Skip to main content
Industry
Computer coding, programming and asian man in cybersecurity, software development and html script. Night person from china with information technology career, database code and monitor network safety

Embracing AI to defend against cyberthreats

In today’s rapidly evolving digital world, AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s transforming industries right now. As industries and organizations worldwide accelerate their AI adoption, businesses are realizing productivity and efficiency gains that can fuel new growth and innovation. Securing the future of AI means acknowledging the dual nature of this technology: it brings new capabilities as well as new vulnerabilities, particularly for data security. 

As cyberattacks become more advanced, how can industries minimize risk while reaping the benefits of generative AI? It has never been more important to deploy and use AI securely. New security capabilities are helping businesses identify and defend against threats more quickly. Implementing these AI-driven security measures not only safeguards your data but also enhances customer trust and can drive business growth. 

A holistic security strategy based on the principles of responsible AI can accelerate your organization’s digital transformation. Microsoft is committed to the advancement of AI driven by ethical principles so businesses can implement best practices to augment existing workflows and still achieve a stronger overall security posture. 

As you embrace new security technologies and opportunities, consider the following aspects of AI and cybersecurity: 


Worker with glasses sitting at a community table in common area reading on a laptop with other devices nearby.


As AI reshapes the business environment, it is also changing the tactics and capabilities of malicious actors, creating an ever-evolving cyberthreat landscape.  Adopting a security stack that manages, protects, and governs data, identities, endpoints, and cloud assets empowers businesses to deploy AI capabilities safely. Unlocking access to data with generative AI or other AI-powered tools must be done with care to help protect sensitive information from potential leaks or unauthorized access. Organizations in financial services, government, healthcare industries, and others face strict privacy and compliance regulations, with significant implications for AI-related security breaches. 

Fintech company Saphyre reduced manual processes by 75% when it used Microsoft Azure to create a cloud-based solution for investment firms and service providers seeking to perform trades efficiently. To strengthen its security posture and protect both financial institutions and clients, Saphyre relies on a comprehensive approach that uses Microsoft security solutions to safeguard data and manage their endpoint security. 

By sharing data more securely, clients can be ready to trade three to five times faster compared to manual onboarding, increasing revenue opportunities by completing trades more quickly and at better prices. “In addition to Azure, we layered on Microsoft security products,” says Michael Brandi, Chief Information Officer of Saphyre. “These technologies help Saphyre serve global enterprises with a small team.” 

For industries ready to accelerate their digital transformation, AI security solutions empower businesses with trust, transparency, and strong built-in security features. Every day, Microsoft synthesizes more than 78 trillion signals, using data analytics and AI to understand and help protect against digital threats, according to the 2024 Microsoft Digital Defense Report. A robust security strategy can help your organization drive innovation and creativity with AI-powered capabilities while protecting your sensitive information. 

Read more about balancing innovation and security 


Using AI tools to stay ahead of evolving security risks

SEC20_Security_029


Security solutions that use AI defend against cyberthreats in several ways. Using AI-powered security solutions can speed up risk detection, help in blocking malicious access, and expand continuous monitoring at massive scales. With 3 million unfilled positions worldwide, it is critical to have these capabilities bridge the skills gap in the cybersecurity workforce. 

Microsoft Copilot for Security is a generative AI–powered assistant that helps protect your digital infrastructure at the speed and scale of AI. With Copilot for Security, organizations can gain key insights from large datasets, get critical guidance to security teams quickly, and receive practical tips for common security tasks in seconds. One study showed that new-in-career security analysts who used Copilot for Security were 44% more accurate and 26% faster across all tasks. Of those surveyed, 86% reported that it helped them improve the quality of their work. 

Businesses that adopt AI-powered security solutions are realizing the benefits of accelerated upskilling, step-by-step guidance for response, and faster threat remediation. Specialty materials manufacturer Eastman has a vast global network of contacts that drive its business, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors. Incorporating Copilot for Security into the company’s comprehensive security architecture helps junior analysts upskill more quickly and allows security teams to rapidly respond to potential threats. 

“I enjoy the passion I see ignited in our teams,” says Adam Keown, Chief Information Security Officer of Eastman. “That means a more productive, effective team. The speed at which we’re able to use Copilot for Security to pull threat information across time zones and extensive geographies is a huge advantage.” 

Explore more about using AI for proactive security 


Back to security fundamentals with AI


Although AI presents novel risks, understanding and applying updated security best practices is still critical to data protection. The steps you’re taking to enhance data security can work alongside the new AI technologies that you adopt. For example, multifactor authentication and Zero Trust principles can reduce instances of unauthorized access and limit the impact of attacks by requiring explicit verification and using least-privilege access. 

Responsible AI practices are driven by underlying ethical principles to promote trust in how the capabilities are used. Security teams must approach AI with a full understanding of its benefits and limitations. Microsoft solutions that incorporate AI have built-in transparency, so organizations can understand how they work to help protect user data. Thus, teams can focus on defending against attacks, avoiding leaks, and guarding sensitive data. Organizations that incorporate Microsoft Purview into their security stack can govern their entire data estate while meeting compliance regulations. 

One of Peru’s leading insurance companies, Pacífico Seguros, designed a holistic security architecture where all security components operate together to increase cybersecurity. The company’s strategy is based on the six core pillars of Zero Trust, and its combination of Microsoft security products has reduced low latency incidents related to security technology by 95%. 

By adopting a strategic security outlook, Pacífico Seguros has become a leading expert for cybersecurity in the region. “This isn’t a journey with a beginning and an end, but a radical mindset change,” says José Carlos Vargas, IT Security Manager at Pacífico Seguros. 

Learn more about secure implementation of AI 


Empowering security teams with AI

IT team member inside a secure room looking at data displayed on a large monitor behind glass walls with reflections.


Innovative technologies such as AI might present new vulnerabilities, but they also provide revolutionary tools to help protect against threats. You can empower your security team with AI to guard users’ data in this rapidly changing security landscape. 

Microsoft Logo
Microsoft in Business Team

Related posts