The impact of new age tools on cybersecurity has been significant, transforming the way organizations protect their digital assets. Advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation have empowered cybersecurity professionals with powerful tools to detect, prevent, and respond to cyber threats in real-time. However, there are concerns about these tools being exploited by malicious elements. Preeti Singh, associate director- IT security Risk and Compliance at Osttra, recently discussed these implications with Dataquest.
Singh acknowledges that while AI revolution is not new, it has brought numerous benefits to the cybersecurity industry. These generative tools help increase the efficiency of cybersecurity staff and fill skill gaps within teams. They can identify and mitigate network security threats, automate security incident analysis, and filter spam emails faster than humans. However, there are also risks associated with these tools. Hackers can use them to craft sophisticated phishing emails and generate malicious code for hacking purposes. Existing vulnerabilities in these tools can lead to data breaches, and employees might unknowingly expose sensitive business information in chatGPT.
To effectively adopt these technologies, the cybersecurity industry must consider both the advantages and disadvantages. Proper training, validation, and oversight of the tools are essential to mitigate associated risks. Singh emphasizes the significance of weighing the pros and cons and handling the implementation carefully for secure use of chatGPT and similar technologies in the security industry.
When it comes to overcoming these concerns, Singh suggests that CISOs and CIOs collaborate to address security and technology issues. CISOs act as a crucial brake, preventing information leakage and ensuring technology security. Conducting risk assessments, implementing access control measures, adopting secure development practices, and creating user awareness programs are some of the steps necessary to protect against these concerns.
Singh also discusses how multinational organizations can navigate diverse cybersecurity and data protection regulations around the world. With more than 100 countries formulating data privacy bills, companies face challenges in complying with inconsistent regulations. Singh recommends establishing a dedicated compliance team comprising experts from legal, IT security, and privacy fields. This team would analyze cybersecurity and data protection regulations applicable to the organization’s operations and develop a framework to bridge compliance gaps. Implementing security controls, defining policies and procedures, and staying updated on emerging technologies are also crucial in ensuring comprehensive compliance.
In terms of partnering with CEOs and other board members, Singh highlights the need for CISOs and CIOs to simplify security concepts and help business leaders understand its importance. They should present IT and security plans in terms of risk, cost, and business impact to gain support for security initiatives. Aligning security initiatives with business objectives, providing insights into potential threats, and collaborating to improve security postures are essential steps in enhancing an organization’s security posture.
Overall, the collaboration between CISOs, CIOs, CEOs, and board members, along with the implementation of proactive security measures, is crucial in addressing security issues in the technology landscape.