The escalating sophistication of third-party threats has been a focal point for security teams across organizations this year. Bethany De Lude, the CISO at The Carlyle Group, emphasizes the growing complexity and diffusion of these threats as companies increasingly rely on third-party vendors. This dependency creates a ripe target for cybercriminals to breach and compromise user communities.
De Lude points out that with the adoption of multi-cloud and SaaS-based business models, the landscape of information security has shifted. Managing risk now involves navigating a web of identities rather than a clearly defined perimeter. This evolution necessitates a fresh approach to data and vendor management that considers the shifting boundaries in a progressively interconnected and distributed environment.
In light of these challenges, security teams are turning to AI and machine learning to bolster their defenses against deepfake attacks. By harnessing the power of these technologies, teams can analyze vast amounts of data to make informed decisions and effectively thwart attacks. This proactive stance aims to not only mitigate the risks posed by deepfakes but also educate employees on the dangers they present.
Meanwhile, the realm of vulnerability management has seen a significant transformation thanks to AI and automation. Rick Doten, the VP of Information Security and CISO at Carolina Complete Health, underscores how these technologies are streamlining the remediation process by automating Q/A and regression testing at scale. This automated workflow not only alleviates the burden on security teams but also expedites the identification and resolution of vulnerabilities.
The implementation of AI-backed tools in vulnerability management is particularly crucial in cloud environments, where the dynamic nature of workloads can lead to tens of thousands of findings requiring remediation. These tools help prioritize, normalize, and deduplicate findings, ensuring they are swiftly routed to the appropriate team for resolution. By automating this process, security teams can overcome resource limitations and ensure a standardized approach to remediation across diverse teams and systems.
As organizations continue to navigate the evolving threat landscape and embrace digital transformation, the role of security teams in safeguarding critical data and systems remains paramount. By staying ahead of the curve with innovative technologies and strategic planning, security professionals can effectively mitigate risks, educate stakeholders, and protect their organizations from emerging threats.