Page 114 - Cyber Defense eMagazine September 2025

Man, Machine and Malware

Roadmap of AI - Crunching Cyberattack Data to Bolstering Shields

By Marlene Francis, Research Analyst, IndustryARC

With the rise of ransomware, phishing, zero-day exploits and other cyberthreats, organizations worldwide
are confronting a cybersecurity crisis that traditional tools can no longer manage alone. The intersection
of artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity is nothing new. The cybersecurity realm has witnessed a
paradigm shift since its inception in 1980s when Microsoft security team opted for rule-based systems,
which gradually evolved to the current ML based adaptive security featuring baseline anomalies &
behavior detection across networks. Today, innovation continues with the rise of generative AI (GenAI).
This leap enables cybersecurity professionals to engage with systems through natural language and
unlock deeper, more intuitive threat insights without requiring technical query syntax.

Today, AI is being integrated into Security Operations Centers (SOCs) to power behavioral analytics,
identity verification, malware detection and automated response. The average large organization handles
over 11,000 security alerts per day, according to IBM, which can overwhelm even experienced
cybersecurity teams. The sheer volume and complexity of attacks shows the limitation of traditional
monitoring. AI can sift through large data volumes to detect threats, flag anomalies and respond in real
time. The World Economic Forum’s 2 Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025 shows that both CEOs and

Cyber Defense eMagazine – September 2025 Edition 114
Copyright © 2025, Cyber Defense Magazine. All rights reserved worldwide.