Artificial intelligence: A boon or threat for cyberspace security

Nowadays workplace mobility has improved productivity and collaboration but it has also exposed the confidential data of organizations to unknown risks called cyber attacks. In today's connected world, the risk of cyber attacks is on the rise and it is becoming very difficult to ensure cyberspace security. Cyberspace is expanding day-by-day. Usage of smart phones, apps and tablets has expanded the surface of cyberspace for protection as well as attack. Cyber defenders have to protect this expanded surface and cyber attackers target this expanded surface. AI systems can process the huge amount of data generated through this expanded surface in an efficient and quick manner. Evolution of smart devices facilitates professional as well as personal activities. This evolution also leads to increase in cyber crimes. This situation sounds alarmist and should be handled properly because ubiquity and anonymity features of cyberspace make it highly vulnerable to intrusions and cyber attacks. Embedded intelligence is required in all the smart devices and computer networks to combat against evolving cyber attacks. Traditional tools such as sensors, detectors etc. are not sufficient for the protection of cyberspace. Advanced automated tools such as AI systems that are capable of monitoring normal behaviors and detecting abnormal ones must be used to strengthen cyberspace security. Hence, AI is a transformative technology for securing cyberspace. But each revolution has a bright as well as dark side, hence whether AI is a boon or threat in the field of cyberspace security is debatable as AI systems are being used by cyberspace defenders as well as cyberspace attackers.