NAIROBI, Kenya- Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving battlefield, especially with the advent of the internet, mobile technology, cloud computing, and now, Artificial Intelligence (AI).
As technology advances, so do the threats, making cybersecurity a more complex and urgent issue than ever before.
During a Breakfast Roundtable hosted by Cisco in Nairobi, cybersecurity experts from across Africa gathered to tackle these challenges head-on.
The focus was clear: AI in cybersecurity and cybersecurity for AI. Babacar Wagne, Cisco’s Cybersecurity Systems Engineering leader for the EMEA region, emphasized the escalating threat landscape.
“We’re at a point where using AI in cybersecurity is no longer optional,” Wagne stated.
“We need to drive innovation in security, create frictionless security processes, and address the skills shortage in the cybersecurity space.”
He highlighted how Generative AI (GenAI) has transformed cybersecurity, aiding both attackers and defenders in the ongoing digital arms race.
According to Wagne, research indicates that cybersecurity organizations are among the most proactive in investing in GenAI to enhance threat detection and response times.
Collaboration is Key
Kelvin Mugambi, Cisco’s Cybersecurity Solutions Architect for East and West Africa, shed light on the tactics used by cybercriminals.
“Attackers are now collaborating and leveraging AI to increase their chances of breaching defenses,” Mugambi noted. “In cybersecurity, the attacker only needs to be successful once, while the defense must be successful every time.”
This stark reality underscores the need for collective defense strategies. Mugambi also stressed the importance of integrating security measures into projects from the outset, rather than treating them as an afterthought.
“Users should be able to use applications without worrying about the underlying cybersecurity mechanisms,” Mugambi said.
This approach ensures a seamless and secure user experience, crucial for maintaining trust in digital services.
Cisco’s AI-Driven Cybersecurity Strategy
During the event, Cisco unveiled its AI and cloud-centric cybersecurity strategy, structured around three pillars: assist, augment, and automate. The Cisco AI Assistant aims to simplify how organizations interact with their security solutions.
The augmentation pillar focuses on correlating insights at machine speed, aiming for a tenfold increase in human effort efficiency.
Lastly, the automation pillar seeks to streamline complex workflows and significantly reduce response times.
This comprehensive strategy is designed to empower organizations to stay ahead of cyber threats, leveraging AI to bolster defenses and streamline security operations.
By integrating AI and cloud technologies, Cisco aims to provide robust, scalable, and efficient cybersecurity solutions.
