Impacts of Generative AI on Cybersecurity Practices

This technical report outlines the implications of generative AI (GenAI) on cybersecurity, specifically for chief information security officers (CISOs) and their teams. It discusses the dual nature of GenAI, which can enhance productivity while also introducing new risks. The report identifies four key areas where GenAI impacts security: defending against attacks, adapting to malicious uses of GenAI, securing the development of GenAI applications, and managing the consumption of GenAI technologies. Recommendations for CISOs include initiating experiments with generative cybersecurity AI, collaborating with legal and compliance teams, and applying the AI trust, risk, and security management (AI TRiSM) framework. The report emphasizes the need for organizations to prepare for evolving threats and outlines strategic planning assumptions regarding the future of application security and threat detection. It also highlights the potential for generative AI to improve security operations and reduce false positives in threat detection, while cautioning against overoptimistic expectations.