Shil Sircar, Senior VP of Engineering and Data Science at Blackberry, discusses machine learning in cybersecurity, the evolution from ML to generative AI, preventive AI, behavioral analysis, and the future of AI in cybersecurity.
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Quick takeaways
The evolution from machine learning (ML) to generative AI in cybersecurity has been facilitated by advancements in cloud computing and increased availability of compute resources.
Defenders in cybersecurity must leverage AI and machine learning to stay ahead of evolving threats, using historical data to train models and detect/predict threats accurately, while attackers continuously search for vulnerabilities to exploit.
Deep dives
The Evolution from ML to Generative AI in Cybersecurity
The guest speaker, Shil Surkar, discusses the evolution of machine learning (ML) to generative AI in the field of cybersecurity. He highlights that ML algorithms have been available for a long time but have become more accessible due to advancements in cloud computing and increased availability of compute resources. With these advancements, ML algorithms can be trained on vast datasets and applied in various consumer applications. In the context of cybersecurity, ML has been useful for predictive modeling, which is crucial for preventing malware attacks. Shil emphasizes the need for preventive AI and discusses the importance of predictive AI as a defense mechanism against threats. He also mentions the prevalence of generative AI, which allows for the generation of new content based on learned experiences. Overall, Shil highlights that ML and AI are essential tools in the field of cybersecurity and emphasizes the need for their adoption to effectively protect against evolving threats.
Attacker vs. Defender Dynamics in the Age of AI
Shil Surkar discusses the dynamics between attackers and defenders in the context of AI and cybersecurity. He explains that the consumerization of AI has given attackers an edge since they can explore new techniques and experiment without significant consequences. On the other hand, defenders must be cautious and thorough in implementing new technologies, which slows down their response time. Shil emphasizes the importance of defenders leveraging AI and machine learning to stay ahead of evolving threats. He also introduces the concept of temporal advantage, where defenders use historical data to train models and test them against newer malware. Through this approach, defenders aim to detect and predict threats with high accuracy, while attackers continuously search for vulnerabilities to exploit. Shil concludes that while attackers may have a slight advantage currently, defenders can progress by combining AI technologies and continuously adapting their defenses.
Behavioral Analysis and Preventive AI in Cybersecurity
One essential aspect of cybersecurity is understanding and predicting malicious behaviors. Shil Surkar highlights the significance of behavioral analysis in preventing cybersecurity threats. He explains that rather than focusing on synthetic malware, the emphasis should be on modeling the sequential behaviors exhibited by various malware types. By understanding these behaviors, defenders can create models that predict and prevent threats effectively. Shil notes that successful preventive AI relies on accurately identifying patterns and behaviors that indicate potential threats. With the help of generative AI, defenders can generate sequences of behavior for testing and validation, ensuring that models generalize well and can detect both known and novel threats. Shil highlights the importance of continuous refinement and competition within the modeling process to enhance the effectiveness of cybersecurity defenses.
The Future of AI and Cybersecurity
Shil Surkar shares his insights on the future of AI in the field of cybersecurity. He anticipates a rise in tools and platforms that make malware development easier and more accessible, increasing the number of targeted attacks. Shil also expects faster detection and exploitation of vulnerabilities, as attackers have the ability to quickly identify and exploit new weaknesses. In response, defenders must adopt machine learning and data science techniques to defend against evolving threats. Shil emphasizes the importance of AI for making meaningful decisions and encourages the adoption of AI technologies in cybersecurity systems. He concludes by recommending the audience explore the products and resources provided by the Silence AI team to stay ahead in the ever-changing landscape of cybersecurity.
In this episode of Unsupervised Learning, we talked to Shil Sircar. Shil is the Senior VP of Engineering and Data Science at BlackBerry, and we talked about:
- Machine Learning in Cybersecurity
- The Evolution from ML to Generative AI
- Predictive vs. Generative Models
- Preventive AI in Cybersecurity
- The Cylance AI Platform
- Attacker vs. Defender Dynamics
- Temporal Advantage in Threat Detection
- Synthetic Malware Generation
- Behavioral Analysis for Cybersecurity
- And the Future of AI in Cybersecurity
So with that, here's our conversation with Sil Sircar…