As technology advances, so does how cybercriminals can exploit it. The cost of cybercrime has increased to over USD$3 trillion yearly, which is expected to rise to over USD$5 trillion by 2024. As such, the need to have a robust cybersecurity infrastructure is more crucial than ever. 

One way in which organizations are looking to improve their cybersecurity posture is by utilizing AI and machine learning. Machine learning is a subset of AI that deals with the ability of machines to learn from data without being explicitly programmed. AI and machine learning are playing a significant role in helping to improve cybersecurity in several ways, such as the following:   

Using Ensemble Learning To Make Predictions 

Ensemble learning is the practice of training multiple models to make predictions. The predictions made by the different models are then combined to produce a more accurate forecast. This technique can be used in cybersecurity to make better predictions about future attacks. There are several ensemble learning methods, but the most common is bagging and boosting.  

Bagging is a method where multiple models are trained on different subsets of the data. The predictions made by each model are then combined to make a final prediction. The advantage of this method is that it can reduce overfitting and variance. 

Boosting is a sequential approach where a new model is trained based on the training instances of the previous model. The new model learns from the mistakes of the past model. 

These two ensemble learning methods play a significant role in cybersecurity by ensuring that models are not overfitted to the data. They can make accurate predictions and study previous attack patterns and vulnerabilities in the system. It can then provide a solution to correct the vulnerabilities and prevent attacks. 

If you want to learn more about these ensemble learning methods, you can read this article about bagging vs. boosting.  

Improving Cyber Threat Intelligence 

AI and machine learning can also be used to improve cyber threat intelligence. The use of machine learning can help analysts to sift through large amounts of data to identify patterns and trends. For example, when conducting smart contracts audits, large amounts of data need to be analyzed, such as the bytecode, transaction history, and network traffic. The use of machine learning can help analysts quickly identify patterns and trends in this data that may indicate a vulnerability or attack. 

Additionally, when conducting penetration testing, AI can play an essential role in identifying potential targets. The use of AI can help to automate the process of conducting investigations and gathering information about potential targets. This information can then prioritize which targets should be tested first.

Automating Security Processes 

AI and machine learning can automate security processes, such as identifying potential threats, analyzing data, and responding to incidents. The use of automation can help reduce the workload of security analysts and allow them to focus on other critical tasks. Additionally, it can help to improve the accuracy of security processes and reduce the chances of human error. 

One of the areas where automation significantly improves cybersecurity is in identifying smart contract vulnerabilities and attacks. This is because some smart contract vulnerabilities, such as front-running, can be hard to detect and happen quickly. Using AI and machine learning can help automate the process of identifying these vulnerabilities so that they can be fixed before an attack happens.

User Identification And Verification

User identification and verification is the process of ensuring that a user is who they say they are. This is usually done through the use of a username and password. However, this method can be susceptible to attacks, such as phishing. Using AI and machine learning can help improve the security of user identification and verification. 

For example, machine learning can help identify patterns in user behavior, such as the time of day they log in, the location they log in from, and the devices they use. These patterns can then be used to verify the identity of a user. Additionally, the use of machine learning can help to identify anomalies in user behavior. These anomalies can indicate a malicious actor trying to access a system. 

AI can also be used in biometric identification, such as face scanning or Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, to ensure that users are who they say they are. This procedure will help eliminate malicious individuals trying to access the system and help curb fraudulent activities.

Conclusion

The role of AI and machine learning in cybersecurity is growing. AI and machine learning can help automate security processes, improve threat intelligence, and verify user identification and verification. All these roles play a significant part in the overall security of a system. And so, if you wish to build a robust security system, keeping up with these trends is crucial.

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