage.

CYBER SECURITY THREAT LANDSCAPE:

1,800,000
Statistics
2481
1,600,000
2258
1,400,000
2035
1,200,000

1,000,000

800,000 1,567,000
1,402,000
600,000 1,235,000

400,000

200,000

0
2021 2022 2023

cyber attack data breaches

4. WHAT IS AI (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE)
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the theory and
development of computer systems capable of
performing tasks that historically required
human intelligence, such as recognizing speech,
making decisions, and identifying patterns. AI is
an umbrella term that encompasses a wide
variety of technologies, including
machine learning, deep learning, and
natural language processing (NLP).
 5. WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN CYBERSECURITY?

AI in cybersecurity refers to the application of artificial

intelligence technologies to enhance the protection of
digital systems and data from cyber threats. It utilizes
machine learning, neural networks, and other AI
techniques to detect, prevent, and respond to cyber
attacks more efficiently and effectively.

AI is employed in threat detection and response by

learning normal network behaviour to identify anomalies,
conducting behavioural analysis to detect suspicious
activities, and enabling real-time monitoring for
immediate threat identification.
 6. IMPORTANCE OF AI IN CYBER SECURITY
1. Advanced Threat Detection
• Pattern Recognition: AI systems can analyse vast amounts of data to identify patterns that may indicate
malicious activity. This includes recognizing anomalies that deviate from normal behaviour.

• Real-Time Analysis: AI can process and analyse data in real time, enabling the rapid detection of
potential threats before they cause significant harm.
2. Automated Responses
• Incident Response: AI-driven systems can automate responses to detected threats, such as isolating
affected systems, blocking malicious traffic, and deploying patches.

• Speed and Efficiency: Automation significantly reduces the time required to respond to threats,
minimizing the potential damage.
3. Predictive Capabilities
• Threat Intelligence: AI can analyze trends and historical data to predict potential future attacks,
allowing organizations to proactively strengthen their defenses.

• Risk Assessment: AI helps in assessing the risk level of different assets and systems, enabling more
effective prioritization of security measures.
 4. Data Analysis and Correlation
• Big Data Handling: AI excels at processing and analysing large volumes of data, which is essential for
identifying sophisticated cyber threats that may be hidden within massive datasets.

• Correlating Multiple Data Sources: AI can correlate data from various sources, providing a
comprehensive view of the threat environment..
5. User Behaviour Analytics (UBA)
• Insider Threat Detection: AI can monitor and analyse user behaviour to detect insider threats and
compromised accounts. Anomalous behaviour, such as unusual access patterns, can be flagged for
investigation.
• Behavioural Biometrics: AI can utilize behavioural biometrics to authenticate users based on their
behaviour, adding an additional layer of security
6. Fraud Detection
• Financial Security: AI is widely used in the financial sector to detect and prevent fraud by analysing
transaction patterns and identifying suspicious activities.

• E-commerce Protection: AI helps in protecting e-commerce platforms by detecting fraudulent

transactions and fake accounts.
7. AI-POWERED THREAT DETECTION

AI-powered threat detection involves using artificial intelligence

technologies to identify, predict, and respond to cyber threats. These
systems analyse large volumes of data to detect anomalies, patterns,
and potential threats that might be missed by traditional security
measures. By leveraging machine learning (ML), natural language
processing (NLP), and other AI techniques, these solutions can adapt to
new threats and provide real-time protection against a wide range of
cyber-attacks.
8. TECHNIQUES USED IN AI-POWERED THREAT DETECTION
1. MACHINE LEARNING (ML):
• SUPERVISED LEARNING: TEACHES COMPUTERS TO MAKE DECISIONS
BASED ON EXAMPLES. IT'S USED TO SPOT THINGS LIKE MALWARE OR FAKE
EMAILS.
• UNSUPERVISED LEARNING: LETS COMPUTERS FIND PATTERNS IN DATA ON
THEIR OWN. IT'S HELPFUL FOR SPOTTING UNUSUAL ACTIVITY OR NEW
KINDS OF THREATS
• REINFORCEMENT LEARNING: TRAINS COMPUTERS TO MAKE CHOICES
THROUGH PRACTICE. IT'S USED FOR THINGS LIKE ADJUSTING SECURITY
SETTINGS BASED ON WHAT'S HAPPENING.
 2. DEEP LEARNING:

• NEURAL NETWORKS: COPIES HOW OUR BRAINS WORK TO HELP COMPUTERS

UNDERSTAND COMPLEX DATA, LIKE IMAGES OR TEXT. THIS HELPS WITH SPOTTING
MALWARE AND ANALYSING NETWORK TRAFFIC
• CONVOLUTIONAL NEURAL NETWORKS (CNNS): SPECIAL TOOLS FOR
UNDERSTANDING IMAGES AND GRIDS OF DATA. THEY'RE GREAT FOR SPOTTING
THREATS IN PICTURES OR TRAFFIC.
• RECURRENT NEURAL NETWORKS (RNNS): GOOD AT UNDERSTANDING DATA
THAT COMES IN A SEQUENCE, LIKE LOGS OR TIME-BASED DATA. THEY HELP WITH
THINGS LIKE SPOTTING UNUSUAL BEHAVIOUR.
3. GENETIC ALGORITHMS:
• EVOLUTIONARY COMPUTATION: COPIES HOW NATURE EVOLVES TO SOLVE PROBLEMS,
LIKE FINDING THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT A NETWORK FROM ATTACKS.
CONT.

4. Natural Language Processing (NLP): 5. Anomaly Detection:

Statistical Methods: Uses math to find things
Text Analysis: Helps computers understand
that are unusual in data. It helps with catching
human language, like figuring out if an email is
odd behaviour or spotting threats in networks.
spam or if a message is dangerous
Clustering Algorithms: Groups similar things
Named Entity Recognition (NER): Finds and
together and finds anything that doesn't fit. It's
sorts important names and terms in text. It's used
helpful for finding strange patterns that might be
for tasks like gathering information on threats.
threats.
9. AI APPLICATIONS IN CYBER SECURITY
1. Threat Detection and Prevention:
2. Automated Incident Response:
 AI-powered systems analyse vast amounts of
 AI-driven incident response platforms
data, including network traffic, logs, and user automate the detection, analysis, and
behaviour, to detect anomalies and identify containment of security incidents, reducing
potential security threats in real-time. response times and minimizing the impact of

 Machine learning algorithms can recognize cyber attacks.

patterns associated with known malware and  Automated response actions may include

cyber attacks, enabling proactive threat isolating affected systems, blocking malicious

prevention. traffic, or quarantining compromised accounts.

 CONT.

4. Malware Detection and Mitigation:

3. Vulnerability Management:
 AI-powered malware detection systems analyze
AI identifies and prioritizes vulnerabilities in
file characteristics and behaviour to identify
software and systems by analysing security
and block malicious software in real-time.
data and predicting potential exploitability.AI-
 Deep learning algorithms can recognize
driven vulnerability scanners help
malware variants and zero-day threats by
organizations proactively address security
examining code similarities and behavioral
risks and implement patches and updates.
patterns.
10. AI- DRIVEN INCIDENT RESPONSE

AI-driven incident response utilizes artificial intelligence to detect, analyse, and

respond to cyber threats in real-time. By automating the incident response
process, AI can significantly reduce the time taken to identify and mitigate threats,
minimize damage, and enhance the overall security posture of an organization.
 Real-Time Analysis: AI systems continuously monitor network traffic and user
behaviour to identify anomalies and potential threats as they occur.
 Automated Actions: Once a threat is detected, AI can automatically initiate
predefined response actions, such as isolating compromised systems or
blocking malicious traffic.
 Continuous Learning: AI systems learn from past incidents to improve their
detection and response capabilities over time.
AUTOMATED INCIDENT RESPONSE PROCESSES

Threat Detection:

Automated Response:

Incident Analysis:

Post-Incident Review:
Cont.

Automated incident response uses AI to make cybersecurity faster and more

effective. First, AI watches network activity and user behaviour to spot unusual
patterns that might indicate a threat. If something suspicious is detected, AI
analyses it to understand how serious it is and what impact it could have by looking
at data from various sources.

Next, AI takes action to contain and fix the issue. It might isolate affected systems,
block harmful activities, and alert the security team with details about what
happened and what actions were taken. Afterward, AI helps review the incident to
find the root cause, suggest ways to prevent it from happening again, and update its
threat-detection methods based on new information.
11. AI-ENHANCED SIEM (SECURITY INFORMATION AND EVENT
MANAGEMENT)

AI-enhanced SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) combines traditional SIEM
capabilities with AI technologies to improve threat detection, response, and analysis. Using
machine learning and behavioural analytics, AI-enhanced SIEM can analyse vast amounts of
security data to identify patterns and anomalies, detect insider threats and advanced attacks,
and enable real-time incident response. Automated actions, such as isolating compromised
systems, can be triggered based on AI analysis. Additionally, predictive analysis helps anticipate
potential threats, while contextual awareness provides detailed information on security events,
allowing teams to prioritize and respond more effectively.
12. AI-POWERED IDENTITY AND ACCESS MANAGEMENT (IAM)
revolutionizes security by harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to bolster authentication, authorization,
and user management in organizational IT systems. Through AI algorithms, IAM platforms delve into
user behaviour, swiftly detect anomalies, and dynamically fine-tune access controls in real-time, thereby
fortifying security and thwarting unauthorized access attempts. Enhanced authentication and
authorization mechanisms include behavioural biometrics, which analyse unique user behaviour patterns
for continuous authentication, and adaptive access controls that adjust permissions based on contextual
factors like user location and device characteristics. Anomaly detection tools powered by AI swiftly flag
suspicious activities, enabling real-time response actions to mitigate risks and prevent data breaches.
Moreover, predictive analytics utilized in IAM systems anticipate potential security threats by analysing
historical data, enabling proactive measures to counter emerging risks. This integration of AI in IAM not
only enhances security but also augments organizational resilience against evolving cyber threats.
13. CHALLENGES AND IMITATION

AI in cybersecurity encounters hurdles such as data quality issues, where it

needs lots of varied data but cleaning it up can be tough, especially with
privacy rules. Algorithmic bias is another problem, as AI can pick up
unfairness from its training data, causing ethical concerns. Integrating AI into
existing systems can be tricky due to their complexity, making sure
everything works together smoothly, and dealing with limited resources like
money and expertise.
14. FUTURE OF AI IN CYBER SECURITY
The future of AI in cybersecurity promises significant advancements and transformative impacts on how
organizations protect their digital assets. As cyber threats continue to evolve, AI technologies will play a
crucial role in enhancing the detection, prevention, and response to these threats. Here are some key
emerging trends and predictions for the future of AI in cybersecurity:
Emerging Trends and Technologies
1. Explainable AI (XAI)
 Transparency and Trust: Future AI models will be designed to provide clear, understandable
explanations for their decisions. This will enhance trust and accountability, especially in critical
cybersecurity applications.
 Regulatory Compliance: As regulatory environments become more stringent, explainable AI
will help organizations comply with legal and ethical standards.
CONT.

2. AI-Powered Threat Hunting 3. AI Automation

 Proactive Defence: AI will advance beyond  Routine Task Automation: AI will increasingly
reactive measures to proactively hunt for automate routine security tasks, such as patch
threats, identifying vulnerabilities and management and compliance monitoring,
potential attack vectors before they can be allowing human analysts to focus on more
exploited. complex and strategic issues.
 Behavioural Analysis: Continuous  Incident Response: Automation will extend to
improvement in behavioural analytics will incident response, where AI systems can
allow AI to detect subtle signs of malicious autonomously take predefined actions to
activity based on historical and real-time data. mitigate threats and reduce response times.
15. Case study of ai in cyber security
Facing significant fraud challenges including account takeover and unauthorized
transactions, a company turned to IBM Trusteer Solutions for help. They deployed
Trusteer across digital channels like online banking and e-commerce, using advanced
analytics and behavioral biometrics to spot fraud. Trusteer seamlessly integrated with
their existing security setup, with IBM working closely to tailor it to their needs. The
outcome? A whopping 90 percent drop in fraud costs, thanks to Trusteer's ability to catch
fraud before it could do damage. Real-time insights and quick responses further
strengthened their security posture. This success story highlights the effectiveness of
IBM Trusteer in battling cyber threats, demonstrating the company's commitment to
safeguarding finances and customer trust in the digital realm.
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