As large language models – think ChatGPT – continue taking the world by storm, practitioners in the cybersecurity field are devising ways of integrating them.

For a single-pane-of-glass view and faster detection measures, enterprises are adopting LLMs and generative artificial intelligence to ramp up cybersecurity, according to Wendi Whitmore (pictured), senior vice president of Unit 42 at Palo Alto Networks Inc.

“The fact that we know what generative AI is and what are large language models, that’s really then crept into the defender’s mindset as well in the landscape of technologies we’re building moving forward to accelerate some of these manual tasks,” Whitmore said. “From the AI side, I think we’re going to see a lot more infusion of that data, a lot more ability for analysts to move faster. In terms of being able to respond faster, to detect these incidents sooner, those are some real positives.”

Whitmore spoke with theCUBE industry analyst Dave Vellante at the RSA Conference, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed the current trends in cybersecurity and how AI seeks to revolutionize this sector. (* Disclosure below.)

Data protection as the first line of defense

As extortion and cyber threats continue going through the roof, data protection is emerging as the first line of defense. Better threat intelligence is requiring earlier detection and faster decryption, according to Whitmore.

“I think it’s kind of more now seen as a first line of defense in terms of preparation, and organizations are allocating budget to do that,” Whitmore stated. “Before, that was seen more as a disaster recovery type of last case needed … now that’s just a fundamental, integrated part of mini business practices, which is good news.”

As organizations continue adopting multicloud and hybrid environments, complexity sets in and this is detrimental to cybersecurity measures. As a result, automation is important, as it aids threat detection and mitigation, according to Whitmore.

“To get to the automated remediation component, we have a lot of clients who are asking about it,” she stated.

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of the RSA Conference:

(* Disclosure: This is an unsponsored editorial segment. However, theCUBE is a paid media partner for the RSA Conference. Sponsors of theCUBE’s event coverage do not have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE