The landscape of cyber threats in Brazil has never been as complex as it is now. Besides being recognized as a breeding ground for hackers from all over the world, intensified by a parallel market of local fraudsters, cybersecurity teams need to face a constant flood of attacks that only increase in frequency and sophistication. In Brazil, a report by Apura Cyber Intelligence pointed out a 220% increase in ransomware attacks in 2023 compared to the previous year.
This avalanche of alerts and security incidents makes it challenging to maintain effective security throughout the organization. Many companies do not have the necessary number of cybersecurity professionals to adequately respond to alerts. According to ABES (Brazilian Association of Software Companies), Brazil faces a deficit of 70,000 qualified information security professionals, a number that is likely to grow with the digitalization of companies.
Therefore, generative AI is a potential tool that companies can use to scale human-led cybersecurity defenses. And the technology is already present in various cybersecurity solutions.
Expanding security knowledge with AI
Generative AI has tremendous potential in the security field, capable of expanding knowledge and best practices, providing automated correction steps and guidance.
With the use of generative AI, professionals do not need to focus as much on teaching a specific remediation technique or instructing on the use of a specific technology. The focus shifts to teaching which AI workflows or prompts should be used in different scenarios.
Multiple cybersecurity solutions are already adopting generative AI, improving security outcomes, response time, and the learning curve of analysts operating the solutions. By utilizing natural language processing (NLP) to support security teams in processes such as incident response, threat hunting, and security posture management, it becomes easier for current cybersecurity teams to manage the amount of tasks and systems today.
Furthermore, AI also helps reduce the technological barrier between different technical levels of professionals– leveling knowledge on specific types of attacks, remediation techniques, security platforms, among other cases.
The ‘magic’ of AI with automation and predictive analysis
Once ‘equipped’ with Artificial Intelligence, security solutions can detect and respond to security incidents in real-time, minimizing the impact of attacks. Automation enables quick threat identification and corrective measures execution without immediate human intervention, which is vital in a scenario where cyberattacks are increasingly fast and complex.
AI can also analyze large volumes of data to predict possible threats before they occur. Using advanced machine learning techniques –and access to use cases as well as databases of information about attacks– it is possible to identify patterns and anomalous behaviors that may indicate an imminent attack. This predictive analysis enables companies to adopt a proactive, rather than reactive, stance towards cybersecurity.
Another point is that with Artificial Intelligence, it is possible to truly customize cybersecurity solutions for each company. AI algorithms can be trained to understand the specific environment of an organization, and adapt security measures to protect the most critical assets.
Finally, AI assists security teams in one of the biggest operational challenges: false positives, which consume time and resources for double-checking – which needs to be done by a human. AI can help filter out these alerts, allowing security professionals to focus on real threats. AI systems can interpret and contextualize alerts, significantly reducing workload and increasing response accuracy.
In summary, AI is a powerful ally in the fight against cyber threats, bringing efficiency, accuracy, and innovation to the field of cybersecurity. As companies continue to adopt this technology, they will be better positioned to protect their data and operations against the increasingly sophisticated attacks of hackers.
