From The Desk of the CISO

Defending Against AI Malware

By Rob Ashcraft, CISO at KeyStone Solutions

Virus bugs attached to computer motherboard

The rise of AI-powered malware has added yet another layer of complexity and concern for small businesses and has been a consistent topic of conversations with my customers over the last year. These sophisticated attacks leverage machine learning to evade traditional countermeasures, making these risks a top priority for business owners. As a cybersecurity professional, I work with my team to ensure our defensive techniques continually improve to meet the evolving threats. I want to share some thoughts on defending against AI malware.

One key strategy is placing even more emphasis on employee training. Keeping your staff educated and up to date on how to  identify phishing emails, recognize suspicious websites, and understand the risks of clicking on unknown links is paramount. Regular cybersecurity awareness training can significantly reduce the likelihood of human error, a common entry point for malware. Additionally, strong passwords and multi-factor authentication should be mandatory for all employees.

Another essential tactic is to ensure robust cybersecurity is designed and implemented throughout your network and systems. Configuring firewalls to filter incoming and outgoing network traffic is a fundamental step. Regularly updating antivirus and anti-malware software is also critical, as these tools are constantly evolving to combat new threats. Investing in intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS / IPS) to monitor your network activity for suspicious patterns, anomalous behavior, and proactively block attacks should also be a serious consideration.

Finally, staying informed of new threats is vital. I encourage business professionals to subscribe to cybersecurity newsletters, attend industry conferences, and leverage resources from well trained, cybersecurity professionals to stay abreast of emerging AI-powered threats, as well as best practices for risk mitigation. By combining employee education, robust security measures, continuous vigilance, and use of cybersecurity professionals, small businesses can significantly enhance their resilience against AI malware and build resilience for business operations.