TL;DR:
- Upskilling and training are essential in the ever-changing technology landscape, as emphasized by cybersecurity experts.
- Generative AI’s rapid ascent calls for urgent training and upskilling of digital trust professionals.
- ISACA’s survey reveals that only 10% of organizations have comprehensive policies for generative AI, while 54% provide no AI training.
- Organizations must invest in their workforce and resources to ensure responsible and secure implementations of AI and emerging technologies.
- Collaboration among trust-focused professionals is crucial for effective technology implementation.
- The metaverse presents new challenges and requires skilled professionals for security and identity management.
- Emerging technologies like connected devices, cloud platforms, and blockchain pose complex challenges.
- Resisting technological advancement is futile; instead, organizations should embrace change and establish trust frameworks.
- ISACA advocates viewing cybersecurity threats and technology-related challenges as interconnected elements within a digital trust ecosystem.
- Building a trustworthy digital ecosystem is crucial in today’s business environment.
Main AI News:
In today’s dynamic business landscape, the need for continuous upskilling and training in the realm of cybersecurity is paramount, as emphasized by experts at the ISACA’s Digital Trust World conference in Dublin. They shed light on the potential risks associated with the unchecked proliferation of AI and stressed the importance of investing in training and resources to ensure a trustworthy implementation.
The rapidly evolving technology environment, marked by the rapid rise of generative AI, compels organizations to equip their digital trust professionals with the necessary skills. According to ISACA, a global association committed to establishing digital trust, a Generative AI Pulse Poll conducted in October revealed that merely 10 percent of organizations have comprehensive policies in place for generative AI.
What’s even more concerning is that a majority of organizations (54 percent) do not provide AI training to their staff, including teams directly affected by these emerging technologies. Given the considerable potential of AI and other emerging technologies to pose risks like misinformation spread, privacy breaches, intellectual property loss, and more, organizations must invest in their workforce and resources to ensure responsible and secure implementations.
In an exclusive interview with Chris Dimitriadis, ISACA’s Chief Global Strategy Officer, he emphasized, “We need to make sure when we implement these technologies and frameworks that we do so in a safe and secure manner for citizens and end customers.”
While there is an overall sense of optimism regarding the positive impact of AI on human productivity, the looming threat of bad actors exploiting generative AI cannot be ignored. According to ISACA’s Generative AI Pulse Poll, 85 percent of respondents are optimistic about AI’s potential benefits, but 57 percent express significant concerns about its potential misuse.
Raef Meeuwisse, an AI expert and author at ISACA, commented, “The ISACA survey paints a complex picture, highlighting optimism about AI’s benefits but also a glaring lack of preparedness and understanding. The rapid adoption of AI technologies without organizational approval is a ticking time bomb.”
In addition to promoting training and creating policies focused on AI and emerging technologies, Dimitriadis stressed the need for a holistic approach to workforce development, fostering collaboration among professionals in trust-focused fields such as cybersecurity, privacy, risk management, IT audit, and governance. He believes that when these professionals work together and comprehend the broader impact on the business, the effective and responsible implementation of emerging technologies becomes feasible.
As we move forward, the challenges for enterprises will only intensify with the emergence of new technological frontiers, including the metaverse. Julia Hermann, a metaverse expert and speaker at ISACA’s Digital Trust World conference, highlighted the evolving risks and attack methods that will accompany the maturation of the metaverse. She emphasized the importance of skilled professionals in securing various metaverse use cases and maintaining robust identity and access management.
In addition to generative AI and the metaverse, organizations must grapple with other emerging technologies, such as the proliferation of connected devices, expanded use of cloud platforms, and blockchain adoption. While these technologies bring complexity and heightened stakes to the roles of CISOs, CIOs, and their teams, Dimitriadis, using the metaverse as an example, underscored the futility of resisting technological advancement. “We must never try to stop evolution because we won’t be able to stop it,” he stated. Instead, he advocated embracing change and establishing a robust trust framework around the metaverse to address the new risks it introduces.
In the pursuit of digital trust, ISACA experts emphasize the importance of viewing cybersecurity threats, business risks, regulatory challenges, and other technology-related issues as interconnected elements within a broader digital trust ecosystem. ISACA is leveraging its global community to develop a Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework aimed at helping organizations build and sustain trusted relationships.
Furthermore, ISACA offers a range of certifications that enable digital trust professionals to showcase their expertise and commitment to staying current in the ever-evolving landscape. In today’s business environment, earning stakeholder trust is no small feat, but the rewards of building a trustworthy digital ecosystem are well worth the organizational investment. “Trust is going to make or break an organization,” Dimitriadis concluded, highlighting the critical role of digital trust in shaping the future of businesses.
Conclusion:
The dynamic technology landscape necessitates continuous upskilling and training to ensure the responsible implementation of emerging technologies. Organizations that invest in workforce development, collaboration among trust-focused professionals, and the establishment of trust frameworks will be better prepared to navigate the challenges and opportunities in the digital trust market. Building a trustworthy digital ecosystem is a critical factor in earning stakeholder trust and ensuring long-term success in the evolving business landscape.
