She has multiple dogs – Lesson Learned from AI Cybersecurity Conference.

Recently, a conversation with my neighbor Mary—a lively 90-year-old who stays healthy by walking several dogs—got me thinking about resilience. When I asked her secret, she replied, “I just keep moving—every day.” In cybersecurity, that’s exactly the mindset we need to embrace. Stopping isn’t an option; with AI-driven threats, we’re never truly done. Just as Mary’s daily walks keep her going, our cybersecurity strategies must constantly evolve.

AI has redefined the cyber landscape, with traditional protections like EDR, XDR, IDS/IPS, IAM policies, and cryptography no longer sufficient on their own. As regulations tighten and reputational risks grow, safeguarding your organization’s data and assets has never been more critical.

At the AI Cybersecurity Conference, three trends were identified:

1. Phishing: Voice and video phishing leverage AI to deceive even the savviest teams. In one case, attackers used a deepfake of a CEO to authorize fraudulent payments, fooling a recipient in a Teams meeting into making a large transfer.
2. Brute-Force Attack: AI-driven algorithms now make password cracking faster, especially against weakly protected assets. These tools adapt quickly, eroding traditional defenses.
3. DDoS Attack: AI adapts in real-time, allowing attacks to circumvent sophisticated defenses. In 2023, Google faced an attack with nearly 400 million requests per second, and Amazon experienced a similar assault, proving even the best defenses can be overpowered by AI.

AI is like a robot vacuum—it hits an obstacle, recalibrates, and tries again until it breaks through. And, just as Mary’s dogs keep her moving, we must stay vigilant and adapt to the shifting landscape of AI-driven threats.

Social engineering remains a complex, evolving threat. Using AI; attackers automate phishing, create deepfake impersonations and hijack decision-making. Each tactic exploits human psychology, demanding equally agile detection and defense.

To counter these sophisticated threats, a multi-layered, “healthy” cybersecurity approach is essential. Here are two main areas of focus:

1. SETA (Security Education, Training, and Awareness): Security awareness requires renewed focus, especially as social engineering threats rise. Employees should be trained on emerging threats and detection, especially as part of the SDLC. Investing in SETA training from vendors like KnowBe4, Proofpoint, and Vipre is increasingly valuable.
2. ASM: Attack Surface Management: ASM platforms deliver continuous, AI-powered discovery and monitoring of all external attack surfaces. Key features include:

o?? Real-Time Asset Discovery: Track internet-facing assets, including shadow IT and forgotten infrastructure.

o?? Continuous Vulnerability Detection: Detect security vulnerabilities before they are exploited.

o?? Risk-Based Prioritization: Focus on the most critical exposures with a risk-scoring engine.

o?? Automated Compliance Mapping: Classify assets and map controls automatically to streamline compliance.

While ASM is new, it is increasingly critical. Vendors like RiskRecon, BitSight, and SecurityScorecard focus primarily on supply chain security, while companies like Rapid7 and IBM incorporate ASM into broader offerings. One standout, RedHunt Labs, has expanded to include OSINT, supply chain analysis, dark web password monitoring, and Docker searches.

As AI-driven threats advance, integrating AI defenses into your cybersecurity strategy is no longer optional. Diversify your tools, train your teams, and build a resilient, layered defense to stay one step ahead in an evolving threat landscape.