Intelligent Automation: The New Cybersecurity Essential – 107.180.56.147

Guest editorial by Zac Amos, Features Editor at ReHack Magazine

Reliable cybersecurity is often a matter of capitalizing on the latest technologies.

As cyber threats grow in number and severity, organizations must take advantage of every resource to stay safe.

Intelligent automation is one of the most critical of these resources today.

Automation as a whole has seen impressive adoption across industries and processes. However, cybersecurity remains comparatively under-automated, with just 37% of organizations automating key security processes. Businesses must close that gap to stay secure in the current security environment.

Intelligent automation is a broad category, but it generally involves using artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic process automation (RPA) to automate and optimize various processes. Combining RPA’s efficiency and workload reduction with AI’s continuous improvement makes automation more versatile and effective.

Intelligent automation has applications across five main sectors in the cybersecurity industry, ranging from incident response to certificate management. Specific applications within these sectors include automated network monitoring, simulating attacks, automatic compliance, and attribute-based access control.

In these use cases, intelligent automation accelerates and refines processes where manual alternatives may be slow or inaccurate. Because these technologies learn from increased data and experience over time, they become more effective the longer you use them.

(See how the story of work started a long time ago, on a Monday… As people got better at work, they built tools to work more efficiently, they even built computers to work smarter, but still, they couldn’t do enough work! The more work they did, the more work they created, and not the good kind. One day a very smart person figured out how to put the fun back in work, this is their story… Courtesy of UiPath and YouTube.)

Many businesses may already recognize intelligent automation’s potential but still lag in adoption, often from skepticism over returns or concerns over technological complexity.

However, security automation is no longer an advantage but a necessity. Here’s why.

Threats Are Growing Too Quickly

Much of the need for intelligent automation in cybersecurity stems from cybercrime’s rapid growth. Digital threats are evolving too quickly for manual security controls to keep up.

Part of that is because cybercriminals are already making extensive use of AI and automation, leaving security teams outnumbered and outgunned.

Cybercriminals’ AI adoption means attacks are becoming increasingly common and sophisticated. Security forces need a similar speed of innovation to stay safe, and manually keeping pace with this trend is virtually impossible.

Organizations need ongoing improvements of AI and the efficiency of RPA to keep on top of these developing attacks.

There Aren’t Enough Security Specialists

Compounding this issue is the ongoing shortage of IT and security workers. The cybersecurity industry faces a workforce gap of 3.4 million employees, despite the sector employing more workers than ever.

As businesses continue to hire and retain security specialists, it’ll become increasingly difficult to keep up with rising threats.

The skills gap also creates a dangerous cycle where fewer workers lead to increased workloads, creating burnout, driving employees away, leading to higher breaches, and so on.

Given that cycle, companies can’t expect to address this issue with human employees alone. Intelligent automation can reduce manual workloads to prevent burnout and help teams mitigate more threats despite having fewer available workers.

(Get the inside track on how the lack of cyber skills affects you, your team, and your organization. Courtesy of Mandiant and YouTube.)

People Make Mistakes

Even if you can retain a large enough security force to manage your workloads manually, manual processes are prone to error.

More than half of workers under 30 have made mistakes while working remotely, and 43% of employees have made errors leading to cybersecurity repercussions.

Many security processes — like network monitoring and threat detection — are repetitive, data-heavy, and tedious. That kind of work makes it easier for even experienced employees to make critical errors out of tiredness, distraction, or boredom, especially with stressful workloads.

By contrast, intelligent automation delivers the same accuracy and speed every time, minimizing false positives and negatives.

AI Delivers Proven Results

As more businesses have embraced security automation, the difference it makes has become more evident. Data shows AI and automation effectively mitigate cyber threats, an advantage that’s growing increasingly difficult to overlook.

IBM’s 2022 Cost of a Data Breach report quantified these benefits. It found organizations with a mature AI and automation program identified breaches 28 days faster than those without this technology, saving $3.05 million on average.

Those savings were the largest of any strategy or technology, and even partially deployed AI programs resulted in improvements over entirely manual processes.

Cybercrime has grown too large and complex for humans to defend against, especially amid ongoing talent shortages. As the cost of these attacks increases, the imperative to embrace intelligent automation becomes all the more urgent.

Intelligent automation provides the speed, accuracy, and workload reduction teams need to maximize their security resources.

If you can successfully deploy these technologies, you can remain safe from modern threats, potentially saving millions of dollars.

About the Author

Zac Amos is a tech writer specializing in AI and automation applications in cybersecurity.

His work has been featured on DZone, the Global Cybersecurity Alliance, Unite.AI, and more, and he is also the Features Editor at ReHack. Follow him on Twitter or LinkedIn to read his latest articles.

American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now entering it’s Eighth Year, continues to recognize industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.

• The UiPath platform increases the workflow efficiency of companies, empowering them to become more profitable and productive.

• UiPath achieved In Process status from the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) in April 2022, enabling its end-to-end automation platform to be used to securely and transparently process data, speed operations, empower government workers, and improve the customer experience for the public—a top priority of the current White House administration.

• UiPath automation is built upon six categories: discover, build, manage, run, engage, and deliver, and through the UiPath Automation Cloud, companies can instantly begin accessing SaaS robots, choosing between VM Automation Cloud Robot or Serverless Automation Cloud Robot, and removes the need for companies to use their own cloud or physical infrastructure.

• Importantly, every UiPath service is in scope for SOC 2, and Automation Cloud HIPAA attestation also helps organizations adopt UiPath cloud confidently.

(What is Robotic Process Automation (RPA)? Learn how automation software can end repetitive tasks and make digital transformation a reality. Courtesy of UiPath and YouTube.)

• UiPath’s efforts are helping U.S. businesses grow and modernizing government agencies to provide citizen services more efficiently and accurately. Finally, UiPath provides businesses and agencies the flexibility to readjust and prioritize the customer experience. 

• *UiPath is a new competitor to the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program.

In addition, the continually evolving ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program will highlight the trail of Accomplished Women in Leadership in 2023 and the Significance and Positive Impact of Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in our Next Generation of Government and Industry Leaders. #MentorshipMatters

So be on the lookout for exciting upcoming announcements of Speakers, Presenters, Book Signing Opportunities, and Attendees at the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon in November of 2023 in New York City!

Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.

Submit your category recommendation for consideration to Michael Madsen, AST Publisher, at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.

These challenges have become a national priority with an influx of investments in innovative new technologies and systems.

Enter American Security Today, the #1 publication and media platform in the Government Security and Homeland Security fields, with a circulation of over 75,000 readers and many tens of thousands more who visit our AST website at www.americansecuritytoday.com each month.

The 2022 exclusive sold-out ‘ASTORS’ luncheon featured representatives of law enforcement, public safety, and industry leaders who came together to honor the selfless service of those who stand on the front lines and those who stand beside them – providing the capabilities and technologies to create a safer world for generations to come.

Last year marked the 20th anniversary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which came out in force to discuss comprehensive collaborations between private and public sectors that have led to the development of intelligence and technologies which serve to protect our nation.

The keynote address was provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner (DEAC) Diane Sabatino, who described the changes to CBP through the tragedy of 9/11 and the relentless commitment to its mission and ongoing investment in the latest technologies and innovations to protect our borders and Homeland.

The resounding theme of the DEAC’s remarks was her pride in the women and men of the CBP and their families who support them.

AST was also joined by Legendary Police Commissioner William Bratton, who spoke about his love for the City of New York, the Profession of law enforcement to which he has dedicated his life, and for which he continues to drive thought leadership and innovation.

New York City Police Department (NYPD) Chief of Department Kenneth Corey, came out to address Luncheon attendees and shared some of his experiences and the changes in policing he’s witnessed over his more than three decades of service.

FDNY Chief Joseph Jardin honored the men and women of the FDNY, not only those who currently serve but all of those who have selflessly served, with special recognition of those lost on 9/11.

Chief Jardin spoke about the continuing health battle of many following 9/11 with cancer and respiratory disease, yet now knowing the full consequences, would not have made a different decision to respond.

As Chief Jardin noted, mission-driven service is the lifeblood of every firefighter, volunteer, and sworn member, and has been so throughout the history of the Fire Service.

Former head of the FBI’s active shooter program, Katherine Schweit joined AST to sign complimentary copies of her book, ‘STOP THE KILLING: How to End the Mass Shooting Crisis,’ thanks to the generosity of our 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Sponsors. 

We were pleased to welcome the esteemed New York City Fire Department (FDNY); the New York City Police Department (NYPD); and the NYC Hospital Police,  as well as Executive Management from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and many other DHS agencies, Federal law enforcement agencies, and private/public partnerships such as the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE), the 30×30 Initiative, a coalition of professionals advancing the representation of women in policing; and Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) (rail safety advocates).

The prestigious Annual ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program highlights the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.

In 2022 over 240 distinguished guests representing Federal, State, and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms gathered from across North America, Europe, and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields.

Each year, to keep our communities safe and secure, security dealers, installers, integrators, and consultants, along with corporate, government, and law enforcement/first responder practitioners, convene in New York City to network, learn and evaluate the latest technologies and solutions from premier exhibiting brands at ISC East, the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management Expo (NDEM EXPO), and the ASIS NYC Expo.

ISC East is the Northeast’s leading security & public safety event, hosted in collaboration with sponsor Security Industry Association (SIA) and in partnership with ASIS NYC.

Corporate firms, the majority of which return year to year to build upon their Legacy of Wins, include:

Advanced Detection Technologies, AMAROK, ATI Systems, Axis Communications, Automatic Systems, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., Cellbusters, CornellCookson, CyberArk  Fortior Solutions, guardDog.ai, Hanwha Techwin of America, High Rise Escape Systems, IPVideo Corporation, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, NEC National Security Systems, NICE Public Safety, OnSolve, PureTech Systems, Quantum Corporation, Rave Mobile Safety, Regroup Mass Notification, Robotic Assistance Devices, Rajant Corporation, SafeLogic, Select Engineering Services LLC, Singlewire Software, SolarWinds Worldwide, Teledyne FLIR, Valor Systems, and West Virginia American Access Control Systems, just to name a few!

The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old-school basics to what is Today – a fast-changing security landscape.

American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State, and local levels of government as well as firms allied to the government.

American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers’ eyes throughout the story with cutting-edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.

AST Digital Publications are distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals, in federal, state, local, and private security sectors.

‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’

AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.

Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture, and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.

These experts are from Government at the federal, state, and local levels as well as from private firms allied to the government.

AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website, and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.

AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.

Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.

The Annual CHAMPIONS edition reviews ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firm’s products and services, including video interviews and more.

The 2022 CHAMPIONS serves as your Go-To Source through the year for ‘The Best of 2022 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today – and can satisfy your agency’s and/or organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.

Readers Also Like:  eDreams ODIGEO to pioneer generative AI in ecommerce with ... - PR Newswire

From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection, and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware, and Networking Security – to name a few), the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION has what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitigate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.

It also features guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders and recognized firms in the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.

For more information on All Things American Security Today, as well as the 2023 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.