Optiv CISO: AI governance must not slow down cyber defense

Businesses must balance AI governance with the need for rapid cyber defense, according to Optiv CISO Rob Gregory. He warns that traditional defense strategies will fall behind if organizations do not adapt to the pace of machine-speed attackers who readily adopt new AI tools without governance concerns. This requires a shift in mindset to allow cyber defense to move as quickly as threats evolve, with further coverage provided by CRN.

Threat actors are gaining a significant advantage by immediately leveraging the latest AI models and tools without the governance constraints that businesses face. This includes developing AI use policies and inventories, which, while essential safeguards, can slow down defensive measures. Attackers, unburdened by these limitations, can rapidly adopt and exploit new AI capabilities, such as Anthropic's Claude Mythos model.

The key challenge is preventing governance from becoming a bottleneck that leaves traditional defenses lagging. Optiv's role is to help businesses build adaptive security approaches that can match the pace of AI-driven threats without abandoning necessary controls. This involves shifting organizational mindsets to enable cyber defense to operate at a speed comparable to that of the evolving threat landscape.

Source: CRN