AI is a game-changer for improving security operations

The growing cyber threat landscape and the role of AI

Organisations are facing an unprecedented surge in cyber threats. According to PwC Ireland’s latest CEO Survey, 99% of business leaders feel exposed to cyber risks to some degree with 18% believing that they are extremely or highly exposed. As threats become more sophisticated, traditional security measures are proving inadequate. Enter artificial intelligence (AI), and more specifically, Generative AI (GenAI), which is proving to be a game-changer in modernising security operations.

The current landscape

Today, security operations are grappling with numerous challenges, including the sheer volume of data generated, a shortage of skilled professionals and increasingly complex threat landscapes. Traditional security approaches, which often rely on rule-based systems and manual processes, struggle to keep pace with these demands. They are often reactive, focusing on known threats, and can be overwhelmed by the vast amounts of data they need to process.

The invaluable role of AI and GenAI in security operations

AI is revolutionising security operations by enhancing threat detection and response. A report from Microsoft Security found a 7% increase in accuracy and a 22% improvement in speed, with 97% of users indicating they would use the AI tools again.

This aligns with the broader positive view of AI: our latest CEO Survey found that 94% of Irish CEOs will prioritise integrating AI into technology platforms and business processes and workflows over the next three years. A similarly high percentage plan to use AI for new products and services (84%) or reshaping core business strategies (85%).

In a security context, machine learning algorithms can analyse patterns and anomalies in data far more rapidly and accurately than human analysts. This capability allows AI to detect threats in real-time, often before they manifest into full-blown breaches. It enables:

• Proactive defence and integrated incident response: With GenAI, security teams can move from a reactive to a proactive stance, anticipating and mitigating threats before they occur. AI-driven platforms can automate and integrate incident response procedures, coordinating actions across various security tools to ensure a comprehensive defence strategy.
• Threat simulation and automated analysis: GenAI can simulate potential cyber threats and attack scenarios, generating realistic threat models that help security teams prepare and fortify their defences. Advanced AI systems can automatically analyse and prioritise threats, providing detailed insights and recommendations on how to address them, thus reducing the time required for manual analysis and enabling faster response.
• Proactive threat hunting: AI tools can autonomously search for signs of potential security incidents across networks, highlighting suspicious activities before they escalate into significant threats.
• Continuous learning and adaptive learning: These systems continuously learn from new data, adapting to emerging threats and refining their detection algorithms to improve accuracy over time.
• Strategic value for security leaders: AI offers improved efficiency, enhanced decision-making, scalable security posture and cost optimisation, making it a strategic imperative for security leaders.

These advancements create efficiencies that allow security analysts to spend more time on more complex, higher-risk tasks where human judgement is required. It also allows leaders to have more detailed information and control of their organisation’s security maturity, at speed and scale.

Challenges and considerations

Despite its promise, the integration of AI and GenAI into security operations is not without challenges. Data privacy concerns are paramount; organisations must ensure that AI implementations comply with data protection regulations.

Ensuring that GenAI systems are free from bias is also crucial, as bias can lead to unfair or inaccurate threat assessments. And integrating advanced AI systems with existing infrastructure requires careful planning and consideration of interoperability issues.

Compliance with The EU AI Act also presents a growing challenge as organisations must assess and classify AI systems based on their risk levels and ensure ongoing monitoring for potential harms. Security teams will need to navigate these evolving regulatory requirements while maintaining  operational efficiency.

Looking ahead

As cyber threats continue to grow in scale and complexity, embracing AI and GenAI in security strategies is not just advisable but essential. Microsoft Security Copilot is one tool we use to help organisations combat cyber threats and enhance their security posture.

By enhancing threat detection, simulating potential threats and offering predictive insights, these technologies help organisations stay ahead of the ever-evolving threat landscape.

We are here to help you

Get in touch if you would like help modernising your security operations with the added advantage of AI. At PwC, we work collaboratively to modernise security operations for clients using AI to provide innovative and effective security solutions. Contact us today.