Artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity are two fields that have seen tremendous growth in recent years. As more organizations adopt AI-powered technologies to improve their work and workflow, the need for strong cybersecurity measures becomes increasingly crucial. Below you can learn about the key factors that impact AI and cybersecurity, including GDPR compliance and ISO 27001.
A helping hand
One of the primary benefits of AI in cybersecurity is its ability to quickly identify potential threats and respond to them in real-time. By using machine learning algorithms, AI can:
- Detect patterns and anomalies in network traffic
- Identify malicious code
- Stop cyberattacks before they cause damage.
AI thus helps IT departments and security teams prevent cyberattacks from happening - the organization is better suited using AI since it eases the workload for IT departments and the security teams. However, we should never fully rely on AI since it gathers its information from the internet, meaning that not all its knowledge is legitimate and true.
Of course AI can help detect holes that need patching and software that is unstable, but it can be affected by malicious actors online. We should therefore always do a backup check when AI has helped us locate entry points and instabilities in our software.
GDPR regulations and information security
Another thing to consider when using AI in cybersecurity is that it also poses a challenge in terms of privacy and data protection.
The EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires organizations to protect personal data and ensure that it is processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently. This means that AI systems used in cybersecurity must be designed to protect personal data and comply with GDPR regulations.
ISO 27001 is another important factor that impacts AI and cybersecurity. It is a widely recognized standard for information security management that provides a framework for organizations to manage and protect their sensitive data.
Organizations that comply with ISO 27001 have a structured and systematic approach to managing their information security risks, which is critical in the context of AI and cybersecurity. By implementing ISO 27001, organizations can ensure that their AI-powered cybersecurity systems are designed and deployed in a secure and compliant manner.
This means that there is a higher sense of security regarding our personal and sensitive information - and that the AI specifically used in these cases are secure. It is confidential data that AI is working with which is why authorities and governments are even more careful when it comes to the use of AI in these cases.
Beware of the data
However, there are tradeoffs involved in balancing GDPR compliance and ISO 27001 with the need for effective AI-powered cybersecurity. AI algorithms require large amounts of data to be trained effectively, and this data often includes personal information.
While organizations must comply with GDPR regulations and protect personal data, they must also ensure that their AI algorithms have access to the necessary data to identify and respond to cyber threats effectively. You should thus be careful and consider the types of data that AI is using and how that data is processed, stored, and protected.
When e.g. HR works with sensitive data, the information is encrypted so if the organization should be a victim of a cyberattack or a hacker gets access to the data, they won’t be able to read it due to the encryption. In the same way should AI ensure encryption and unreadability for unauthorized people.
The biased AI
Another challenge associated with AI and cybersecurity is the potential for bias in AI algorithms. As we mentioned earlier, AI algorithms are only as good as the data used to train them, and if that data is biased or incomplete, the resulting algorithms can perpetuate that bias.
This is a critical issue in the context of cybersecurity, as biased algorithms may overlook certain types of cyber threats or falsely identify harmless activity as malicious. To mitigate this risk, organizations must carefully consider the data used to train their AI algorithms and ensure that it is diverse, representative, and unbiased.
Once the AI is trained properly - principally with no bias and false information - it can help us process and handle personal sensitive information. AI makes the processing even faster so that we only need to check the data instead of processing it. This is, of course, in an ideal world where there is no compromised data that might affect how AI learns and works.
Things to consider
AI and cybersecurity are two fields that are closely intertwined, and organizations must carefully consider the key factors that influence both. GDPR compliance and ISO 27001 are critical in ensuring that AI-powered cybersecurity systems are secure and compliant with relevant regulations.
However, organizations must also balance these factors with the need for effective cybersecurity and consider the potential tradeoffs involved. Organizations should furthermore be mindful of the potential for bias in AI algorithms and take steps to mitigate this risk.
One of the things a department can implement in connection with the use of AI in cybersecurity is to have regular checkups of the systems and its performance. Another good idea is to check AI’s results in e.g., handling cases, so you know if it is performing correctly and not biased by false information.
By carefully considering these factors, organizations can leverage the power of AI to improve their cybersecurity defenses while protecting personal data and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.
AI is a new and helpful tool for cases which involves the proper handling and processing of personal and sensitive data. The GDPR was established to set clear guidelines and regulations on how to handle sensitive information. And because AI is dealing with personal information, it is crucial to have a proper insight into your cybersecurity - the hackers will exploit your systems to get to the precious data you possess. Thus you can use AI to help you but you should also be aware of the consequences it might bring with it.
Caroline Preisler
Caroline is a copywriter here at Moxso beside her education. She is doing her Master's in English and specializes in translation and the psychology of language. Both fields deal with communication between people and how to create a common understanding - these elements are incorporated into the copywriting work she does here at Moxso.
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