Microsoft Corporation is set to launch artificial intelligence (AI) tools on April 1 aimed at assisting cybersecurity professionals in summarizing suspicious incidents and uncovering the deceptive tactics employed by hackers to conceal their motives.
The software, known as Copilot for Security, was introduced by Microsoft about a year ago and has been undergoing trials with corporate clients such as BP Plc and Dow Chemical Co. Andrew Conway, Microsoft’s vice president of security marketing, revealed that the trial now includes “hundreds of partners and customers.” Users will be charged based on usage, similar to Microsoft’s Azure cloud services.
This move is part of Microsoft’s broader strategy to integrate AI capabilities into its major product lines, collaborating with partner OpenAI, and encouraging corporate clients to subscribe to its services.
While AI has the potential to streamline operations and analyze vast amounts of data, it also carries the risk of errors that could have significant consequences. Due to the critical nature of cybersecurity, Microsoft has taken extra precautions with Copilot. The software combines OpenAI‘s model with Microsoft’s extensive collection of security-specific data to mitigate risks.
Conway emphasized Microsoft’s commitment to addressing potential risks by actively seeking feedback on the product’s performance and limitations. However, he acknowledged that false positives and false negatives are inherent challenges in the cybersecurity space.
Copilot integrates seamlessly with Microsoft’s existing security and privacy software, offering an assistant pane to generate summaries and provide insights. It aims to simplify the process of analyzing security incidents, particularly those involving complex programming scripts used by hackers to obfuscate their actions.
The software is expected to enhance the productivity of cybersecurity professionals, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks. Microsoft reported that during tests, newer security workers demonstrated a 26% increase in speed and a 35% improvement in accuracy. This is particularly significant given the ongoing labor shortage in the cybersecurity industry.
Moreover, Copilot can interface with security software from other companies, not limited to Microsoft’s offerings.
Chip Calhoun, vice president of cyber defense at BP, noted that around 20 to 30 employees have been testing Copilot. While setup was straightforward, it took some time for the team to adapt to the tool. Calhoun highlighted the tool’s effectiveness in quickly scanning data for security compromises and its ability to understand plain English queries related to security concepts.
In an environment where cyber threats evolve rapidly, tools like Copilot play a crucial role in bolstering defenses and enabling security teams to respond effectively to emerging threats.