EDITOR ’ S QUESTION
Generative AI poses threats against organisational cybersecurity in more ways than one . Research from CybSafe found that 52 % of UK and 64 % of US office workers have already entered work information into a Generative AI tool . Furthermore , the technology seems to be going nowhere , with 32 % of users of Generative AI in the UK and 33 % in the US saying they ’ d probably continue using AI tools even if their company banned them . As with the development of any new technology , organisations must learn to adapt to the rapidly developing cyber landscape in a way that genuinely alters specific employee security behaviours for the better .
More than half of UK respondents said their companies had not taken steps to educate them about the emerging cybersecurity threats associated with Generative AI .
between what is perceived as real and fake will reduce significantly .
In terms of threats , there have been instances of Generative AI applications sharing sensitive or proprietary information that workers have previously entered . While tech organisations are undoubtedly working to improve this , it is a good example of the new types of data breaches we can expect to see with the introduction of new technology . Our behaviour at work is shifting and we increasingly rely on Generative AI tools . Understanding and managing this change is crucial .
Another vector to consider is how Generative AI has reduced the barriers to entry for cybercriminals trying to take advantage of businesses . Not only is it helping create more convincing phishing messages , but as workers increasingly adopt and familiarise themselves with AI-generated content , the gap
There is no denying the benefits that Generative AI gives workers , hence the explosive pickup across the board . It is the responsibility of business leaders , however , to back this up with responsible governance that includes both technological and cultural guardrails . While cybersecurity isn ’ t at the forefront of the workers ’ minds , people want to be part of the solution and it is up to organisations to give them the tools to be effective . The aforementioned research highlighted that more than half of UK respondents said their companies had not taken steps to educate them about the emerging cybersecurity threats associated with Generative AI . This statistic has to change if we want to curtail the expected rise in cyber incidents . p
People want to be part of the solution and it is up to organisations to give them the tools to be effective .
DR JASON NURSE , DIRECTOR OF SCIENCE AND
RESEARCH AT CYBSAFE
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