Table of Contents
Hello, cybersecurity enthusiasts! Brian Ahern, CEO of CyberMaxx, here with this week’s LinkedIn content!
Thus far, mid-August has been loaded with valuable insights. These include how AI accelerates cyber attacks, using accountability as a performance enhancer, and simplifying security with MDR. It’s all available to improve your security program and the entire business.
We compiled last week’s content into one blog post to provide a seamless educational experience for our valued customers, partners, and other stakeholders. Our audience can check it out right from the CyberMaxx blog.
So, without further ado, here’s a summary of each post, plus links to access the full LinkedIn article.
AI-Driven Tools Accelerate Sophistication of Cyber Attackers
Everyone wants to talk about the positive use cases of artificial intelligence (AI). But what about the darker side? Like any technology, bad actors can exploit it for malicious use. And that’s precisely what my August 13th post explains: How AI tools have helped cyber attackers deploy more sophisticated attacks. For example, AI tools can:
- Run automated vulnerability scanning on a target’s network and receive exploit suggestions on where (and how) to attack
- Generate convincing phishing emails or messages for a threat actor, even if the attacker isn’t proficient in that language.
- Develop malicious code and create obfuscated malware undetectable to traditional security tools.
- Run algorithms for brute-force password cracking and automate credential stuffing.
- Sift through large data sets to find valuable personal information and behavior patterns threat actors can use in their attacks.
- Provide insights to adapt techniques and evade security monitoring systems, including defense measures using AI.
- Coordinate with botnets to deliver DDoS attacks and help attackers with resource allocation.
- Help notice attackers perform more advanced attacks through rentable, existing platforms where much of the work is done for them.
Ultimately, these malicious AI applications have lowered the bar — making it easier for anyone with a computer to deliver legitimate cyber attacks.
Want to learn more about the darker sides of AI in security? Check out the full LinkedIn article here.
Accountability is Key to a High-Performing Culture!
As someone who’s run various startups and growing businesses, I’ve concluded that accountability is the cornerstone of team success. So, in my August 14th post, I addressed eight key attributes accountability provides for companies to foster a high-performing culture:
- Sets clear (and aligned) goals and expectations with well-defined roles
- Increases ownership and initiative through employee empowerment and proactive problem-solving
- Enhances trust and collaboration by ensuring team members are reliable and fostering open lines of communication
- Focuses on results and obtains continuous feedback to boost performance and productivity
- Helps stay resilient by learning from mistakes and constantly adapting to change
- Recognizes and rewards effort while using merit-based advancement so teams strive for success
- Creates a positive work environment through reduced stress and conflict while maintaining strong team cohesion
- Sustains growth by focusing on the long-term and efficiently scaling the operation
Alternatively, I wanted to showcase what a culture that lacks accountability can expect:
- Blame-shifting and finger-pointing
- Decreased motivation and poor morale
- Eroded trust
- Inconsistent and poor performance
- Inability to innovate and solve problems
- Unresolved conflicts
- Leadership challenges
- Poor decision-making
Get the full scoop on building a high-performing culture in my full LinkedIn article here.
Cybersecurity Tool Sprawl Exacerbates the Challenge – MDR to the Rescue
My August 15th post addressed a trap I see many organizations fall into: The cybersecurity tool sprawl. They’ll overpay to deploy a bunch of “shiny new tools” — unaware they overlap with systems already in place. This only complicates the cybersecurity landscape. How?
- Increases complexity with a fragmented security environment while creating challenges when integrating with other tools
- Siloes security data and overwhelms the security team with alert fatigue — ultimately reducing visibility and control
- Increases costs without the benefits through tool redundancy and resource drain
- Creates inconsistent policies that are disjointed and leaves gaps in governance coverage
- Locks you into certain vendors — opening you up to supply chain risks and overreliance on them
- Delays incident response times and provides conflicting data across the security environment
- Makes compliance and audits more difficult
- Increased risk of human error like configuration mistakes and adds to knowledge gaps
Despite these issues, the good news is that managed detection and response (MDR) solutions can help overcome tool sprawl. They provide central threat management and visibility, reduce alert fatigue with automation and expert analysis, and enhance tool integration to get the best results. MDR is also super cost-effective. Plus, it supports fast incident response, streamlines compliance and reporting, and ensures you never stop improving your security program.
See how MDR can reduce security complexity in my full LinkedIn article.