The advent of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has ushered in a new era of innovation and possibilities. From assisting a content marketer in writing a blog post to creating a headshot for a social media profile, GenAI is here to stay and make the future of work more efficient. However, as with any nascent technology finding its footing, GenAI brings both opportunities and risks. As the working world embraces its new digital counterpart, so do the cybersecurity issues that are attached.
Risks of intellectual property (IP) leaks, copyright infringement and trade secrets exposure are all top-of-mind for organizations and individuals alike. There is a desperate need for new strategies that can effectively mitigate these issues, but there’s been little to no guidance from the biggest and most used players in the industry. What’s a cybersecurity professional to do without a baseline technology that implements safety at its core?
The Evolving Landscape of Security Concerns
Since the widespread adoption of the internet, bad actors have developed methods of exploitation far faster than cybersecurity professionals have been able to implement blockades against them. Yet, what happens when the threat isn’t an illicit actor, but an employee trying to remain efficient through automating part of their work? Unbeknownst to many, GenAI not only pulls from its data lakes, but it can also use the information you feed it to inform future decision-making and output for all users of the model — something that makes AI so unique and helps its user experience better over time. The issue is how the input data is stored and can potentially be recycled.
The foremost cybersecurity issue for enterprises using GenAI is the risk of IP leakage and infringement. Professionals who utilize AI in their workstreams can unintentionally be putting the company in danger of legal issues ranging from personal data mismanagement to unintentional disclosure of confidential information. Current security protocols and tools don’t account for these situations. Sure, a company can block employees from accessing specific GenAI models via their browsers or implement policies that would reprimand those found using these tools, but there are numerous workarounds. New models are released daily, and personal devices used for work are a common occurrence.
Top Cybersecurity Innovators Agree
The paranoia about GenAI isn’t niche. According to a report by Proof Point, close to 60% of corporate board members have concerns about the use of artificial intelligence, specifically around the leaking of confidential information uploaded by employees.
Conducting its own study, aurascape.ai surveyed over 25 Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and Chief Information Officers (CIOs) representing leading companies across diverse industries such as financial services, technology, and retail. The responses were closely aligned, finding that existing cybersecurity measures relying on legacy approaches, like regular expressions (regex) and rules, were insufficient to handle the “long tail” of AI applications. These professionals made it abundantly clear that new security solutions are vital to address the contemporary threat of AI data leakage.
GenAI Architecture is Paramount, but Largely Unavailable
Typically operating between layer 2 and layer 7 networking protocols, current security solutions normally elicit pattern matching as a primary mode of defense. As traffic on the internet shifts toward natural language communication between endpoints with significant Graphic Processing Unit (GPU) acceleration, these strategies are simply no longer effective. Combatting the pressing need for new tactics, enterprises must adopt a new philosophy. A ground-up vision of security.
GenAI-based architecture is a crucial component in the future of cybersecurity practices. Built to address the unique challenges posed by this emerging technology, adopting this innovative approach allows organizations to integrate artificial intelligence into their day-to-day life while ensuring its safe and secure utilization. The fastest to adopt this paradigm will win out against competitors.
Is There a Way Forward?
As GenAI develops at a rapid pace, it’s difficult for cybersecurity professionals to keep hope. Some CISOs are doubling down on their old strategies, blocking the use of GenAI SaaS and thus its opportunities from a company’s development. While this may offer a sense of control, it leaves a huge gap between the speed of innovation. On the other hand, there are those who choose to develop their own on-prem or cloud models. However, this path involves significant capital and talent investment, often reinventing solutions that already exist.
In the midst of these challenges, a forward-looking strategy emerges, one that leverages the strengths of GenAI while minimizing its risks. This involves the adoption of advanced encryption methods, the establishment of robust data handling protocols, and the integration of machine learning models that can predict and prevent potential security breaches. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation, organizations can not only keep pace with the rapid evolution of GenAI but also turn these technological advancements into a competitive edge. This approach requires a collaborative effort among cybersecurity teams, developers, and GenAI experts to ensure that the digital workforce of tomorrow is secure, resilient, and aligned with the overarching goals of innovation and growth.
Tomorrow’s Solution Today
Enterprises facing the dual challenges of leveraging GenAI’s potential while ensuring robust cybersecurity must find innovative solutions. Platforms uniquely designed to not only integrate seamlessly with existing security frameworks but also enhance them with the advanced capabilities of GenAI and LLM technologies are essential.
At aurascape.ai, we emphasize the importance of leveraging GenAI and LLM technologies to enhance existing security applications and use cases. Our team has deep expertise in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, and brings the latest techniques to businesses moving as fast as the speed of change.
As we stand at the crossroads of technological evolution, it is crucial for industry leaders, security professionals, and organizations to collaborate, share insights, and collectively shape a secure future for GenAI. Through strategic measures and a commitment to responsible innovation, we can harness the power of GenAI for a brighter and more secure tomorrow.
– Patrick Xu, Co-founder and VP of Software Engineering, & Sanjay Gupta, Chief Strategy Officer, aurascape.ai
To learn more, visit aurascape.ai.
