AI emerging as ‘pivotal ally’ in fight against cybercrime

As the cybersecurity landscape undergoes a profound transformation, driven by the relentless evolution of technology, there is an ever-increasing sophistication of cyber threats and cybercrime.

This was revealed by Microsoft South Africa during the AI Journalists Academy on Tuesday.

Traditional tools outdated

Speaking at Microsoft Ignite in November last year, Microsoft Corporate Vice President of Security Vasu Jakkal said, “The increasing speed, scale, and sophistication of recent cyberattacks demand a new approach to security”.

With traditional tools no longer enough to keep pace with the threats posed by cybercriminals, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a pivotal ally in the fight against cybercrime.

In May, Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella told employees that “security is a team sport.”

“Accelerating the Secure Future Initiative (SFI)  isn’t just job number one for our security teams – it’s everyone’s top priority and our customers’ greatest need.”

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Apparent danger

According to the 2024 Microsoft Digital Defense Report, in the last year, the cyber threat landscape continued to become more dangerous and complex.

The report revealed the “malign actors of the world” are becoming better resourced and better prepared, with increasingly sophisticated tactics, techniques, and tools that challenge even the world’s best cybersecurity defenders. 

Colin Baumgart, chief technology officer at Microsoft South Africa said AI’s ability to analyse vast amounts of data at lightning speeds enables the identification of patterns and anomalies that may indicate a security breach, often before it occurs.

“This proactive stance is crucial in a time when reactive measures are no longer sufficient. But, in an era where digital threats are escalating in complexity and scale, we cannot just think about defending against cyber threats, we need to be advancing the way we design, build, test and operate our technology to meet the highest standards of security. 

“It is why, we have created the Secure Future Initiative (SFI), a multi-year undertaking to safeguard our digital ecosystem,” Baumgart said.

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Secure Future Initiative

Baumgart said SFI is an approach that is anchored in three fundamental principles: secure by design, secure by default, and secure operations, ensuring that security is not an afterthought but a foundational element of everything Microsoft creates.

According to Interpol’s 2024 African Cyberthreat Assessment Report, the rapid growth of cybercrime is further illustrated by the estimation that in 2023 there was a 23% year-on-year increase in the average number of weekly cyberattacks per organisation in Africa – this average was the highest in the world.

Cyber defenders

Baumgart said in the era of AI, everyone is cyber-defenders. 

“Ultimately, it boils down to the fact that the individual user level is a person – and unless they have been trained to be security aware, they are capable of human error and are likely to remain the weakest link in the security chain.

“Employees are the first and last line of defence and it is why educating everyone on staying cybersafe is so important. It’s time to act now,” Baumgart said.  

Baumgart said by embracing the transformative potential of AI while remaining cognisant of its risks, Microsoft is  setting a new standard for digital defence—”one that is robust, intelligent, and ever-evolving.”

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