Double-edged sword of AI: Balancing productivity with security
ARTIFICIAL intelligence, hailed for its contributions to content creation and improving response times in security solutions, is increasingly being exploited for malicious purposes, leading to cyber threats and data breaches.
Despite acknowledging AI’s role as a general risk in cybersecurity, a McKinsey study revealed that only 38% of organizations are actively working to mitigate it, underscoring the urgency for preventive measures.
Yusuf Evmez, country manager for Türkiye and Greece at WatchGuard, a global leader in integrated cybersecurity, deliberates on safeguarding against the paradoxes of productive AI.
AI’s productivity extends to various areas like real-time translation or automating repetitive tasks, but its intentions aren’t always benign.
With no control over how information is processed, AI poses a threat to different sectors, with a risk of exposing sensitive data and affecting both individuals and organizations. Despite 53% of organizations acknowledging AI as a general cybersecurity risk, only 38% are devising solutions to mitigate it, according to McKinsey research.
Consequently, limiting the use of AI tools in infrastructures or blocking access to prevent inappropriate or unwanted usage is becoming increasingly common across sectors.
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While productive AI offers numerous benefits in cost and time optimization, misuse can lead to serious issues.
WatchGuard’s Evmez emphasizes the necessity for organizations to implement preventive measures to restrict harmful usage of such technologies effectively.
“Having tools that incorporate AI and machine learning-based technologies is crucial to ensure the protection of networks and systems, safeguarding sensitive information from external threats. Therefore, solutions incorporating these technologies and integrating zero-trust approaches are instrumental in achieving this goal,” he noted.
While radical changes may not be necessary to overhaul a company’s security strategy, it remains a critical matter, according to Evmez.
“Periodic review of security solutions is essential to assess the effectiveness of protection, even without significant restructuring. WatchGuard has been working in this direction for years, leveraging innovative technology to enhance our protection model and bolster the security of our customers.”
AI plays a fundamental role in enhancing detection capabilities and aiding in the fight against cybercrimes, said Evmez.
“However, our solution partners and customers decide how to utilize it in their applications. In doing so, they promote the responsible and controlled usage of this technology. For instance, features like web access control in our Endpoint Security solutions and WebBlocker and Application Control in Firebox help companies control and restrict access to potentially harmful agents, ensuring secure interactions both inside and outside the corporate network,” he stated.