Artificial intelligence (AI) is widely used these days, but not every use has been positive. In particular, cybercriminals are increasingly taking advantage of AI to create sophisticated and devastating cyberattacks, which means businesses must quickly step up their defenses.
However, there’s no need to panic. With the right strategies and tools, you can keep your systems secure, data safe, and stress levels in check. Below, we break down practical strategies to help you keep AI-driven cyberthreats at bay. But before we jump into solutions, let's look at why AI-driven cyberattacks are so dangerous.
What makes AI-driven cyberattacks a serious threat?
Unlike conventional cyberattacks, AI-driven ones can analyze enormous amounts of data, quickly identify vulnerabilities, and even adapt attack methods in real time to bypass traditional cybersecurity defenses.
Some examples of AI-driven threats include:
- AI-powered phishing: AI can analyze data on individuals and companies to craft highly personalized and convincing phishing emails.
- Smart malware: Malware programs can use AI to evade detection by mimicking normal system activity or hiding in encrypted traffic.
- Automated attacks: AI bots can carry out distributed denial-of-service attacks with frightening efficiency, overwhelming your systems in minutes.
How to defend against AI-driven cyberattacks
As AI advances, so do the potential risks it poses. To stay ahead, it’s essential to employ effective strategies designed to protect against AI-powered threats and safeguard your digital environment. Here are some key approaches to consider:
Invest in an AI-powered defense system
The best way to fight AI-driven attackers is to use their tactics against them. Modern AI-driven cybersecurity tools can detect unusual patterns, flag anomalies, and respond to potential threats faster than human teams can. Tools such as Field Effect, Darktrace, and CrowdStrike, for instance, use AI to continuously monitor your network, identifying threats and countering them in real time.
Train your team against AI-driven phishing
The old “don’t click that suspicious link” advice still stands, but because of AI, phishing emails now look legitimate enough to fool even the most cautious employees. It’s therefore critical to regularly train your workforce to recognize phishing emails, especially ones that seem highly personalized or urgent. Conducting simulated phishing attacks can further test your team’s vigilance and strengthen their skills in flagging threats.
Implement multifactor authentication (MFA)
AI-driven attacks often rely on getting unauthorized access to your systems, so it’s critical to put up multiple barriers to entry with MFA. Require two or more authentication steps, such as knowledge the user possesses, an item they own, or a characteristic unique to them. MFA is easy to implement and exponentially harder for attackers to bypass.
Keep your software updated
Failing to update software is one of the leading causes of exploited vulnerabilities. AI bots are tenacious; they will efficiently scan your systems for outdated software with impressive speed and accuracy.
Schedule automatic updates for all critical systems and conduct regular audits to ensure no software is outdated. Also, set up Google Alerts and monitor industry updates to stay informed about any major vulnerabilities in the software you use.
Encrypt everything
AI attackers thrive on accessible data. Encryption makes sure data is inaccessible by turning it into unreadable code that can only be unlocked by a decryption key, rendering stolen data useless.
Always encrypt data, whether it’s stored or in transit. Additionally, verify that any third-party vendors or cloud services you use adhere to strong encryption standards to maintain the security of your information.
Monitor system activity 24/7
Cybercriminals don’t have nine-to-five schedules. They strike at all hours, and AI bots never sleep. Monitoring your infrastructure 24/7 ensures no suspicious activity goes unnoticed.
Thankfully, you don’t need to pull all-nighters watching over your network. Security information and event management tools can continuously monitor your systems, helping to swiftly detect and mitigate potential threats.
A trusted managed IT services provider such as XBASE Technologies goes beyond the basics, expertly managing, optimizing, and monitoring cybersecurity tools for your business. They take care of the hard work, so you’re never overwhelmed by false alarms or at risk of overlooking critical threats. And with an MSP in your corner, you’ll have experts watching your back 24/7, providing support and immediate response to any security incidents. You gain the peace of mind that comes with round-the-clock monitoring and protection of your network.
Catch potential AI-driven cyberattacks and other threats early to prevent serious damage to your business. Sign up with XBASE Technologies today and secure your future.