Ignore the hype - how to make AI-enhanced cyber security work for your business

AI-enhanced cyber solutions are generating plenty of buzz – but, on their own, they’re not enough to counter the growing cyber threat. How will you get the best from the newest tools and build a robust defensive strategy for your organisation? 

The rapid development of AI means cyber threats are evolving fast. Attackers are increasingly using AI tools to outmanoeuvre traditional defences and exploit vulnerabilities with greater sophistication. At the same time, the ease with which AI can be used significantly lowers the barrier to entry for cyber criminals, increasing the likelihood of sophisticated attacks against organisations of all sizes.  

In response, businesses are turning to AI-powered tools to boost cyber resilience. Nearly all vendors now incorporate machine learning and AI capabilities into their products, enabling enhanced speed and precision in detection and response. AI is now present across the cyber security toolset, from Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools to endpoint protection and vulnerability scanning.  

Strategy must come first – what should the solution deliver? 

As with any security tool, AI solutions are not a silver bullet. To unlock their full potential, they must be properly implemented within a well-defined cyber security strategy. These tools will only ever be as good as their implementation and integration into ways of working. Alongside your cyber strategy, it’s critical to understand the capabilities you need to uplift, define the operating model for implementation and ensure teams using AI solutions have adequate knowledge and experience.  

Ensure you understand the problems the solution will address and how you’ll measure success. Without this, you’ll struggle to achieve value from the investment and will be adding further cost and complexity to the estate. It’s also likely you won’t achieve the full benefits for your people. When correctly exploited, AI solutions should enable you to automate repeatable, lower-value work (such as prioritising alerts) and free up security teams to focus on tasks further up the value chain, better demonstrating your team’s importance to your stakeholders. 

Forget the hype – where can AI really revolutionise capability?  

AI and predictive analytics are being hailed as a game-changer for cyber security and, as the technology evolves, are set to become the benchmark for excellence. For now, though, where can today’s AI-powered solutions have the biggest impact? 

Strengthening threat detection capabilities 

AI-driven threat detection solutions use machine learning and predictive analytics to identify unusual behaviour faster and better predict emerging threats. This allows teams to detect and mitigate potential attacks before they escalate. Extended endpoint detection and response (XDR/EDR) tools worldwide are increasingly incorporating AI. As this technology evolves, generative AI-aided investigation capabilities are expected to become the standard. 

Automating incident response 

AI is enhancing the automation of SIEM systems, quickly analysing massive volumes of log data to identify and prioritise critical security events and reduce the need for manual intervention. AI is also streamlining incident management in the Security Operations Centre (SOC), automating response actions such as isolating compromised systems and blocking malicious IPs. This reduces response times, minimises human error and frees up teams to focus on higher-value activities. Siemens Energy, for instance, has introduced an AI-driven managed detection and response service to monitor industrial environments in real time and detect anomalies across IT and OT systems.  

Enhancing vulnerability management to uncover hidden risks 

AI is transforming vulnerability management by providing context-rich insights into complex attack paths. Penetration testing tools powered by AI can identify exploitation paths and analyse advanced malware behaviours to identify vulnerabilities that might otherwise go unnoticed. A notable example is how Google researchers used AI to discover a critical OpenSSL vulnerability, which had been undetected for over two decades – highlighting the power of machine learning to reveal hidden security gaps.  

We haven’t had enough of experts – human intelligence is key 

Despite AI’s growing role in cyber security, empowering people with the skills and experience to understand and manage new solutions is vital. While AI excels at processing vast amounts of data, identifying patterns and detecting anomalies at great speed, it lacks the nuanced understanding and contextual awareness that only human experts can provide. Cyber security teams play a critical role in interpreting AI-generated insights, making strategic decisions and responding to complex, adaptive threats that don’t fit established patterns. Just as importantly, experienced cyber security professionals bring creativity, ethical considerations and a deeper understanding of your organisational context that AI alone cannot replicate. 

When automating incident response, for example, AI-enabled solutions require established, fit-for-purpose security operation playbooks for effective long-term deployment. This will require experienced professionals collaborating with the business to agree and deploy these first. 

Revolutionising cyber security with the power of AI 

As cyber criminals leverage AI to launch increasingly sophisticated attacks, its defensive capabilities present a strong case for weaving AI into your cyber security framework. However, to maximise the benefits, businesses must integrate AI solutions within a robust cyber security strategy and have a clear defined operating model for ownership and use. By embedding AI effectively, organisations increase their chances of staying ahead of cyber criminals and build a more resilient security shield against ever-evolving attacks. 

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