Ransomware poses a formidable challenge to businesses around the world, and its complexity continues to grow as cybercriminals leverage advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to make their attacks more elusive. 

What used to take cybercriminals months now takes mere days. Traditional anti-ransomware tools that rely on pattern recognition, akin to matching fingerprints, falter in detecting novel threats and are ill-equipped to combat data theft and encryption by hackers.

The IBM Security X-Force Threat Intelligence 2023 Index states that:

• In 2023, 41% of cyberattacks used phishing
• 27% of attacks were extortion related
• And there was a 100% increase in thread hijacking attempts (in which an attacker uses an existing email conversation).

In response to this escalating threat, cybersecurity developers are harnessing the very technologies wielded by cybercriminals. AI and ML are assuming an increasingly prominent role in fortifying cybersecurity measures, bolstering the capabilities of detection, prevention and response. 

Think of AI and ML as the superheroes in the battle against ransomware. Rather than fixating on static patterns, they are vigilant for unusual behaviour, learning from past incidents and continually improving their ability to identify new threats. The IBM Security X-Force Threat Intelligence Index even suggests they can achieve an impressive 85% accuracy in spotting ransomware attacks by closely monitoring data movements within a network.

Here are some pivotal ways in which AI and ML are integrated into cybersecurity:

• Threat Detection and Anomaly Detection: AI and ML models scrutinise vast datasets in real-time, pinpointing irregular patterns and anomalies that may signal a cyberattack. They can promptly flag deviations from standard behaviour, signalling alarms upon the detection of suspicious activities.
• Predictive Analysis: Machine learning facilitates proactive threat prediction by scrutinising historical data, trends and patterns. This anticipatory approach empowers organisations to address vulnerabilities before they are exploited.
• Malware Detection: AI-powered antivirus and anti-malware tools can discern both known and previously unidentified malware threats through behavioural analysis, file heuristics and signatures. They keep their threat databases updated to stay one step ahead of emerging threats.
• User and Entity Behaviour Analytics (UEBA): AI monitors user and entity behaviour, identifying insider threats and compromised accounts. By correlating user actions with established baselines, AI can spot suspicious activities that may evade rule-based systems.
• Network Security: AI bolsters network security by monitoring traffic patterns, recognising potential threats or intrusions, and responding automatically to unusual network behaviour or suspicious activities.
• Phishing Detection: Machine learning can identify phishing attempts by scrutinising email content, sender behaviour, and other attributes, thereby reducing the likelihood of employees falling victim to phishing attacks.
• Endpoint Security: AI-driven endpoint security solutions continuously monitor individual devices for signs of compromise and respond to threats at the endpoint level.
• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): AI enhances SIEM solutions by automating the correlation and analysis of security events across an organisation’s infrastructure, helping security teams prioritise and respond to incidents more effectively. 
• Automation and Orchestration: AI automates routine security tasks, freeing human analysts to focus on more complex threats, and can orchestrate incident response workflows to ensure rapid and coordinated reactions to security incidents.
• Zero-Day Threat Detection: Machine learning models recognise previously unknown vulnerabilities and threats by identifying patterns in data that may indicate zero-day attacks.

However, the implementation of AI and ML in cybersecurity is not without its challenges. Adversaries may strive to evade AI-based defences, and the efficacy of AI models is contingent on the quality of the data on which they are trained. Thus, organisations must continually update and adapt their AI-based security systems to stay one step ahead of evolving threats.

Acronis Cyber Protect

Acronis Cyber Protect stands out as a cybersecurity solution because it employs a combination of machine learning and artificial intelligence to detect and thwart ransomware attacks, while also providing recovery options in the unfortunate event of an attack.

Acronis Cyber Protect employs a tiered approach to identify and prevent ransomware threats. It employs heuristics and signature-based detection for known ransomware threats and employs behavioural analysis and machine learning to detect previously unknown attacks, thereby leveraging artificial intelligence to detect changes in behaviour that may indicate an impending attack. 

If you are interested in learning more about our recommended cybersecurity solutions, please feel free to engage in a conversation with us – [email protected].