Foundational Cybersecurity Is Key to Securing AI Deployment – Yurika.R

Michael Thiessmeier of NAIC-ISAO on MLOps, Data Governance and AI Ethics

Tom Field (SecurityEditor) •
August 21, 2024    

The integration of artificial intelligence into cybersecurity demands a strong foundational approach. Many companies seek advanced AI solutions but struggle with basic cybersecurity practices such as managing assets and patching vulnerabilities, said Michael Thiessmeier, executive director of U.S. National AI and Cybersecurity ISAO. Without a solid foundation, AI deployment becomes risky and ineffective, he said.

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Machine learning operations play a crucial role in securing AI deployments. MLOps, Thiessmeier said, ensures that changes to AI models and their environments happen in a controlled manner. This allows organizations to establish a baseline, which is essential for detecting anomalies.

But aligning AI deployment with ethical standards and governance remains challenging, he said. “Most companies don’t understand what the assets are, but they also don’t understand what that data is. It all comes first back to data governance,” Thiessmeier said. “If we don’t have data governance figured out, if we don’t understand where the data sits, what the value of the data is, what the classification is supposed to be, and it only exists on paper records but not in a computerized form that we can act on it, how are we supposed to do anything beyond that?

In this video interview with Information Security Media Group at Black Hat 2024, Thiessmeier also discussed:

• How deception technologies can play a significant role in AI security;
• The need to employ dynamic security configurations to disrupt attackers and enhance productivity;
• The importance of dialogue among various stakeholders – including academia, industry and the public sector – for successful AI integration.

Thiessmeier has more than 20 years of experience in technology and is a subject matter expert in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cyber diplomacy and compliance. At NAIC-ISAO, he fosters international cooperation and develops strategies to leverage AI for cybersecurity enhancements.