How Can AI Improve Cybersecurity?

Imagine playing a chess game with yourself: identical experience, strategies, moves, and end goals. How is anyone supposed to get the upper hand? With the recent surge of AI-aided cybercrime, cybersecurity feels a bit like a never-ending game of chess.

While AI is helping hackers gain ground, it’s also providing security professionals with advanced tools to protect your data. How can AI in cybersecurity help your business? Here’s what our security team has observed over the last few years and what they predict will happen as AI continues to grow.

Two Sides of the Same Coinai enhanced cybersecurity concept

Hackers are using artificial intelligence (AI) to carry out increasingly sophisticated attacks. And they’re not just using it to send out more phishing attacks. Here’s how cybercriminals are using this technology to gain the upper hand:

  • Automated Attacks: AI-powered tools can send out thousands of attacks per hour. Plus, they’re constantly learning and adapting to find new vulnerabilities.
  • Social Engineering: By analyzing data from social media, hackers can craft personalized phishing emails that are more likely to trick their victims.
  • Malware Creation: AI can quickly generate variations of malware that can evade traditional detection methods.
  • Botnets: Using AI algorithms, cybercriminals can create botnets (networks of computers connected together that are used to distribute things like malicious software and spam emails without the end user’s knowledge) that are nearly impossible to detect and shut down.
  • Deepfakes: With AI-based deepfake technology, hackers can create convincing fake videos or audio recordings that can be used for blackmail or impersonation.

On the other hand, the use of AI in cybersecurity to combat these attacks is also on the rise.

How AI Is Helping Protect Your Data

By leveraging machine learning and advanced algorithms, cybersecurity experts can stay one step ahead of attackers, identifying threats faster and more accurately than ever before.

1. Fast Data Analysis

Cybersecurity generates massive amounts of data daily—from server logs to suspicious login attempts. Humans simply can’t keep up, but AI can. AI-powered systems analyze this data in real time, detecting anomalies, patterns, and potential breaches before they escalate.

For instance, AI enables faster identification of malware by comparing incoming data against known malware behaviors. This rapid response is essential in preventing data breaches.

2. Exhaustive Penetration Testing

Gone are the days when penetration testing (pen testing) relied solely on human expertise. AI amplifies pen testing by simulating sophisticated cyberattacks to find vulnerabilities within software and networks.

Instead of waiting for hackers to exploit weaknesses, organizations can proactively patch up gaps flagged by AI-generated intelligence.

3. Email Scanning and Safety

Raise your hand if you’ve encountered a suspicious email promising lottery winnings from a Nigerian prince. Thankfully, AI makes email scanning smarter and more effective.

With Natural Language Processing (NLP), AI detects phishing attempts by analyzing email content, tone, and sender information. It can even flag impersonation attempts or embedded malicious links.

4. Scam Detection

Fraudulent activities, be it unauthorized credit card usage or fake identities, are costly to businesses. AI systems are adept at spotting fraudulent behavior by analyzing user patterns and actions in real time.

Companies like banks and e-commerce platforms rely on AI fraud detection systems to identify red flags, saving billions annually.

5. Cyberattack Simulation for Training

Ever heard the phrase “train like you fight”? AI helps security teams train using realistic simulations of cyberattacks. By mimicking the tactics and tools used by hackers, AI-powered simulations prepare organizations for real-life scenarios.

Think of it like a cyber fire drill—only smarter and more tailored to your organization’s infrastructure.

6. Automated Incident Response

AI doesn’t just detect threats. It steps in to resolve them as well. Automated incident response tools powered by AI can isolate affected systems, shut down unauthorized access, and contain malware spread without waiting for human intervention.

This swift, automated action reduces response times and minimizes damage, keeping your systems and data safe.

But There Have to Be Pitfalls of AI in Cybersecurity … Right?

Unfortunately, no technology is without its challenges, and AI has its fair share of hiccups in cybersecurity.

1. False Positives

Flashing “Warning! Malware Detected!” alerts when there’s no real threat? Yep, it happens. False positives are common when AI systems are overly cautious, and while it’s better to be safe than sorry, too many false positives create unnecessary noise. This makes real threats harder to identify.

2. Data Bias

AI is only as good as the data it’s trained on. If the training data includes blind spots or biases, AI can make incorrect predictions, leaving certain vulnerabilities unprotected.

For instance, if an AI tool hasn’t been exposed to specific cyberattack patterns common in a particular industry, it may fail to recognize them in real time.

3. Skills Gap

Implementing AI in cybersecurity requires tech-savvy professionals, but many organizations are facing a skills gap. Experts need to design, train, and maintain AI systems—a task requiring specialized knowledge that’s currently in high demand and short supply.

Closing this gap will be crucial for fully leveraging AI’s potential.

4. Legal Implications

AI in cybersecurity comes with ethical and legal concerns, especially if AI systems accidentally access personal or confidential data during their operations. International regulatory frameworks for AI are still catching up, leaving organizations in a gray area regarding compliance.

5. AI-Powered Arms Race

Here’s a scary thought—what happens when cybercriminals use better AI than organizations can afford? This ongoing arms race puts pressure on businesses to stay ahead, and the high stakes make even minor lapses costly.

6. Over-Reliance

Ultimately, AI is a tool, not a replacement for critical thinking. Over-relying on AI for all cybersecurity operations can leave companies vulnerable if the AI malfunctions or faces unforeseen scenarios.

Find a Balance with Common Angle

AI is transforming cybersecurity, making defenses faster, smarter, and more proactive. While it’s not without challenges, the benefits it offers far outweigh the risks. By pairing AI with skilled human operators, like the team at Common Angle, organizations can strike the perfect balance, using technology to enhance—not replace—human decision-making.

If you’re ready to step up your cybersecurity game plan, try integrating AI tools designed to detect and prevent threats before they happen.

And if all this tech talk feels a bit overwhelming, we’ve got you covered. Reach out to our experts today to explore how AI can safeguard your business!