Build an Autonomous Security Delivery Roadmap
Let AI drive real-time risk decisions to combat the exponentially increasing cyberthreat.
Cybersecurity is changing rapidly because of more frequent and sophisticated attacks – a challenge worsened by a chronic shortage of qualified cybersecurity analysts. That equation can change with deliberate and cohesive autonomous cybersecurity. This blueprint will help you build an autonomous security delivery roadmap that’s risk-adjusted and right for your organization.
Autonomous AI is the only defense against rapidly changing cyber adversaries. Achieving this goal requires entrusting progressively more complex cybersecurity decisions to AI. It’s critical to adopt a systematic approach that helps you keep pace with threats and evolves your security posture.
1. You – not vendors – should guide your AI-driven autonomous security
Don’t risk putting your organization on a path shaped by external actors. Understand your organization’s needs fully and proactively seek out the right AI integration for you, rather than be led by vendors offering off-the-rack solutions.
2. Take your risk tolerance into account
AI thinks, and decides, fast, but not all its decisions are the right ones – at least, not the right ones for you. Deliberate and determine for yourself which tasks and decisions you are comfortable entrusting to your AI ally and which merely require AI assistance while leaving the final say to your analysts.
3. Autonomous cybersecurity isn’t a just an AI upgrade, it’s also a human transformation
AI can analyze mountains of data and tackle tasks beyond human speed and prediction capabilities. But making complex security decisions based on that information still requires people. This human-AI partnership is critical for autonomous and effective security. Leaders need to prepare their cybersecurity analysts to evolve from data consumers to AI commanders.
Use this roadmap to build an AI-augmented autonomous cybersecurity strategy that’s right for you
Our research will take you through each step of transforming AI’s place in your cybersecurity strategy, from its role as simple advisor to an autonomous actor that makes critical defense decisions on its own. Our approach will also guide you in making your analysts into skilled AI masters in areas where a human needs to have the final say. Use this research to:
- Assess opportunities for AI augmentation in your organization’s cybersecurity efforts.
- Sort and prioritize your AI risk decisions – which actions you are comfortable fully or mostly automating and which to keep in the hands of a human.
- Implement and ramp up your AI model following a step-by-step roadmap while keeping fully aware of its context within your organizational structure – including what roles your current staff will play.
Build an Autonomous Security Delivery Roadmap
Let AI drive the real-time risk decisions it takes to combat the exponentially increasing cyberthreat.
Your Exponential IT Journey
To keep pace with the exponential technology curve, adopt an Exponential IT mindset and practices. Assess your organization’s readiness and embark on a transformation journey. This blueprint will help you build your roadmap to get there.
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Aiming for autonomy: Why a proactive approach to AI is essential.
Fred Chagnon
Principal Research Director,
Security & Privacy Practice
Info-Tech Research Group
The cyber threat landscape is a relentless arms race. As adversaries evolve tactics, traditional security solutions struggle to keep pace. Automation offers some relief, but the sheer volume and complexity of attacks threaten to overwhelm even the most robust defenses. Autonomous cybersecurity defense is the ultimate goal, but the path to get there requires a proactive and progressive approach.
By relying solely on vendor presentations, CISOs get caught in a reactive cycle, adopting solutions that may not align with their overall security strategy. Our research proposes a framework that empowers the CISO to re-assert control. They’ll be able to identify the AI use cases with the most strategic value for their organization, establish their true risk tolerance for AI decision-making, and develop a roadmap for integrating AI that considers not just technology but also other critical factors; not the least of which is the human element.
This proactive approach unlocks the true potential of AI. It allows security leaders to push the boundaries of AI capabilities, identifying where technology limitations or risk prevent true autonomy. By aiming for autonomy, we gain invaluable insights into the strengths and limitations of AI, ultimately creating a more effective human-AI partnership for a future-proof security posture.
This focus on reaching autonomy doesn’t diminish the importance of human expertise. Instead, it highlights the transformative potential of AI as a force multiplier. Analysts become “AI commanders,” leveraging AI’s analytical power to make faster, more informed decisions while reserving human judgment for the most complex situations. This co-dependence is the key to achieving a truly autonomous and proactive security posture.
Executive summary
Your ChallengeThe cybersecurity landscape is undergoing a rapid transformation. The volume and complexity of cyberthreats are steadily increasing, putting significant pressure on your security analysts. While automation has provided some initial relief by streamlining workflows, it’s clear that a more comprehensive solution is needed to ensure long-term security posture. AI has potential here. However, the sheer number of AI use cases in cybersecurity is overwhelming, making it difficult to determine the most strategic course of action. |
Common ObstaclesVisibility into the evolving AI security landscape is limited. Reliance on vendor presentations creates a reactive approach to AI adoption, potentially leading to solutions that don't align with your overall cybersecurity strategy. Furthermore, concerns remain regarding the trustworthiness and explainability of AI decision-making in security applications. While some opportunities appear promising, a cautious approach is warranted to mitigate potential risks. |
Info-Tech's ApproachOur approach allows you to take a proactive stance on the use of AI for the purposes of cybersecurity defense. You will:
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Info-Tech Insight
Autonomous AI is the only defense against rapidly changing cyber adversaries. Achieving this goal requires entrusting progressively more complex cybersecurity decisions to AI. The key to success is identifying where AI can autonomously make decisions and where it should enrich human decision-making instead.
You need AI to defend against modern cyber adversaries
CISOs are broadly in agreement that AI is a MUST HAVE tool in their cybersecurity defense program.
- In a survey of 1,000 CISOs, 93% stated they were considering or already using artificial intelligence in various ways as part of their cybersecurity defense program (IBM, 2022).
- The question many CISOs have about AI is not whether it should be used but in what functions it should be deployed and how it fits in with the use of their human analysts.
93% of CISOs recognize the value of using AI as an aid in cyberdefense.
Source: IBM, 2022; n=1,000
There aren’t enough cybersecurity professionals on the planet to meet today’s demands
Human analysts can’t continue to fight the battle on their own.
- Increase in attack frequency: The broad spectrum of cybersecurity events, from ransomware incidents to phishing attempts to DDoS attacks, has been steadily increasing and will continue to do so.
- Increase in attack sophistication: With the combined power of automation, machine learning, deep fake technology, and generative AI, the complexity of attacks are increasing exponentially, and this is expected to continue.
“The idea that humans are going to keep up with the speed of cyber events is ludicrous. We can’t keep up; it’s impossible. There will be jobs in security that migrate to or are heavily supplemented by AI tools.”
Paul Kurtz, Splunk Chief Cybersecurity
Advisor & Field CTO, qtd. in Splunk, 2024
95%
Organizations that are concerned about talent shortages leading to capacity constraints in cybersecurity.
91%
Organizations that are concerned they are not prepared to respond to a cyberattack.
Source: Info-Tech Research Group Tech Trends and Priorities 2023
Challenge #1: CISOs are adding AI to their cybersecurity defense reactively
CISOs are only hearing about new AI-powered capabilities from their vendors and are lacking a forward-looking methodology to approach this augmentation.
LIMITED VISIBILITY INTO AI CAPABILITIES
The constant evolution of the AI security landscape makes it challenging for CISOs to stay informed about the latest AI-powered capabilities. They rely solely on what vendors choose to promote, potentially missing out on valuable solutions that haven't reached their radar.
AND
LACK OF AN EVALUATION FRAMEWORK
There's currently no established methodology for CISOs to proactively evaluate their security infrastructure for AI compatibility or identify areas where AI integration could offer the most significant benefits. This lack of a proactive approach hinders their ability to make informed decisions about adopting new AI security solutions.
EQUALS
REACTIVE USE OF AI IN CYBERDEFENSE
Dependence on vendor information for new capabilities restricts CISOs to a reactive approach. They can't proactively assess their security infrastructure’s readiness to integrate AI or identify potential gaps that could benefit from AI-powered solutions.
About Info-Tech
Info-Tech Research Group is the world’s fastest-growing information technology research and advisory company, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals.
We produce unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. We partner closely with IT teams to provide everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.
What Is a Blueprint?
A blueprint is designed to be a roadmap, containing a methodology and the tools and templates you need to solve your IT problems.
Each blueprint can be accompanied by a Guided Implementation that provides you access to our world-class analysts to help you get through the project.
You get:
- Build an Autonomous Security Delivery Roadmap Deck
- Autonomous Security Delivery Workbook
- Autonomous Security Delivery Roadmap
Need Extra Help?
Speak With An Analyst
Get the help you need in this 3-phase advisory process. You'll receive 7 touchpoints with our researchers, all included in your membership.
Guided Implementation 1: Assess AI Value & Opportunities
- Call 1: Scope requirements, objectives, and your specific challenges. Confirm value criteria against security strategy.
Guided Implementation 2: Assess the Risk of AI’s Risk Decision-Making
- Call 1: Assess current and target state maturity.
- Call 2: Assess target-state value impact.
- Call 3: Conduct risk decision analysis.
- Call 4: Derive initiatives to treat risks.
Guided Implementation 3: Build the Autonomous Security Delivery Roadmap
- Call 1: Assess feasibility.
- Call 2: Build the roadmap presentation.
Build Your Security Operations Program From the Ground Up
Develop a Security Operations Strategy
Develop and Deploy Security Policies
Establish an Effective System of Internal IT Controls to Mitigate Risks
Select a Security Outsourcing Partner
Embed Security Into the DevOps Pipeline
Reinforce End-User Security Awareness During Your COVID-19 Response
Cybersecurity Priorities in Times of Pandemic
Build a Security Metrics Program to Drive Maturity
Build a Service-Based Security Resourcing Plan
Secure IT/OT Convergence
Integrate Physical Security and Information Security
Prepare for Post-Quantum Cryptography
Build an Automation Roadmap to Streamline Security Processes
Build an Autonomous Security Delivery Roadmap
