A lack of digital maturity is hindering Australian businesses from fully harnessing the potential of AI in enhancing cyber security, according to ManageEngine, a leading provider of IT security, operations, and service management software. Ramprakash Ramamoorthy, head of AI research at Zoho Corporation and ManageEngine, highlighted in a discussion with TechRepublic that many organizations are facing challenges in realizing a return on investment (ROI) from AI. He emphasized that digital maturity is crucial for unlocking AI’s capabilities, such as automated detection and response, and for rapidly upskilling cyber security teams.
Digital Maturity and Its Impact on AI ROI
One of the core issues Australian businesses faces is the disconnect between systems and departments, making it difficult to achieve measurable returns from AI investments. Ramamoorthy pointed out that while AI is widely integrated into many software tools, including cyber security platforms, the returns can vary greatly depending on the digital maturity of the organization.
“There’s significant excitement surrounding AI,” Ramamoorthy remarked. “AI solutions are embedded in numerous tools, especially in security. However, achieving ROI from AI is a challenge.”
Ramamoorthy further explained that the same AI technology can yield vastly different results for different companies. “If you give the same AI stack to three companies, each will experience different levels of return, depending on their digital infrastructure and readiness,” he added.
The Digital Divide within Organizations
A significant challenge affecting Australian businesses is the “inter-departmental digital divide.” While some departments may be highly digitized, others lag behind, leading to a fragmented digital landscape. This disparity between departments hinders AI’s effectiveness in providing comprehensive solutions.
“This digital divide is one of the primary reasons AI is not delivering its full potential,” Ramamoorthy explained. “Achieving digital maturity is a fundamental step toward realizing AI maturity.”
Historically, software vendors have targeted specific departments, such as marketing, sales, or finance, with tailored solutions. This has led to departmental silos, where data and processes are not fully integrated across the organization.
Achieving Digital Maturity: A Prerequisite for AI Success
Digital maturity, as defined by ManageEngine, involves streamlined processes, organized business data, and the use of rule-based automation. Businesses that reach this level of digital sophistication can leverage AI more effectively by enabling it to operate holistically rather than in isolated segments.
“AI does not perform well when data is confined to silos,” Ramamoorthy emphasized. “When AI has access to a comprehensive dataset, it can make more accurate predictions, leading to broader and more impactful organizational benefits.”
In the realm of cyber security, this holistic approach to data is particularly crucial. AI thrives when it has a clear view of the entire organizational landscape, allowing it to detect and respond to threats more effectively.
Enhancing Cyber Security through AI
The ability of AI to provide a broad view of an organization’s data and user behavior is a game-changer for cyber security. By analyzing a wide range of inputs, such as logs, authentication protocols, user permissions, and device data, AI can identify potential anomalies that may indicate a security breach. Ramamoorthy pointed out that AI’s strength lies in detecting deviations from established norms. “If you can model what constitutes normal system behavior, AI can flag any deviation as a potential threat,” he explained. “This multi-dimensional analysis, based on historical data, gives AI a significant advantage in identifying security risks.” In practice, AI can monitor cyber threats like ransomware by analyzing network activity, browser security tools, and user behavior. This enables faster detection and response times compared to traditional rule-based systems.
AI’s Role in Training and Upskilling Cyber Security Teams
AI also promises to boost the productivity of cyber security teams, particularly in businesses that have achieved digital maturity. One of the key advantages of AI is its ability to assist in the rapid training and upskilling of new employees. By providing comprehensive and up-to-date information, AI can help new hires become productive much faster than traditional onboarding processes. Ramamoorthy noted that the documentation and onboarding processes are often outdated due to the rapidly evolving business environment. However, AI can overcome this challenge by offering timely insights and guidance to employees. “With AI, employees can become productive within 15 days instead of the typical three-month period,” he stated.
AI’s Next Steps: Augmented Decision-Making
While AI will not entirely automate cyber security responses, it can provide valuable decision support by recommending the next-best actions. This human-in-the-loop approach enables teams to make better-informed decisions, improving response times and incident management. Ramamoorthy predicted that AI agents will become an integral part of cyber security within the next few years. These AI agents will be able to connect structured and semi-structured data, enabling more accurate decision-making. “As AI continues to evolve, we expect it to handle increasing amounts of unstructured data, enhancing its ability to make decisions,” he concluded. In summary, while Australian businesses are struggling with digital maturity, those that invest in integrating their processes and data will be better positioned to leverage AI’s potential in enhancing cyber security and improving overall organizational productivity.
