Navigating the AI Terrain: 10 Key Questions to Ask Cybersecurity Vendors

When researching cybersecurity vendors, it's nearly impossible to avoid being bombarded with bold claims about their revolutionary artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. From automated threat detection to adaptive risk management, AI is heralded as the cornerstone of modern cybersecurity solutions. Yet, amidst this torrent of AI enthusiasm, it's crucial to remember that not all AI is created equal. While the potential of AI to transform cybersecurity practices is immense, the reality is nuanced, with each AI solution offering a distinct blend of strengths, limitations, and applicability.

The promises of AI can easily sweep organizations off their feet, but a strategic approach is essential. Before diving headfirst into the AI wave, pause and consider what truly lies beneath the surface. Evaluating AI in cybersecurity isn't just about acknowledging its value and potential; it's about critically assessing how it aligns with your specific needs, challenges, and the existing technological ecosystem of your organization.

1. What do you even mean by “AI”?

Asking a vendor to define what they mean by AI is essential for several reasons. The term can be a buzzword that's often used loosely in the tech industry to encompass a wide range of technologies, from basic automation to advanced machine learning systems. Understanding exactly what a vendor means by AI helps you gauge whether their technology is sophisticated enough to meet the complex demands of modern cybersecurity or if it's merely a glorified automation tool. It also gives insights into the vendor's depth of expertise in AI and whether they're leveraging the most current and effective AI methodologies in their solutions.

2. What model and provider is supplying your AI capabilities – are they all in-house, or do you rely on a third-party?

This question is crucial for understanding the vendor's control and flexibility over their AI solutions. Vendors who develop their AI in-house may offer more customized solutions tailored to specific cybersecurity challenges. They are likely to have a deep understanding of the intricacies of their AI technologies, which can be beneficial for troubleshooting and continuous improvement. Conversely, vendors relying on third-party AI technologies might benefit from broader expertise and more diverse data but could face limitations in customization and depend on external timelines and updates. Knowing the balance between in-house and third-party solutions helps assess the potential for integration with your existing systems and the agility of the vendor in adapting to new threats.

3. What data was used to train the model(s)?

The quality, diversity, and relevance of the training data are foundational to the effectiveness of AI in cybersecurity. This question sheds light on the robustness of the AI models in detecting a wide range of threats, including emerging and sophisticated attacks. It also helps in evaluating the vendor's commitment to creating unbiased, ethical AI systems. Diverse and comprehensive datasets ensure that AI models are not only accurate but also fair and effective across various scenarios. Moreover, understanding the sources and types of data used for training can provide insights into the vendor's data privacy and security practices, ensuring they align with regulatory requirements and your organization's values.

4. How does your AI integrate with our existing cybersecurity infrastructure?

The integration question is about more than technical compatibility; it's about how the AI enhances and complements your existing security posture. Explore how the AI can aggregate and analyze data from your current systems, offering deeper insights or uncovering hidden threats. The goal is a seamless fusion that amplifies your cybersecurity capabilities without creating silos or gaps.

5. Does the AI have robust Trust & Safety measures in place?

Asking cybersecurity vendors about their AI's Trust & Safety measures is crucial to ensure that the AI not only complements existing security infrastructure but also enhances it without creating vulnerabilities. It's important to understand how the AI integrates with and analyzes data from current systems to improve cybersecurity capabilities effectively.

Also, considering AI ethics and bias, it is essential to ensure that AI-driven decisions do not inadvertently compromise organizational security or privacy due to flawed threat profiling. Transparency about the AI's decision-making processes is vital for trust and accountability, enabling users to understand and trust the AI's actions and judgments.

6. What is the level of human involvement in the AI's decision-making process?

AI should empower, not replace, human cybersecurity professionals. Discuss how the AI system facilitates human oversight and intervention. This might involve alert systems for unusual AI decisions, user-friendly explanations of AI actions, or tools that allow security teams to easily modify or override AI decisions when necessary.

7. How does the vendor address false positives and false negatives?

No AI system is infallible. Understanding how the AI deals with false positives (benign activities flagged as threats) and false negatives (missed threats) can provide insights into its reliability and the workload it may impose on your security team.

8. How does the AI handle data privacy and compliance requirements?

With stringent data protection regulations in many jurisdictions, it's essential to understand how the AI manages and protects sensitive information, ensuring compliance with laws like GDPR, CCPA, or industry-specific standards.

9. If used in detection, does your AI solution identify and respond to emerging threats?

When evaluating cybersecurity vendors, identify what AI each is offering – and be wary of AI-washing. Not all cybersecurity AI is built to identify and respond to emerging threats, but when this is the desired use case, it’s important to understand how it deals with threat evolutions. Dive into the AI's learning mechanisms—does it use machine learning, deep learning, or another methodology? Understand how it processes new data and adjusts its algorithms accordingly. It's not just about detecting known threats but also about predicting and responding to novel attacks. Inquire about the AI's ability to analyze patterns, behaviors, and anomalies in real time, offering proactive rather than merely reactive defenses.

10. How will the AI solution scale with the organization?

A scalable AI solution should accommodate growing data volumes, expanding network architectures, and evolving security needs without degradation in performance or skyrocketing costs. Understand the technical and financial implications of scaling the AI system, including infrastructure requirements, licensing fees, and the need for additional resources or training.

By addressing these questions, organizations can gain a clearer understanding of a cybersecurity vendor's AI capabilities, ensuring a strategic fit that not only enhances security but also aligns with broader organizational goals. The right AI-driven cybersecurity solution should be a powerful ally in the ongoing battle against cyber threats, tailored to the specific needs and nuances of your organization.