Approximately 70% of global computers run Microsoft software, and millions of businesses are using Microsoft cloud computing features for their business infrastructure – this makes Microsoft a tasty-looking target for hackers.
Their vice president of security, Vasu Jakkal, claims they tracked 30 billion phishing emails last year. That’s just an incomprehensible number for the human brain to take in, let alone to keep tabs on! And with this in mind, they’re launching a group of AI “agents” to go through suspicious emails, thwart attempted hacks, and try and pinpoint where attacks are originating – a task much easier for artificial intelligence to carry out.
What is an AI agent?
If you’re already a little bit familiar with AI, you might be thinking of tools like ChatGPT called an AI assistant, that can answer questions, book appointments, write or create things. An AI agent however, is a computer programme that can carry out given tasks without needing ongoing input from a human user.
Where does the increased threat come from?
There’s a booming industry on the dark web, with ready-made malware programmes for conducting sophisticated phishing attacks being sold on marketplaces, making it easier for slightly tech-savvy cybercriminals to carry out attacks without creating them themselves, and there is also the possibility of AI being used to write malicious code, too.
That, and the five-times increase in hacking groups that Microsoft has been seeing, is creating a level of complexity to cyber threats never seen before.
Where will these agents be working?
The use of these agents will be more relevant to IT providers, and IT and cyber security teams than individual Microsoft users themselves, but they’ll be incorporated into Microsoft’s AI offering, CoPilot. With their ability to spot data patterns and recognise odd-looking emails in busy inboxes faster than any human eye could, AI agent models look like they could be the way forward in combatting complex hacking attempts, and keep users with only a basic knowledge of security, safe online.
How does this affect small businesses?
Well, it affects everyone! These days, small businesses can be just as much of a target as larger businesses, as, statistically they’re more likely to have weaker cyber security. That’s why this is becoming a more and more important issue for everyone.
If you would like help to look at your security systems and processes, and assistance in implementing stronger security to protect your business, please do get in touch with us. We’ve worked with small businesses for many years, and our selling point is that we’re not out to confuse and bamboozle, we’ll work with you in a logical and jargon-free way, to help protect your employees and business by recommending tools and solutions to improve online security.
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