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Devil or Angel? The Rise of AI and it’s Impact on Cyber Security for your Business

Devil or Angel? The rise of AI and it’s impact on cyber security for your business

It feels like AI has appeared out of nowhere recently. It’s obviously been bubbling away but suddenly there Is huge hype about AI and how it can benefit us all personally as well as professionally.

However, where there are positives there are negatives, where there is good there is bad, where there are angels there are devils. It’s all in the law of balance.

So we wanted to explore this deeper and understand the impact of AI. Is it a devil or is it an Angel?

The Journey of AI

Artificial intelligence has been explored since the 1950’s with the term being coined at the Dartmouth Conference.

In its infancy, AI was used to develop algorithms and computer programs that could perform tasks that required human intelligence, such as problem solving, natural language processing, and pattern recognition. However, progress was slow due to limited computing power and the complexity of human intelligence.

Developments in more powerful computers and the explosion of data and computational resources have led to significant advances in AI research, resulting in the creation of sophisticated AI systems that can learn, reason, and make decisions autonomously. Today, AI is a rapidly growing field with applications in areas such as healthcare, finance, transportation and entertainment, and it is set to play an increasingly important role in shaping our future.

So, with that in mind, let’s explore AI & its impact on Cyber Security

The Devil in AI for Cyber Security:

There is a sinister side to AI – the devil of what can be done with this powerful advancement. If there was a film we would equate this to, we’d be talking about thinking back to the film Terminator, right? OK maybe we’re being a little dramatic right now but the power of good in AI really does have very serious darker implications for cyber security and in order to really maximise the positives in this, cyber professionals are really going to have to heed the ‘devil’ and plan to mitigate these threats:

Adversarial attacks: AI algorithms can be fooled by adversarial attacks, which are specially crafted inputs that are designed to deceive the algorithm. Adversarial attacks can be used to bypass security measures, such as intrusion detection systems, and gain unauthorised access to sensitive information.

Hacking that becomes automated: AI algorithms can be used to automate hacking attacks, making it easier and faster for cybercriminals to penetrate networks and steal data. For example, AI algorithms can be trained to identify vulnerabilities in software and exploit them automatically.

AI as a weapon: As AI technology becomes more advanced it could be used to create new types of cyber weapons that can cause significant damage to computer systems and networks. These weapons could be used to conduct large-scale cyber-attacks, disrupt critical infrastructure, or steal sensitive information.

Data breaches: AI can be used to analyse large datasets and identify patterns that can be used to launch targeted attacks on individuals or organisations. For example, AI can be used to identify weak passwords, social engineering techniques, and other vulnerabilities that can be exploited to gain access to sensitive data.

The Angel in AI for Cyber Security:

Identifying and mitigating threats: AI algorithms can be trained to identify potential cyber threats by analysing data and recognising patterns. These algorithms can also learn to adapt to new threats and develop effective mitigation strategies.

Automating cyber security processes: AI can automate routine cyber security tasks, such as monitoring logs, analysing traffic, and detecting vulnerabilities. This can help reduce the workload of security professionals and free them up to focus on more complex tasks.

Improving incident response: AI can help organisations respond to cyber incidents faster and more effectively by providing real-time analysis of data and automating response actions.

Enhancing threat intelligence: AI can analyse large amounts of data from various sources, including the dark web, to provide organisations with up-to-date threat intelligence.

Strengthening authentication: AI can help strengthen authentication processes by using biometric data and behavioral analysis to identify users and detect anomalies.

How can the AI devil be squashed?

Firstly, what businesses should do is use AI to strengthen their cyber security, so that it can be used to detect and prevent threats for businesses. However, there are some key steps that cyber security teams and the wider business can do to squash the AI devil:

  1. Develop secure AI systems: Build any system with security in mind, so incorporate security measures such as access control, encryption and firewalls.
  2. Test AI systems for any security vulnerabilities regularly: Exactly as it says on the tin – cyber teams need to proactively do this to ensure that AI systems are not being used in a negative way.
  3. Monitor systems continuously: Certainly businesses will benefit from monitoring AI systems for anomalies that could indicate a security breach, which means cyber teams can react and respond appropriately. Where enterprises implement Continuous Controls Monitoring to ensure that they have total visibility of their whole business ecosystem.
  4. Ensure you have a robust incident plan: The plan should mitigate any potential risks that can incorporate identification of that risk and the steps that can be taken to resolve.
  5. Think about automation: Perhaps implement controls around AI that could be used to be monitored through automation such as CCM (Continuous Controls Monitoring).
  6. Ensure you have complete visibility: Often with changing teams and new platforms and solutions onboarded, many enterprises lose visibility of all their assets whether they are cyber or any other kind of assets. Obtaining that complete visibility will prevent cyber attackers from infiltrating your business by means of AI through open, forgotten back doors into your business.

Ultimately, as with all things in life and business, AI is going to be powerful and be used to bring out the angel, but with all things good comes the bad, the devil that can be used as a powerful, disruptive, dangerous tool. Realistically it will be how businesses adapt AI for greater operational efficiency and resilience that will determine how that can mitigate any potential risk to organisations.

If you need help to get your angel take a look at our CCM platform here.


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Liam Flavin

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Mohamed Mohamud

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Juan Morales

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Ian Waggott

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A very experienced and respected Senior Leadership Executive, with over 30 years’ experience in Information Technology, Information/CyberSecurity and Risk. Specialises in delivering business transformation, leading people through change and taking them on a journey to deliver and exceed company expectations. Highly regarded by his peers and colleagues across the globe. A very confident and effective communicator at CXO level, and valued as an expert presenter at numerous worldwide forums  . Across his career been in Senior CISO and leadership positions in Banking, Telco, Network & Utilities, Several UK Government Departments, 

Has extensive Cyber Security, Operational Risk, Compliance and Business Transformation expertise, gained across a broad range of industries. Former Director of Cybersecurity for CGI and CapGemini and Ex CISO for O2.

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Will has spent the last 9-years embedded in Cyber Security working with global, household names and innovative start-ups.

Passionate about bringing people and technology together, Will has worked in various settings, helping build high-growth organisations across multiple sectors. During this time, he has built an extensive network with access to some of the best talent out there.

Outside of QO, his young daughter keeps him well on his toes!

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Mark Hudson

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Mark works with SMEs and charities to develop strategies to help them grow and access development capital. He is a NED, charity trustee and mentor to a wide range of people. His plural career started in 2017 after 16 years at pwc as a Deals partner working with large corporates and PE houses; at pwc he also ran the Retail and Consumer practice and was Chairman of the pwc UK Supervisory Board. Prior to pwc he was an executive director at Welcome Break and Iceland Group, and a partner at Bain and Company. He trained as an engineer at Imperial College and has an MBA from INSEAD. 

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Eamon Flavin

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Eamon is a highly regarded and massively respected technology career professional as well as serial entrepreneur. He has started, grown and successfully taken to market three technology business.

Genuinely expert in technology, Eamon has enjoyed long-term working relationships with many of the world’s top companies and organisations in finance, banking, government, manufacturing, engineering, technology and the charities sector.

He draws on unparalleled contacts and experience and provides advice, solutions and recommendations, as well as helping respond to emergencies. Eamon has grown in-house and client teams and has a gift for hiring great people.

Peter Martin

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Peter has the ability to do what many fail to and that is to consistently bring together highly professional teams and build a business environment that is supportive, agile, professional and where everyone enjoys coming into the office.

Bringing a unique blend of business acumen and technical knowledge to the role of non-exec director, Peter has already demonstrated his ability to bring an exceptional flair for dealing with complex situations with a clear, considered approach.

Personally, Peter brings humility and a strong moral compass to the team. His disarming and self-deprecating approach wins everyone over.

Anwen Haynes

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Anwen has worked in B2B and B2C marketing for over 20 years. From transforming end-to-end customer journeys in retail with strategic customer-centric plans to target driven focused strategies for B2B sales. With extensive experience in digital marketing including SEO, as well as Brand development, she loves to develop a cohesive approach to brand image and communications to drive and develop the business proposition and perception.

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Alice has worked in the IT industry for 20 years. Starting in Procurement, she moved into Software Asset Management before transitioning into Customer Success Management. Working across a variety of roles for different industries as both a customer and a service provider has given her a great understanding of what makes a great service. She has always been passionate about building and maintaining great customer relationships and helping her customers achieve their goals.

Owain Rowley

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Owain has spent nearly a decade building software solutions and products within the cyber security sphere for the likes of government entities, large telecommunication companies, banks and card transaction companies.

This level of experience allows him to swiftly identify business and security processes that can be streamlined with automation, increase the efficiency of existing processes, as well as generate insightful data visualisations and models for members of an organisation at each different level.

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Ami is a finance sector career professional, with many years’ experience working in financial services, both in London and throughout the UK. In addition to financial control, she looks after HR and legal for the company.

Being a mother of two also equips her with the basic skills required to manage a senior team of management and technology consultants.

Ami’s sense of balance and perspective is an essential ingredient of the Quod Orbis culture.

Alastair Dickson

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Alastair has spent the last 20 years working in Cyber Security and Risk Management. He is a passionate believer that security solutions should enable a business to take advantage of all the benefits of the digital world, while not putting the organisation’s data or productivity at risk.

Alastair has developed high-performing teams in some of the industry’s most competitive markets and launched new innovative technologies to market.

Being a rugby coach, and also having four sons at home, means he has lots of experience in keeping a passionate team in order but always has time for some fun!

Gary Penolver

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Gary has 15 years’ experience in senior technology roles, and has already been closely involved in starting and taking two technology companies to market.

Totally comfortable with a fast-moving, state-of-the-art technical landscape, he helps his clients maintain and improve security and compliance.

He has a reputation for delivering pragmatic and easy to maintain solutions – business owners and managers enjoy knowing that the security and compliance is well managed and automated, properly instrumented and reported at a competitive cost point.

Honest, open, unflappable and very social, Gary is trusted by many household-name organisations to protect their, and their client’s data.

Martin Greenfield

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Martin is an experienced technology and organisational transformation specialist and an excellent, proven leader and communicator in mission-critical operations, particularly in security technology.

Over the past 20 years, multi-billion pound commercial organisations, including global banks, utilities and major investment funds have trusted Martin to transform their operations to meet financial, operational and compliance targets.

Martin optimises operations, managing and transforming operational teams of between 50 and 500 people, to deliver the highest levels of audit compliance, risk management and financial efficiency.

Often working with other major consultancies and suppliers for new global corporate owners or management teams, Martin will help integrate and streamline operations on a global basis.

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