Page 5 - Cyber Defense eMagazine - February 2018

“FEDS BET ON A.I. TO FIX UNCLE SAM’S CYBER WOES”

WE HAVE ALL HEARD THE SAYING, “DON’T BET ON THE HORSES,” BUT
WHAT ABOUT BETTING ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?

According to the recent MeriTalk Cyber AI IQ Test study, 87 percent of Federal cyber
security decision makers say they would make that wager, asserting that AI would
improve the efficiency of the Federal cyber workforce. So, how exactly do Feds see AI
improving cyber workers’ efficiency? According to 150 cyber Feds in the study, AI
would allow cyber workers to react to attacks more quickly, allow them more time for
advanced investigations, improve strategic planning and scenario training, as well as
would help close the cyber security skills gap.

IS AI WORTH THE RISK?

So, what is there to lose? Making bets is a risky business and one thing Feds might
fear is surrendering their jobs to computers, right? On the contrary, only 24 percent of
Feds fear cyber security job losses as a result of AI, while 40 percent predict it would
require additional skilled hires. There are numerous vacant cyber positions in the
Federal government and AI can help close that skills gap. Programs like CDM, with a
heavy focus on metrics and automation, are paving the way for the continued use of
smart technologies within the Federal government.

Going one step further, cyber leaders identified how specifically AI could give agencies
an edge on cyber security. Nearly three-quarters called out detecting breaches and
hacking attempts as the top areas for deployment, followed by predicting threats,
uncovering new patterns, training or planning for cyber-attacks, automating threat
response, and predicting human behavior. Ninety one percent of Feds acknowledged
AI could help monitor human activity and deter insider threats. With insider threats
becoming more and more prevalent, AI can help keep both internal and external threats
in check.

FEDS NOT ALL IN ON ROLLING OUT AI

Despite the clear consensus that AI is the future, just over half of Uncle Sam’s cyber
defenders say their agencies have begun discussing it. Of that group, less than 50
percent have a formal strategy for implementation. Just 21 percent of Feds say they
are very comfortable with the idea of using AI for cyber security – with DoD and
Intelligence agencies being significantly more likely than civilian agencies to have begun
discussing enlisting AI for cyber security. More than half of Feds assert that the lack of

5 Cyber Defense eMagazine – February 2018 Edition
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