“Why 60% of Security Experts Prefer Human-Validated Cybersecurity Insights Over AI”

WhiteHat Security, an esteemed independent subsidiary of NTT Ltd. and a frontrunner in application security, has unveiled the findings of its “AI and Human Element Security Sentiment Study,” derived from a survey conducted with 102 industry professionals during RSA Conference 2020. The findings highlight a crucial trend: while more than half of organizations are integrating artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning into their security systems, nearly 60 percent of participants express greater trust in cyberthreat assessments that have been validated by human experts over those generated by AI.

The survey insights align with the overarching theme of the “Human Element” at RSA Conference 2020, underscoring the necessity for security firms to blend AI-driven and human-oriented approaches, particularly within the application security domain. A significant three-quarters of respondents utilize an application security tool, with over 40 percent of these solutions leveraging both AI and human verification methods.

Over the past few years, AI and machine learning have afforded numerous benefits to cybersecurity experts, especially as organizations grapple with a talent shortage—45 percent of respondents indicated their companies are not adequately staffed to handle cybersecurity challenges.

An impressive 70 percent of respondents concur that AI tools have significantly enhanced the efficiency of their cybersecurity teams by automating more than 55 percent of monotonous tasks. Additionally, nearly 40 percent reported a decline in stress levels since the incorporation of AI tools into their security framework, with 65 percent of that group affirming that these technologies enable them to concentrate more on mitigating cyberattacks and implementing preventative strategies.

Nonetheless, a considerable portion of respondents emphasizes the unique skills that the human element contributes, which AI and machine learning cannot replicate. Despite the numerous advantages of AI technologies, respondents acknowledged the critical benefits of human engagement within cybersecurity teams. Notably, 30 percent identified intuition as the most vital human trait, while 21 percent spotlighted creativity, and nearly 20 percent recognized that prior experience and context provide essential advantages.

“As we navigate an increasingly complex cyberthreat environment, it’s essential for security tools and organizations to harmoniously integrate both AI and human elements to ensure ongoing risk assessment with validated outcomes,” stated Anthony Bettini, CTO of WhiteHat Security. “Despite its benefits, AI remains heavily dependent on human oversight for optimal performance. Continuous human input is imperative for AI systems to learn and adapt effectively. This reliance solidifies the notion that the human element will always play a pivotal role in cybersecurity processes.”

For an in-depth exploration of the survey’s complete findings, visit: https://info.whitehatsec.com/Content-2020-AIHumanSecurityReport_LPNew.html?utm_source=website&utm_medium=0320-Website-AIHumanSecurityReport.

Discover how WhiteHat Security combines machine learning technologies with human verification by visiting https://www.whitehatsec.com.