Securenet Communication Solutions

Small and medium-sized businesses and charities are the top targets of cybercrime. The prime reasons for this are untrained staff and inadequate cybersecurity due to limited budgets. And with the rise of AI and machine learning these security threats are only expected to become more sophisticated and dangerous in the future. In a bid to cut down costs, more and more SMEs are happily and readily adopting AI for some of their most crucial tasks, thus exposing vital business data to the risk of security breaches. Cybercriminals can use AI to automate attacks, create convincing phishing emails, scan for vulnerabilities, identify targets, and launch attacks without human intervention. The best way forward for businesses is to be prepared and take steps to prevent an AI threat from disrupting your operations and possibly forcing you to close down. Here’s what you should do.

Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Implementing multi-factor authentication that requires an additional security element like a password, security token, or biometric identification, is a must for SMEs. It adds an extra layer of protection and makes it harder for attackers to gain access to your system, even if they have got a user’s password. 

Perform Periodic Security Audits & Assessments

Since AI technology is constantly evolving, it is imperative for you to regularly conduct security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify any loopholes or security gaps that may make the system vulnerable to an AI-based attack. The best course of action is to get a cybersecurity expert to scan the systems and networks for vulnerabilities, prioritise the most urgent and critical ones, and design customised security solutions that can tackle any threats.

Use AI For Threat Detection & Response

The best and fastest way to detect an AI threat and respond appropriately to it is by using machine learning and AI. ML algorithms can detect a threat quickly by analysing network traffic and identifying any anomalies or suspicious activity and alerting the authorities within no time. It is the best way SMEs can detect sophisticated AI-driven threats swiftly, and efficiently respond to them before they cause significant damage.

Update Your Systems 

Regularly updating your systems and software is the key to protecting your business against AI-driven attacks. Outdated systems have several vulnerabilities that can give hackers access to sensitive data. Businesses should work with security experts to regularly update their systems and software and install security patches and updates as soon as they are available. 

Train Your Staff In Cybersecurity Best Practices

One of the best ways of protecting your business against rising AI threats is to regularly train all your employees in cybersecurity best practices. Upon completion of the training, the employees must be able to identify phishing emails (even those generated using AI), identify malware and never download it on the computer, and regularly change passwords and create stronger ones that cannot be easily guessed by hackers. Reducing the risk of human error is one of the best ways businesses can protect themselves from smart, AI-based security attacks. 

Ensuring the safety of your employees and customers is one of your biggest priorities as a business. You can reduce the risk of a security breach by implementing all of the above measures and working with a security expert who can identify these threats and design appropriate solutions to tackle them. Our security engineers at SecureNet Communications have over 20 years of experience in designing and installing advanced security solutions for businesses. If you are concerned about AI threats impacting your business, contact us at +44 1442 927002 or email us at info@securenetcoms.co.uk and we’ll be happy to help.