In my years as an IT and Cyber Executive, I’ve witnessed how integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Defence-in-Depth (DiD) strategies can significantly enhance an organisation’s security posture. This isn’t about deploying AI just to experiment—it’s about leveraging AI’s strengths to build a resilient security framework that addresses both current and future challenges. I’ve seen the impact of AI firsthand, and I’m excited to share some of the key areas where it’s made the most difference.
Continuous Monitoring: A Game Changer for Security Operations
One of the most impactful applications of AI in cyber security is its ability to provide continuous monitoring, 24/7. In my work, I’ve found this capability invaluable especially when supporting dedicated cyber security roles such as analysts and engineers. AI doesn’t tire, doesn’t require breaks, and is always on guard, scanning for threats and anomalies in real-time across the landscape it has visibility into. This constant vigilance allows organisations to detect and respond to potential threats before they cause serious harm, a reactive approach.
But it’s not just about having a watchful eye; it’s about having one that never blinks and can react faster than any human. The true power of AI lies in its ability to manage and analyse vast amounts of data across your platforms, identifying patterns that might go unnoticed by even the most diligent human team. This real-time monitoring and analysis provide a robust first line of defence, ensuring that any suspicious activity is flagged and addressed immediately, minimising the window of vulnerability across attack vectors.
A critical oversight I've witnessed is that many organisations still operate with a 9-to-5 mentality when it comes to cyber security, often relying on reactive processes rather than implementing follow the sun proactive strategies.
The reality is that most attacks, particularly those originating from overseas, often occur outside of typical working hours. Relying solely on human teams that work standard business hours leaves a significant gap in security coverage during the night and early morning when cyber attacks are most likely to occur. AI fills this gap effectively, providing round-the-clock protection that aligns with the global nature of today’s cyber threats.
Harnessing Continuous Learning for a Dynamic Defence
AI’s continuous learning capability has been key to keeping pace with the rapidly evolving threat landscape. By learning from patterns of use in combination with global threat intelligence, AI systems can adapt to emerging threats faster than traditional methods tailored to the unique behaviours of the organisation and it's users. This adaptability is crucial in staying ahead of threat actors who constantly refine their attack types. AI’s ability to learn and evolve ensures that our defences are always current, dynamic, and ready for the next challenge.
However, the effectiveness of this continuous learning depends heavily on the quality of the information AI systems are exposed to, and trained on. Lacking or biased input can lead to inaccurate models, which is why it’s essential to have robust information governance in place. In my experience, organisations that prioritise the continuous training of their AI systems see far better outcomes in threat detection and response. This continuous learning also means that AI-driven defences are not static but evolve, becoming more refined and capable as they are exposed to new types of threats that deviate from the norm.
To provide an example, imagine an organisation implementing AI to learn baseline behaviours for each user (pattern of life), such as typical login times, systems accessed, and information transferred. Over time, AI refines its understanding of what's normal for each user, with support from human analysts for AI training purposes. In a scenario where an employee suddenly accesses sensitive client data outside regular hours from an unfamiliar device in a different location, the AI detects this deviation. It flags the activity as suspicious and triggers an immediate investigation or automated action such as temporarily disabling the account or blocking access to the resourses in question.Supporting Human Expertise, Not Replacing It
There’s often concern about AI replacing human jobs, but in my experience, that’s not the case. AI has proven to be an invaluable support system for cyber security teams, not only supporting them but enhancing their output. By handling routine tasks and processing vast amounts of information, AI allows humans to focus on higher-level strategic issues and their immediate workload.
This synergy between AI and human intelligence has led to more effective decision-making and a more resilient security posture. AI doesn’t replace human expertise; it amplifies it. In fact, AI and humans together create a more formidable defence than either could alone. For example, while AI might handle the heavy lifting of information analysis and continuious flow observation whilst identifying potential threats, human analysts are essential for interpreting these findings, making nuanced decisions and applying their contextual knowledge to complex situations.
This collaboration between AI and human intelligence leads to a more comprehensive and adaptable approach to cyber security, where AI handles the volume, and humans handle the strategy. Over the years, I’ve seen how this partnership between AI and human analysts has not only improved efficiency but also led to more innovative solutions to complex security challenges.
Unbiased Decision-Making: Ensuring Fair and Effective Responses
AI’s ability to make decisions based solely on information is a significant advantage, particularly in high-pressure situations where human biases can cloud judgement. In my experience, deploying AI in this manner has ensured that security decisions are both fair and effective, aligned with organisational policies and incident response plans. AI brings a level of objectivity crucial for maintaining a consistent and reliable defence strategy. This is particularly important in situations where quick, unbiased decision-making is critical, such as during an actual or potential cyber attack.
AI’s information-driven approach ensures that responses are not influenced by irrelevant factors, such as personal biases, organisational politics or even positions, leading to more effective and targeted interventions. Moreover, this objectivity can be vital in post-incident analysis, where understanding what happened and why can lead to enhanced prevention strategies in the future. The impact of this objectivity has been profound, helping organisations maintain a clear focus during crises and making sure that decisions are always driven by the facts.
Cost-Effective Solutions for Comprehensive Coverage
One of the most practical benefits of AI is its cost-effectiveness. While there is an initial investment, AI’s ability to automate routine tasks and provide extensive system coverage means that organisations can achieve more with fewer resources. In my experience, AI has allowed organisations to scale their security operations without a proportional increase in costs, making it a smart financial investment in addition to being a strategic one, especially when factoring in 24/7 operations. This scalability is particularly beneficial for growing organisations that face increasing cyber threats but may not have the resources to expand their human teams proportionately or have made the decision to retain security operations inhouse.
AI can seamlessly handle the growing information and security demands, providing continuous coverage without the need for constant human intervention, especially if strong baselines have been established (such as patterns of life). Additionally, the cost savings from reduced human labour can be reinvested into further strengthening security measures, such as advanced training for security teams or investing in even more sophisticated AI tools to form your defence in depth strategy. I’ve seen how these cost savings can have a ripple effect, freeing up resources that can be used to address other critical areas of the business.
Proactive and Reactive Capabilities in One Package
AI’s dual role in both proactive and reactive security measures has been one of its most compelling features. Proactively, AI’s continuous monitoring and automated responses can help prevent incidents before they occur. Reactively, AI’s speed in analysing post-event information and supporting threat hunting efforts ensures that we learn from each incident and strengthen our defences accordingly, especially when GPT's are involved. This has meant that organisations are not just reacting to threats but are actively improving their security posture after each encounter. The real advantage of AI is in its ability to integrate these proactive and reactive capabilities seamlessly. For example, in the proactive phase, AI can identify potential vulnerabilities and automatically mitigate them within it's realm of control. In the reactive phase, AI can quickly analyse vast amounts of information to support threat hunting and investigations into how and why event occured.
Imagine AI proactively blocking a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack in real-time by detecting abnormal traffic patterns and taking immediate action to neutralise the threat (proactive). Beyond halting the attack, AI tools like GPT can be used by analysts to trawl through extensive datasets related to the event, such as analysing logs and tracing attack vectors. This capability allows the organisation to efficiently extract insights for post-incident analysis, helping to implement continuous improvement initiatives, such as optimising defence mechanisms or enhancing system configurations for future resilience.Conclusion: AI as a Strategic Asset, Not Just a Tool
Integrating AI into cyber security is not just about using new technology options; it’s about making a strategic decision that strengthens the entire organisation's cyber posture. The benefits I’ve seen—from continuous monitoring and unbiased decision-making to cost savings and enhanced threat response—demonstrate that AI is an essential component of a modern, resilient defence strategy. AI should be viewed as a strategic asset that complements human expertise, enabling organisations to stay ahead of the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape.
As I continue to work in the field of IT and Cyber, I’m committed to leveraging AI’s full potential to ensure that the organisations I work with are not just protected but are also positioned to thrive in a digital world where threats are constantly evolving.
Comments