Tackling Cybersecurity Obstacles in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
Elements of this story were contributed by Hélio Guimarães, Senior Director of Strategy and Solutions, LAC, and Andres Irazabal, Senior Director, Information Technology (IT) II, respectively.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of cybersecurity, it’s imperative to recognize the increasing convergence of three pivotal high-growth technologies: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud Computing, and Security. As we explore this realm, it becomes abundantly clear that these three domains are intricately intertwined, forming an interdependent relationship that projects a significant influence on the IT channel.
According to IDC’s Worldwide Artificial Intelligence Software Forecast, the worldwide artificial intelligence (AI) software market will grow from $372.8 billion (based on data from 2022) to $943.7 billion in 2027 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20.4%. The anticipated growth of the global AI software market reflects the expanding recognition and adoption of AI across industries.
The intersection of Cloud, AI, and Security represents a dynamic synergy where cloud technology facilitates positive limitless AI integration outcomes that enhance our everyday lives. Simultaneously, the power of AI poses a slew of complicated new cybersecurity challenges. Throughout this article, we will expand on the convergence of AI, Cloud, and Security, and innovative solutions that can be used to overcome the prevalent security risks your clients may face.
Technologies Collide: Cloud, AI, and Security Data
The technology ecosystem is as complex as it is critical, requiring specialized expertise from many kinds of organizations, such as vendors, distributors, and resellers, and unlocks opportunity for all.
According to the TD SYNNEX Direction of Technology Report, the worldwide addressable IT market is valued at $4.7 trillion. Notably, the way this value is being captured is overwhelmingly through partner-delivered services and products.
Let’s take a closer look at some key statistics from TD SYNNEX’s Direction of Technology Report:
- AI. Partners offering AI and Machine Learning (ML) solutions grew from 4% in 2022 to 29% in 2023 — a staggering 625% increase from 2022.
- Cloud Computing. In 2023, the importance of the cloud continues; hybrid cloud is among the top 5 technologies that channel partners currently sell (ranked 4th, with 43% of partners currently offering).
- Security. This year, security was the top technology sold (59% of partners selling), the top skill set that partners are hiring for (38% of partners) and the top ranked issue of importance in two years’ time. Critically, 90% of security is delivered through partner-led channels.
The convergence of cloud, AI, and cybersecurity is twofold. On one hand, AI is helping us protect our data and systems stored in the cloud. It’s like a high-tech security guard, but it also brings new challenges that we need to address to keep everything safe online. This combination is changing how we approach cybersecurity and data protection.
As we continue exploring the dynamic landscape of cybersecurity, we’re pivoting our focus to the intersection of two technological powerhouses: AI and cybersecurity. And what the implications are for the IT channel.
Connecting the Dots: A Closer Look into AI and Security
In the dynamic landscape of cybersecurity, we encounter a range of sophisticated tactics employed by threat actors. When we consider the implications of systems running on AI, a fundamental truth stands out — these systems hunger for data. They thrive on vast datasets, making the safeguarding of this reserve of information a paramount concern.
We’re in the middle of the first wave of widely consumed generative AI models, such as ChatGPT. Such language models store large amounts of data that are susceptible to breaches. From advanced malware to automated phishing attacks, there are a host of new AI-driven cybersecurity attacks to lookout for.
One example of tactic widely used across the channel involves a clever twist on phishing. In this scenario, malicious actors embed concealed instructions within phishing emails. These instructions are deliberately obscured from human view, but AI systems may inadvertently interpret the email as benign. This is a subtle, yet highly-effective way of evading traditional security measures with automation.
Think about it; AI often processes personal, confidential data, the kind that should never fall into the wrong hands. What exacerbates this concern is the ease with which malicious actors can infiltrate AI systems, potentially leading to data breaches.
Partners should be vigilant regarding the vulnerabilities AI systems may introduce when evaluating their clients’ cybersecurity risks:
- Pre-existing Security Concerns: Before implementing AI into existing infrastructure, it’s crucial to address and resolve all the security concerns that are already present within the infrastructure. Ensuring the foundational security is the first step in the integration process.
- Infrastructure Vulnerabilities: One of the primary focus areas should be an assessment of infrastructure vulnerabilities. Understanding how the existing infrastructure is protected is essential before introducing AI. This involves evaluating the security measures in place.
- Data Protection and Access Control: Alongside infrastructure, attention must be given to data security. This includes defining robust data policies and ensuring that AI systems have the correct user access and data policies in place. It’s essential to prevent unauthorized or wrongful data usage.
- Insider Threats: Insider threats represent a significant concern. Identifying and mitigating potential insider threats is crucial. This involves monitoring and safeguarding against actions by individuals with privileged access who may misuse their privileges or compromise security.
This is the crux of the matter: How do we shield our data in the AI age? With AI, we unleash a vast array of use cases, where data from all corners of the digital world may be pulled in. And with such unknowns factored in, it’s essential to have the right partner to support your role in securing cloud environments and safeguarding your customers.
Leading the Charge: TD SYNNEX’s Innovative Solutions
TD SYNNEX has a robust portfolio of comprehensive security solutions. Our offerings span the entire spectrum of security needs, ensuring that our partners have access to best-in-class tools to address the ever-evolving threat landscape.
We’ve created a path for our partners to build their security practices, enabling them to seamlessly implement security solutions for their customers. To facilitate this, we’ve introduced the Security Practice Builder, a program designed to assess our partners’ security capabilities comprehensively. This assessment serves as a roadmap, outlining the areas where they may need to develop their expertise.
In addition to our extensive portfolio of security products, we also provide a range of services designed to help our partners offer end-to-end security solutions to their clients. This includes specific security professional services, such as our complimentary and billable cybersecurity risk assessments, that partners can leverage to complement their existing offerings.
When it comes to AI, we offer resources and support to enable our partners to develop their AI practices. Our Destination AI program helps partners stay ahead of marketplace demands that continue to grow at a rapid pace.
Our goal is to assist our partners in every stage of their journey. We help them design solutions, implement them through the cloud, and continually evolve to meet the demands of an ever-changing and AI-driven security landscape.
To learn how to begin elevating your cybersecurity practice, visit our website.
