AI vs. AI: Cybersecurity defense and the modern attack surface

Cybersecurity teams today are facing an AI conundrum: The very tools strengthening their defenses are the same ones arming their adversaries.  

As organizations expand their digital footprint through cloud adoption, remote work and Internet of Things (IoT) deployments, AI and ML have become essential for managing the growing attack surface. But cybercriminals aren't standing still — they're using these very same technologies to create more sophisticated, harder-to-detect attacks. 

What defines today’s attack surface?  

The attack surface encompasses every entry point where unauthorized users (e.g., hackers) could access your network and compromise data. 

Think of your organization like a house — every door, window and access point represents a potential vulnerability. Digital transformation has expanded this surface considerably, as cybersecurity teams now need to consider third-party integrations, supply chain connections and IoT devices across operations. Each connection creates new opportunities for attackers to find their way in. 

As Q-day approaches, quantum computing presents dual realities. Adversaries can collect encrypted data now and decrypt it later once quantum technology matures. Quantum AI can strengthen defenses or enable new attack vectors. This makes post-quantum cryptography adoption urgent. 

AI and ML as your security system’s super-helpers 

AI and ML excel at pattern and anomaly recognition. It’s like having a security guard who can: 

• Monitor network behavior continuously without getting tired 
• Analyze massive data sets in real time 
• Identify unusual access patterns, like off-hours data requests 
• Alert cybersecurity teams before any damage is done 

Plus, through continuous learning, AI-enabled security systems become more effective over time, adapt to new threat patterns as they emerge and help tackle the ever-evolving modern attack surface. 

The adversarial advantage 

On the flip side, cybercriminals are also using AI and ML to find new ways to break into systems. They can: 

• Automate reconnaissance to find vulnerabilities faster 
• Create more convincing social engineering attacks 
• Develop adaptive malware that evades traditional detection 
• Generate deepfakes for sophisticated impersonation 
• Poison AI training data to compromise defensive systems 

It's like a game of cat and mouse, with both sides constantly trying to evolve their use of AI to outsmart each other.  

Balancing human and machine capabilities 

AI and ML strengthen defenses, but human oversight keeps systems working as designed. Rogue AI introduces new risks: Adversaries can manipulate machine learning models or deploy AI-powered attacks. Cybersecurity teams should ensure AI systems are working as designed, validate AI-generated alerts and adapt strategies as new attack vectors emerge. The sheer volume of security data can overwhelm even the most advanced systems, making human judgement crucial for strategic prioritization and decision-making. 

Security teams must validate AI-generated alerts to distinguish genuine threats from false positives that could overwhelm response capabilities. People can interpret context that AI might miss — like whether unusual access patterns reflect legitimate business activity or potential breaches. 

So, are you ready to fight AI with AI (and people)? 

It's clear that the cybersecurity landscape will continue to evolve as AI and ML functionality advances. Teams that stay informed about both defensive and offensive AI applications will be in the best position to protect their assets. 

Remember: attackers only need to succeed once, while defenders must maintain protection continuously across all entry points to keep the digital house safe. But here's the encouraging part: AI doesn't just level the playing field. When implemented thoughtfully, it can tip the scales in your favor. 

With the right combination of AI technology and human expertise and awareness, you can build robust defenses against current and emerging threats. 

Prioritize the most serious threats by quantifying your risks. The Continuous Threat Exposure Management solution provides modern attack surface management, vulnerability management and threat intelligence.

Learn more