Page 179 - Cyber Defense eMagazine July 2024

From Burnout to Balance: How AI Supports Cybersecurity

Professionals

By Jason Lamar, SVP of Product at Cobalt

As technology advances, cyber threats are becoming more complex and harder to combat. According to
Cobalt’s State of Pentesting Report, this past year, the number of security vulnerabilities increased by
21%, putting organizations at greater risk than ever before. Because some of these vulnerabilities carry
a high probability of exploitation, cybersecurity professionals are working overtime to reduce their
exposure and give their organizations a fighting chance against cyber threats. Cyber professionals' day-
to-day lives have always been plagued by long hours and high stress levels, but coupled with the growing
number of cyber risks, industry leaders continue on the path to burnout.

While artificial intelligence (AI) has a reputation for contributing to the growing number of cybersecurity
incidents, when used appropriately, this technology may provide cybersecurity professionals with some
hope of relief from their immense workloads. Over the past 12 months, 75% of cybersecurity
professionals have adopted new AI tools into their organization. With the growing accessibility of this
technology, cybersecurity professionals have the opportunity to leverage these tools to speed up a
multitude of tasks and better manage the always-on approach needed to stay secure in today’s threat
landscape.

Cyber Defense eMagazine – July 2024 Edition 179
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