Network security has never been better and it is all thanks to AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a hot topic right now and with good reason. It’s a technology that has the potential – and is likely – to transform our lives for the better. An IT Risk and Compliance Benchmark report reveals that about 80% of respondents consider AI a critical part of their operational planning.

However, every bit of technology is neutral by nature as it can be used for good and be used for bad as cybercriminals utilizes other methods to bypass security measures and steal personal or business information.

Should we be concerned? The answer is both yes and no. Yes, AI will undoubtedly accelerate cyber threats and give bad actors more tools to infiltrate systems. But no, because with the right precautions in place, we should still be able to defend against network breaches and virus attacks.

While cybercriminals may leverage this evolving technology to become a bigger threat, the tech industry is using AI to enhance protection, making security systems smarter and more intuitive.

Enterprise-Level Security at Affordable Prices

Zyxel Networks has been integrating AI and machine learning into its products for some time, including in the Nebula cloud management platform and global threat prevention network.

For instance, AI is built into the new Zyxel Networks USG FLEX H firewall appliances, offering robust digital security at a price point accessible to small and medium-sized businesses.

All USG devices from Zyxel Networks receive continuous updates from the security cloud, which gathers data from connected devices worldwide to provide protection against new threats. This ensures that Zyxel's security systems are always evolving and offering stronger protection for customers.

Zyxel has also embedded security features into WiFi access points and switches, allowing them to share information across Nebula-connected devices. AI and machine learning analyze this data to detect common threats, applying unique signature profiles to bolster network defense.

Collaborative Detection and Response

Nebula’s collaborative detection and response (CDR) feature constantly monitors for unsafe devices and isolates them based on settings configured by administrators or Managed Service Providers (MSPs). Sandboxing adds an extra layer of security, isolating files or packets until they’ve been fully vetted.

AI and ML are also used to enhance the user experience for WiFi customers, simplifying tasks for MSPs and network administrators. The WiFi Health feature tracks connections between access points and devices, monitoring for interference or other issues affecting performance. It detects unusual patterns and alerts administrators if a connection or access point is underperforming.

The WiFi Aid feature goes even further, investigating network issues beyond the access point. If a user experiences slow speeds, the issue might lie in the connection between the access point and the wired network, or it could stem from the broader network or external connections.

Both WiFi Health and WiFi Aid continuously learn from collected data, leading to ongoing improvements in reliability, performance, and protection for customers.

AI Driving Positive Change

Advances in AI and ML have made these innovations possible. Despite the challenges and risks, AI represents a huge opportunity to deliver faster, more accurate results, accelerate R&D, and tackle problems in ways that were previously unimaginable.

As AI continues to advance, it will further enhance network defenses, making them smarter and better equipped to counter sophisticated attacks. It will also improve network speed and reliability, as well as monitoring systems to prevent issues before they arise.