AI Will Become Every Company’s First Line Of Defence
Published on The Yorshire Times
The cyber attack on Marks & Spencer, which compromised personal data and disrupted systems, highlighted the increasingly sophisticated nature of cybercrime and the vulnerabilities facing even the most established British businesses.
While M&S assures the public that no passwords or full card numbers were exposed, the breach reminds us that in the digital age, data is as valuable and as vulnerable as any physical asset.
It should prompt every boardroom to ask not just whether their security is sufficient, but whether their strategy is evolving quickly enough to match the pace of today’s threats. Traditional approaches, reliant on static defences and reactive methods, are increasingly inadequate. This is where artificial intelligence must take a central role, not in the future, but now.
AI is already transforming the way organisations protect themselves. Unlike conventional tools that require constant manual oversight, AI systems are capable of continuously monitoring network traffic, employee behaviour and system activity. By establishing a baseline of what normal looks like, AI can detect the subtle anomalies that often signal an attack. These threats are often too complex or well-disguised for human analysts to catch in time. AI, however, works around the clock and doesn’t get tired.
Machine learning models can identify malware not just based on known signatures but by spotting behaviours that deviate from the norm. It allows businesses to identify and contain threats that may have never been seen before.
The benefits of AI go beyond detection. Automated systems can respond to threats in real time by isolating devices, shutting down compromised processes, and blocking malicious access before damage is done. At a time when minutes can mean the difference between a contained incident and a costly breach, this speed is not a luxury but a necessity.
With facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, and behavioural biometrics, gaining unauthorised access has become much harder for attackers. AI can detect brute-force login attempts and enforce extra verification when something seems amiss.
Phishing remains one of the most common entry points for cybercriminals, particularly those targeting employees through deceptive emails. AI can be trained to understand a company’s staff's communication patterns and flag messages that don’t fit those patterns.
The strength of AI lies not just in what it can do today but also in its ability to evolve. By scanning systems for vulnerabilities and using predictive analytics, AI can help patch weaknesses before they are exploited. It enables companies to stay one step ahead.
It’s essential to build AI cybersecurity experts into IT teams. AI can handle the monotonous and time-consuming tasks, allowing professionals to focus on strategy and decision-making. This is crucial for businesses that lack large IT departments. In this way, AI becomes not just a security tool but a workforce multiplier.
As criminals begin to use AI to craft more complex and targeted attacks, companies can only keep pace by embracing these technologies. AI allows us to simulate attacks, adapt to emerging tactics, and maintain vigilance across every corner of the business, from cloud environments to internal networks.
In the wake of the M&S incident, it is clear that no company is immune. But with AI integrated into their defences, businesses can move from being reactive victims to active defenders.
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