AI plays a strange dichotomy of roles in the cybersecurity arena. On one hand, cybercriminals are using AI to scale phishing attacks and deploy increasingly convincing deepfakes. Reports show that one in six breaches involved AI-driven tactics.
At the same time, AI-powered threat detection and response has become widely accessible to small and mid-sized organizations. These tools help identify threats faster and contain incidents (and costs) more effectively than ever.
This combination has many business leaders feeling simultaneously exposed and empowered. This is fertile ground for the pessimistic, meticulous approach to security known as zero trust.
A Shift to Pessimism
Rather than seeking to identify and mitigate malicious activity, zero-trust security assumes malice and seeks (continuous and varied) proof that activity is benign:
- No identity, device, network, workload, or data is accepted without verification.
- Security tokens and biometric authentication enter the picture.
- Access to data is granted piecemeal as need dictates.
- Networks are segmented to wall off breaches, and activity is monitored in real time.
In this model, misconfiguration means legitimate access is blocked. This is annoying. In a traditional setup, misconfiguration means illegitimate access is allowed. This is dangerous.
Zero Trust in Practice
Let’s look at workstation and laptop protection through the lens of zero trust. Organizations with strong security practices will probably have the following measures in place:
- Device hardening (customized settings and configurations) to minimize entry points.
- Anti-virus/anti-malware to detect known, defined malicious programs.
- AI threat detection and response to detect and remediate zero-day threats.
- SOC monitoring and intervention to provide remediation beyond the AI tool’s capabilities.
But consider cases where scammers claim to be “tech support.” To help you, they need you to install legitimate remote access software—one that none of the above would flag as a threat.
Here, prevention depends on a pessimistic tool like ThreatLocker. This control blocks applications from running on your device unless they have been explicitly approved. When you request permission to add this unsanctioned remote access program, your IT team can intervene.
Getting Started
Mid-sized organizations without stringent compliance requirements can get started by:
- Conducting a 360-degree evaluation of your current security controls annually.
- Reviewing each system layer for opportunities to introduce stronger verification.
- Prioritizing high-risk areas such as endpoints, identity management, and data access.
- Aligning security initiatives with broader IT strategy and governance frameworks.
For those subject to regulations, we recommend consulting with our CSO or CIO resources. You can learn more about each role in the service highlight below.
TIPS & TRICKS
Cybersecurity Self-Assessment
While there is no substitute for a comprehensive cybersecurity audit, self-assessments can help benchmark your current posture against best practices.
This one-page PDF compiles key controls and policies in a high-level checklist format. See how you stack up in terms of access controls, endpoint protection, incident response, and more.
If you’re not satisfied with your results, don’t hesitate to reach out. We welcome the opportunity to discuss an improvement plan!
SERVICE HIGHLIGHT
An Executive IT Presence
Clients come to us when they need a C-level technology expertise without a C-level salary.
Need one person accountable for managing compliance and risk at all levels of your organization? You might need a fractional Chief Security Officer (CSO). Have audacious growth goals and need your IT to scale with your business? A fractional Chief Information Officer (CIO) could fit the bill.
Learn more about both services by downloading this one-page PDF.