EVERYONE is talking about artificial intelligence (AI) at the moment. They are right to be excited, as this is a technology that could — and probably will — change our lives for good and for the better.
According to an IT Risk and Compliance Benchmark report, around 80 percent of respondents view their AI strategy as a crucial component of their operational planning. However, AI also presents certain potential threats, such as the possibility of cybercriminals using it to bypass network security systems and steal personal or business identities.
Should you be worried? Yes and no. Yes, AI will certainly be used to accelerate activity and enhance the ability of threat actors to break into systems. No, in the sense that, as long as you continue to take all the precautions you should be taking, we should still be able to combat the risk of a network security breach or virus infiltration.
While cybercriminals might be able to use this rapidly evolving technology to become more of a threat, we in the industry can use and are using AI to enhance protection and make our unified security gateways smarter and more intuitive.
Enterprise-level defense
In fact, Zyxel Networks has been using AI and machine learning in our products, in our Nebula cloud management platform, and in our global threat prevention network for some time now. AI is built into the new Zyxel Networks USG FLEX H firewall appliances, for example, which provide excellent all-round protection and enterprise-class digital security at SMB prices.
All USG products from Zyxel Networks are continuously updated through the security cloud, which constantly collects input from connected devices worldwide and sends out updates to protect networks against emerging threats. As a result, the security of Zyxel Networks’ connected devices and the networks they support is always evolving, providing enhanced protection for customers.
Built-in protection has also been added to WiFi access points and switches, allowing them to share information between Nebula-connected devices on the local network. AI and machine learning (ML) technologies are applied to this data to identify the most common threats targeting such networks, followed by the application of a unique set of signature profiles for improved protection.
Collaborative detection, response
Additionally, Nebula’s collaborative detection and response (CDR) feature continuously monitors for any potentially unsafe devices and can contain them based on conditions set by the administrator or Managed Service Provider (MSP). Sandboxing capabilities are also available, which isolate network packets or files until they are thoroughly checked.
AI and ML have been utilized to provide Wi-Fi customers with an improved experience while simplifying tasks for MSPs and network administrators. The Wi-Fi Health feature monitors the connections between access points and client devices, checking for interference or any factors that could affect performance. It also detects unusual or unexpected patterns and sends alerts if there is an issue with a particular connection or access point.
The Wi-Fi Aid feature looks beyond the link between the access point and the client device at what happens on the network itself. If a user is experiencing slow speeds, it might not be the Wi-Fi — it could be the connection between the access point and the wired network, or an issue on the network itself. Or with the broadband, Ethernet, or other type of external connection.
Wi-Fi Health and Wi-Fi Aid collect and analyze information and learn from it, and, as a result, we can constantly improve reliability, performance and protection for customers.
AI leading positive change
All this has been made possible by advances in AI and ML, and despite the potential challenges and threats, we believe that AI presents an opportunity — to get results faster, more efficiently and more accurately, to accelerate research and development, and to address challenges in ways not previously imagined.
As AI continues to develop and improve, there will be even more potential to harness it as a positive force. AI can be used to make network defenses smarter and better equipped to recognize and repel more sophisticated efforts to infiltrate or corrupt systems. AI can also make networks faster and more reliable than ever, and monitor the health of networks to prevent potential problems from becoming real issues.
Gary Chen is the regional head for Southeast Asia at Zyxel Networks, a leading provider of secure, AI-powered cloud networking solutions for SMBs and the enterprise edge.
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