In full digital era, where artificial intelligence (AI) has become a transformation pillar for organizations, its use in the field of cybersecurity proposes a growing dilemma: strategic ally or latent threat? With the ability to automate attacks, generate more sophisticated malware and execute actions with millimeter precision, AI is being used more and more frequently by cybercriminals, making it difficult for companies to maintain the necessary defense pace.
According to a recent ProofPoint report, 52% of the Directors of Administration Councils in Spain already perceive AI as a significant risk for their organizations. This data highlights the growing concern before a context in which, in addition to external threats, companies face the complexity of managing multiple data platforms and the pressure of complying with new regulations on privacy and protection.
However, technology is not the enemy itself. In fact, cybersecurity experts remember that AI can become a powerful ally to reinforce business defenses. Thanks to its ability to process large volumes of information, anticipate attack patterns and respond quickly, artificial intelligence is revolutionizing traditional defensive strategies, which are no longer enough against increasingly dynamic and sophisticated threats.
Smart tools to anticipate risks
Technologies such as automatic learning, predictive analysis or natural language processing are marking a before and after in the early detection of threats. Instead of depending on fixed rules, automatic learning based systems identify common behaviors based on previous examples and learn to respond to similar situations, although never seen before.
AI as an ally to enhance the capacities of cybersecurity equipment
For its part, the predictive analysis allows to find connections between signals that, at first glance, seem to have no relationship, bringing to light suspicious patterns that could go unnoticed by conventional methods. And when processing data in human language – from emails to messages in social networks or code fragments -, alert signals related to supplant attacks, malicious code or social engineering strategies are identified.
More efficiency, less operational load
One of the great benefits of AI is its ability to automate repetitive tasks and thus free cybersecurity experts to focus on critical work. Operations such as network traffic monitoring, malware detection or record review are carried out faster, reducing the attacker’s margin and improving response times.
In addition, AI systems can prioritize threats, screening between thousands of alerts to point out only those that require immediate human attention. This not only improves the effectiveness of the equipment, but also reduces exhaustion in the absence of notifications.
Ethical challenges and technical challenges
Despite its advantages, the application of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity is not exempt from risks. The so -called “adversary attacks”, in which algorithms are manipulated to induce errors or extract sensitive information, suppose an emerging threat. Given this, it is essential to submit frequent testing systems and develop more solid detection mechanisms.
Another critical aspect is the quality of the data. If the information with which it is trained to AI is biased or incomplete, detection errors that compromise safety may occur. Therefore, the continuous review of the data and the design of transparent and explainable systems are fundamental to maintain the trust of both users and regulators.
In a scenario where technology advances by leaps and bounds, the balance between innovation, privacy and responsibility will be the key for artificial intelligence not only to be part of the problem, but the solution to the cybercrime of tomorrow.
