(Finance) – Gli cyber attacks today they represent a serious threat: it is estimated that they are stolen illicitly every day 3.8 million data. In this sense, AI represents a challenge and an opportunity for cybersecurity. Today There are approximately 15 billion interconnected devices in the world and according to forecasts their number will double within 10 years. Each of them must be protected.
In this context, the cybersecurity sector represents an investment opportunity interesting, as it is destined to grow more and more.
If we received a email message badly written, in which we are offered a share of a mysterious inheritance, we would immediately smell something burning. But would we react the same way if it were an authentic-looking email from your HR department or a pleading voicemail from your child? With the help of artificial intelligence (AI) Cyber attacks will become increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect: This represents a great challenge for the cybersecurity sector, but it also represents a huge opportunity for security companies capable of exploiting the potential of AI.
The Cyber attacks already represent a serious threat today: A hacker infiltration occurs every 39 seconds, and it is estimated that 3.8 million pieces of data are illicitly stolen every day. It is not surprising, therefore, that according to Gartner the cybersecurity sector is expected to grow by almost 14% this year; however, given the ever-increasing diffusion of AI, we believe that its growth could be even faster in the future. Because it is capable of increasing the scope and severity of attacks, AI is sure to give a greater boost to cybersecurity investments across a wide range of sectors. The large language models (LLMs) that power new forms of AI are making programming much easier, which, in turn, means it will be easier to produce malware and spread it. In fact, an aspiring hacker, even if without specialist technological skills, thanks to AI will be able to obtain information on previous violations, which he will be able to exploit to carry out similar attacks, potentially on multiple sites at the same time. Well-targeted, highly personalized spear phishing emails that distribute and install malware are already starting to replace clumsy generic text and PDF formats.
Generative AI therefore broadens the scope of misinformation, and allows hackers to easily sift through the information obtained and fill any gaps in the data. Furthermore, hackers may also be able to manipulate their victims’ AI models to their advantage, covering their tracks or even perpetrating attacks. This could harm not only individuals, but also companies and governments. The implications go beyond mere data: the increased use of self-driving or semi-autonomous vehicles could, for example, compromise transport safety.
AND AI risks are not limited to active attacks. Business leaders are also concerned about compliance with data privacy regulations and the intellectual property implications of AI-created content; for this reason they are prioritizing investments in data security and governance solutions. According to Gartner, two-thirds of companies are planning to increase their cybersecurity budget compared to 2022 due to fear of financial losses.
Cybersecurity companies that can adopt AI to deploy digital defense solutions will have solid growth prospects in the coming years. This is especially true for those who favor investments in infrastructure, as is the case with Equinix. This company understands that the proliferation of interconnected devices and the growing use of AI are creating more and more data that needs to be stored and transferred securely, which in turn requires reliable infrastructure. Equinix uses machine learning to improve the security of your data centers, identifying and eliminating any weak points. This can include using machines to analyze video footage for any suspicious activity in or around the data center, as well as monitoring customers’ access to their data to report any anomalies.
Companies can also focus on the development of specialized services and software to gain a competitive advantage in the increasingly AI-dominated cybersecurity sector. This strategy has already been adopted by companies such as the American Crowdstrike, which is leveraging its vast history of data and telemetry to equip new modules with AI capabilities on its Falcon platform. Particularly popular among large US companies, Falcon is designed to early detect cyber threats on a company’s computers.
Similarly, Palo Alto Networks, the largest stand-alone cybersecurity provider, now offers a range of cloud and AI-focused solutions. Furthermore, the market for safe software for use in self-driving vehicles to ensure transport safety is growing.
AI could also give rise to new subsectors in the cybersecurity industry: for example, the creation of a new market for controlling information generated by AI systems. Furthermore, new methodologies will be needed to verify human identity and this could open the doors to new start-ups, generating further growth opportunities for existing cybersecurity companies. The challenge for security companies is to create a new generation of cybersecurity tools that integrate generative AI to detect malware quickly and at scale. The increased reliance on AI to support the provision of cybersecurity services will gain greater importance, given the skills shortage in the sector.
Even in the cybersecurity companies the importance of AI is growing, due to a change in commercial priorities. In recent years, the industry has undergone significant changes that have seen companies focus less on products that protect endpoints (desktops, laptops and mobile devices) and more on those that protect all corporate networks and operate in the cloud . In fact, it is precisely in the latter that AI presents greater cybersecurity risks. For this reason, companies are developing zero trust solutions that continuously verify the credentials of individuals who interact with an organization, both internally and externally.
Overall, advances in AI and machine learning represent long-term trends that will increase demand for cybersecurity services from governments, businesses and individuals. As AI-based security solutions offer greater automation, for example in the case of repetitive tasks performed by the analytics department in security operations centers, it is conceivable that expenses for security software will increase. This should, in turn, help alleviate the shortage of qualified cybersecurity personnel, which currently stands at 3.4 million.
All this will further strengthen the growth potential of the sector: today There are approximately 15 billion interconnected devices in the world and, according to forecasts, their number will double within 10 years and each of them will have to be protected. Cybersecurity companies that use the latest technological advances to their advantage will likely benefit the most.