In an age where cyber threats are evolving at an unprecedented pace, the need for robust security measures has never been more critical. Sixty-two percent of all cyberattacks target public sector organizations directly or indirectly. State actors, armed with generative artificial intelligence (genAI) tools and techniques, pose significant threats to national security, economic stability, and public safety. According to Gartner, 95% of countries will have a major attack by government actors using genAI by 2027, but only 30% will be strong enough to prevent disruption.
To counter these threats, governments must harness the power of genAI to improve and balance their cyber security capabilities against those used by rogue state actors.
Growing national threat from genAI-based attacks
Cyberatta attacks from international players have become more sophisticated and common. These adversaries use genAI to execute cyberattack tactics with incredible precision and speed to infiltrate critical infrastructure, steal sensitive data, and disrupt critical services. Traditional cyber security measures, while necessary, are often insufficient to combat these genAI-enhanced attacks. Examples include malware generation, automated vulnerability detection, custom exploits, malicious code obfuscation, and deepfakes that include data, email, and voice.
The role of genAI in government cyber security
GenAI, a subset of AI that can create new content and solutions, offers a way to revolutionize cybersecurity. Here’s how genAI can strengthen government cyber defense strategies:
1. Threat detection and response: GenAI can analyze large amounts of data in real time to identify unusual patterns and potential threats. Using machine learning algorithms, it can predict and respond to cyber attacks faster than human analysts, reducing the window of opportunity for attackers. For example, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint uses well-tuned large learning models (LLMs) to analyze endpoint history and identify unusual or suspicious activity. These LLMs can read the context and semantics of news and flag potential threats that might otherwise be overlooked.
2. Default event response: In the event of a cyberattack, genAI can automate the response process, isolate affected systems, minimize damage, and quickly restore normal operations. This reduces reliance on human intervention and reduces downtime. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint collects and processes data from millions of devices and uses it to generate endpoint news. AI models are then invoked automatically, and when the model detects a keyboard attack, an alert is generated in the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint portal. Based on the AI decision, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint can automatically isolate the affected device, temporarily disable the compromised user accounts, and take additional measures to interrupt the attack. This way, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint can block attacks before they cause more damage.
3. Enhanced threat intelligence: GenAI can combine information from a variety of sources, including dark web forums, social media, and threat intelligence databases, to provide comprehensive threat intelligence. This helps governments stay ahead of emerging threats and develop effective defense strategies.
By using a genAI cyber platform like Microsoft Copilot for Security, public sector organizations can dramatically accelerate the time it takes to identify actionable threat intelligence. A recent study found that three months after adopting Security Copilot, organizations saw a 30% reduction in their time to resolve security incidents.
4. Adaptive defense mechanisms: Unlike static defense systems, genAI can adapt to new threats by continuously learning from past events. This flexible approach ensures that cyber defenses remain effective against emerging attack vectors.
5. Simulation and training: GenAI can create realistic simulations of cyberattack scenarios, allowing cyber security teams to train and prepare for potential threats. These simulations help identify risks and develop response strategies.
An important point
As cyber threats from state actors continue to escalate, the imperative for governments to implement genAI in their cyber security strategies becomes increasingly urgent. By leveraging the power of Microsoft’s Gen-AI Cybersecurity platform, governments can improve their threat detection and response capabilities, automate incident management, and stay ahead of emerging threats.
In the right way, genAI can be revolutionary in the fight against cyber enemies, protecting national security and public trust in the AI era.
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About the author
Alvaro Vitta, Microsoft Global CyberSecurity Lead, Public Sector
Alvaro Vitta
Alvaro Vitta, Microsoft Global CyberSecurity Lead, Public Sector
- Alvaro is a leading global authority on cyber security in the public sector, with over 18 years of planning, designing, implementing, and implementing cybersecurity for regional, national and international organizations.
- Alvaro leads the Global Cybersecurity Strategy for the Public Sector at Microsoft. And the ATLAS Government Gen-AI CyberDefense Program around the world.
- Alvaro advises public sector organizations around the world on modern strategies to transform their Cyber security capabilities using a human-led, Gen AI-centric approach.
- Alvaro is a frequent author and speaker at Public Sector and Cybersecurity events around the world.
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