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The Steps to Take to Prevent AI from Being Used Against You

Steps to Take to Prevent AI
Cybersecurity, Data Backup, Security, , , ,

Artificial intelligence has dramatically changed how we run our businesses, mostly for the better. Unfortunately, AI has also brought us bigger and far more alarming security risks, since hackers are now using this technology for their nefarious purposes. In fact, there has been a significant jump in the number of data breaches recently. Today we will show you some steps to take to prevent AI from using your business.

From a steady average of 1,105 data breaches annually from 2014 to 2020, the number suddenly escalated to more than 1,800 a year starting in 2021. Analysts attribute this to the now prevalent use of AI tools in cyberattacks.

The numbers are alarming, but the good news is that we can do something about it. Business owners can follow these steps to protect their businesses and employees from AI-powered attacks.

Know What You Are Up Against

One of the steps to take to prevent AI from attacking you is through awareness. Awareness is your first line of defense in cybersecurity. You don’t need to master the techniques that hackers use, but you should at least be aware of the ways they are using AI so that you can understand the risks involved.

Cybercriminals are now using AI algorithms and tools to create malware, automate attacks, generate phishing emails, and avoid detection, among other applications. Many hackers are also taking advantage of the vulnerabilities of AI-based security systems, using them to gain unlawful access and create a security breach.

Keep Your Systems Updated

Hackers are always quick to get their hands on the latest technology, like AI, used for illegal activities. By regularly updating your systems and making sure you have the most advanced security solutions, you can fight off the biggest AI threats that might come your way. You can’t be complacent just because you had a reliable security system installed years ago. Stay at the forefront of security by taking this step and updating your hardware and firmware regularly to prevent AI attacks.

Conduct Employee Training as a Step to take to prevent AI Attacks

The primary target of AI-based cyberattacks is your employees because they are the easiest barrier to get through. This is why it is paramount that you train your staff thoroughly, especially on how to identify the signs of online attacks. They must be prudent when opening messages and watch for unusual social media activity. It is also important to instill the importance of cybersecurity in your workforce, as these attacks can directly affect them and not just the organization.

Fortify Your Security Controls

Cybercriminals have created new threats to security using AI tools, but cybersecurity experts have also developed new security controls that can help businesses like yours keep these threats under control. If you want to prevent AI from being used against you, it is mandatory to implement these superior security controls, which include multifactor authentication (MFA), role-based access control (RBAC), biometrics, data encryption, and many more. Of course, you can’t forget about using anti-malware software, which remains a viable tool for keeping systems free from malicious programs.

Use AI to Your Advantage

Hackers can use AI against you, but you can also use AI to boost your security against hackers. There is a good side and a bad side to AI, and you can leverage the technology for your own benefit. Take advantage of AI features to enhance the different aspects of your security system, such as threat detection, incident response, automated compliance auditing, and many more.

Collaborate with Other Entities

There is strength in numbers, and this particularly rings true in the fight against AI-based attacks. First, you must partner with a trusted security expert, like an MSP specializing in cybersecurity solutions. They can make sure your business is protected against AI and ML threats from all fronts. Also, you can collaborate with other businesses like yours so you can share ideas and create viable solutions to mitigate the risks created by AI.

Conclusion on The Steps to Take to Prevent AI From Using You

There are already so many changes in society, both positive and negative, brought about by developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning. But the fact is that these technologies are still in their infancy. As AI continues to present new benefits for society at large, it will also bring with it a new range of risks, and businesses must prepare, starting by following the steps we have listed above.

It can be overwhelming, but that is what we are here for. If you need to learn more about AI and its role in cybersecurity, our on-demand webinar can help. You can also discover plenty of information in our Cybersecurity E-book by downloading it HERE. If you are ready to discuss making upgrades to your current security system, we can arrange a consultation. Whatever you need, we have your back, and we will make sure that AI technology works for you and not against you.

Emerging Threat: AI-Powered Social Engineering

AI Social Engineering
Cybersecurity, Security, Technology, , , ,

Artificial intelligence has brought many advantages to different aspects of modern life. This new technology allows for the fast and accurate analysis of massive amounts of data. It can eliminate task redundancy and minimize human error. Businesses have benefited from this powerful tool, as it enables them to accomplish more while using fewer resources. However, AI-powered social engineering also brings with it a plethora of new security risks.

It is an impressive bit of technology, but it is not perfect, and hackers take advantage of its vulnerabilities for their malicious purposes. Also, it didn’t take long for cybercriminals to figure out how to leverage AI tools, especially with social engineering.

What Is Social Engineering?

Before we bring AI into the picture, let us first talk about what social engineering is and why it is considered by many to be one of the most dangerous security threats.

It is the use of manipulative or deceptive tactics to entice unwitting victims to do something they won’t normally do, like divulging sensitive information or confidential data, granting access to unauthorized entities, or performing other actions that compromise the company’s security.

Social engineering comes in many forms, the most prevalent of which is phishing. Other methods are pretexting, baiting, and CEO fraud. When using these strategies, hackers bank on human error or weaknesses in human nature. It has always been a very effective method of hacking, but now, with powerful AI tools, social engineering has climbed to an entirely new level.

AI-Powered Social Engineering Techniques

Generative AI tools have taken on much of the challenge that hackers used to face with social engineering. Through a range of AI algorithms, the techniques can now be implemented faster, more efficiently, and on a much wider scale than ever before.

Personalized Phishing Campaigns

Before AI, phishing emails had a generic look. They would not immediately draw your attention because it looks like something standard or random. But with AI, hackers can now create highly personalized and more convincing phishing messages that are more likely to get a response from the recipients. They can gather and analyze huge amounts of data from all over the internet, which helps make the emails seem credible.

Voice and Facial Recognition

It’s certainly fun to play with apps that give you AI-generated likenesses of your photos. However, hackers will use the voice and facial recognition technology in these AI apps for their social engineering schemes. You might have a video call from someone you know, not realizing that you are talking to an AI-generated video of them. Hackers can easily do this using Deepfake technology, which not only manipulates images but audio as well.

Automated Social Media Manipulation

Another capability of AI that hackers find extremely useful is to emulate human behavior. Through data analysis and machine learning, AI can create fake social media profiles, which can then spread fake news or sway public opinion. Even worse, hackers can automate all of this so it can happen quickly and result in far-reaching disastrous consequences.

Social Engineering Chatbots

When live chat features came into use, customers would chat with a live person in real time. An actual customer service representative answered your questions or would assist you with whatever concern you had. But these days, it’s likely that you are only talking to a chatbot, which can give very human-like responses. Hackers use similar chatbots, except, instead of providing information, their main goal is to gather data or deceive unsuspecting individuals.

How to Keep Threats at Bay

There is no way to stop cybercriminals from using AI tools for their malicious gain, especially since these tools have proven to be very effective. Despite the rising instances of AI-powered social engineering, you can take proactive measures to keep your business secure.

Education and Awareness

Ai-powered or not, social engineering tactics are highly reliant on human negligence. So it makes sense to keep these threats under control through constant education and awareness. Businesses must conduct regular training to keep employees updated on the latest cybersecurity threats and to remind them to stay vigilant and never let their guard down.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

The more layers of security you have, the harder it will be for hackers to get into your system, even if they use the most advanced AI algorithms. Multi-factor authentication gives hackers an extra hurdle to overcome when they try to get into your system.

AI-Powered Security Solutions 

If hackers are using AI to boost their social engineering game, there is no reason you shouldn’t use AI to enhance your company’s security solutions. With artificial intelligence, it is a two-way street. You can either fear it or use it to your advantage. If implemented properly, an AI-powered cybersecurity system can give you an impeccable defense against any attack that online criminals might throw your way.

Final Thoughts on AI-Powered Social Engineering

There are multiple ways that cybercriminals can leverage AI tools for their social engineering strategies. But there are just as many ways by which you can build a formidable defense against these attacks. To learn more about what you can do, download our Cybersecurity E-book. Call us anytime so we can send you more information or schedule a free consultation!

Is Your Organization Prepared to Respond to a Security Incident?

Security Incident
Cybersecurity, Security, , ,

One cybersecurity incident takes place every 14 seconds. Contrary to common assumptions, hackers are not only attacking big businesses. Everyone is now a target, from multinational corporations to small local businesses. With no discernible attack pattern, it’s hard to tell who the next victim will be. Owners must prepare all organizations with a cyber-attack response in case of a security incident.

Importance of a Security Incident Response Plan

A ready response to a security incident saves you precious time when faced with an online threat. You have already developed the plan. You just need to execute the actions, so there won’t be any need for second-guessing or unnecessary and costly delays.

An incident response plan, also called a data breach response plan,

will prevent further data loss or system damage, minimize downtime, cut financial losses, and help preserve your reputation among clients. Of course, it also helps your business get back on its feet as quickly as possible.

How to Create a Security Incident Response Plan

Creating a security incident response plan is a lengthy process that you should start long before a breach happens. It is not something left for the last minute when you’re in imminent danger. So here are the fundamental steps that you should take.

1. Assemble an incident response team.

Select competent individuals who can immediately take action during a security incident emergency. Make sure everyone is fully aware of their tasks. Enlist external assistance if necessary.

2. Backup your data.

Breaches typically target an organization’s data either to steal it, destroy it, or get unauthorized access for malicious purposes. Whatever happens to your data, you should always have a secure backup to fall back on.

3. Monitor your system.

Vigilant monitoring alerts you of online threats before they escalate. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems and big data analytics can ensure rapid detection to safeguard your system and minimize damage.

4. Prepare contingency plans.

These are the actions, and processes to execute when the security incident crisis starts. These would constitute a large part of your organization’s incident response plan. Here, you must include all the processes needed to shut down the system, contain and assess the damage, and notify customers of the situation.

5. Practice simulations.

Preparing a response differs from carrying out the plans and strategies. Besides educating your employees on what to do in case of a security incident, you must also conduct regular simulations. This process will sharpen their responses and train them to take a calm approach when handling the situation.

6. Check and update regularly.

Cybersecurity threats evolve rapidly. A reliable response strategy today might be worthless in a few months. To keep your security incident response plan relevant and suitable, regularly check it and update variable elements like contact details, processes, and technology as needed.

Boost Your Defenses against Security Incidents

Preparedness to respond to a security incident is vital. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg of your cybersecurity strategy. There are many other ways of boosting your organization’s defenses, such as training your employees regularly and making them aware of the importance of cybersecurity. You can also restrict access to sensitive data, tighten the perimeter of your IT infrastructure, and enforce a strict BYOD policy.

Many recent security issues arise from using personally owned devices for work-related matters. You can mitigate such risks by implementing a comprehensive BYOD policy that outlines specific requirements, restrictions, and sanctions. Not sure how to create a policy from scratch? We have a BYOD policy template right here that you can download for free and customize to match your company’s needs. Contact us now if you need additional help!

Business Cloud Migration, The Best Move to Make Today

Business cloud migration
Cybersecurity, Security, Technology, , , , ,

The past few years have been all about business cloud migration. As the needs of businesses continue to grow, it has become more tedious and expensive to keep up if you rely only on your on-site business resources. But thanks to cloud technology, you can outsource many business processes to cloud-based providers. This freedom means you can grow your business with less effort and expense!

Why Some Business Owners Are Reluctant to Migrate

The more courageous business owners have immediately leaped since the cloud was first introduced in 2019, while many others have gradually followed suit. But to this day, many businesses still stick with their on-premises resources for their operations. Why is this so? It’s because of fears about the cloud, many of which are unfounded.

The most common fear is that the business cloud migration might put security and privacy at risk. Many business owners think the cloud is a public domain where hackers roam freely. While there are cybercriminals everywhere, cloud providers have tight security measures to help keep you and your data protected.

Other business owners hesitate because they fear cloud services will be costly to maintain or too confusing to use. Again, these fears are speculative. Cloud solutions are much less expensive than investing in on-premises equipment and services. Most of it is very easy to navigate, particularly when you work with a reliable MSP.

What Businesses Can Gain from the Cloud

Once you get past your fears, you will see the wealth of opportunities you can gain from business cloud migration. For many who have already migrated, the number one advantage is scalability. Scaling your business up or down is so much easier with the cloud. Because of the flexibility of the cloud options, you won’t have to worry about having insufficient funds or resources.

There is also the matter of cutting back on significant spending. A cloud service provider will typically charge you for the services that you use. You won’t end up paying for a whole package, most of which you don’t even need, which is what often happens with conventional operations.

Also, there is perpetual access to the latest software, hardware, and infrastructure. When a new version comes out, you can ask your provider to upgrade you, and you don’t even have to pay extra fees. In addition, the cloud also gives you better data and network security, more efficiency for your business, and improved overall business performance.

How to Go About Business Cloud Migration

Cloud migration is moving all your company’s digital resources, applications, databases, and servers into the cloud. Yes, it can be a colossal operation, especially if you go for a full migration. But the good news is that you don’t have to do it alone. If you have a trusted MSP, you can sit back and let them complete the process for you. That is exactly what we can do for you.

Whether you want to go the whole nine yards and do a full cloud migration, or just partially, we will help you with the transition in a way that meets all your business needs.


To learn more about the cloud and find out more details on how it can benefit your business, download our FREE Infographic, “5 Fears and 5 Benefits of the Cloud.” Are you afraid of the Cloud, or are you open to cloud solutions and how to use them to grow your business?