Increased cyberattacks are forcing many corporate boards to take a closer look at protection and prevention measures in the information technology infrastructure. And as boards become more involved, they are looking at a technology toolbox that includes artificial intelligence and machine learning to deal with the risks posed by threat actors who are generating more sophisticated attacks, such as Petya and WannaCry, every month.

“They’ll need to learn that fundamental formula of risk, which is risk equals threat times vulnerability times consequence,” said Chad Sweet (pictured, left), co-founder of The Chertoff Group LLC, a global advisory firm. “Every board going forward has to become literate on cybersecurity, and AI will be part of that.”

Sweet spoke about cybersecurity and board involvement with Jeff Frick (@JeffFrick), host of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE’s mobile livestreaming studio, at The Chertoff Group Security Series “Security in the Boardroom,” in Palo Alto, California. They were joined by Reggie Brothers (pictured, right), principal of The Chertoff Group to discuss how the focus of corporate boards on cybersecurity will depend on trusting emerging technologies such as AI, something the military is learning as well. (* Disclosure below.)

Boards learning to trust the technology

Part of the challenge facing boards involves trust in technology to fend off attacks. Despite rapid advances in just the past year for AI technologies, there is still some reluctance to completely let machines make all of the critical decisions without some form of human involvement.

“The boards are going to be facing these cyberattacks, and the more that they experience how AI provides some immediate response and mitigation, and hopefully prevention, that’s where the trust will begin,” Sweet said.

There is a growing acceptance, at least in the nation’s military forces, that AI tools will become an integral part of the defense structure. The Air Force has been heavily involved in automated systems, according to the Chertoff executives. One company — Circadence Corp. — has been working with the government to develop an AI-powered, cybersecurity training platform.

“When you look at ways that people are addressing this trust challenge, it is highly technical,” said Brothers, who led a panel discussion at the Chertoff event that focused on the potential role of AI in board decision-making. “We talked about the importance of speaking in a language that every person can understand,” he concluded.

Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of The Chertoff Group Security Series “Security in the Boardroom.” (* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for The Chertoff Group Security Series “Security in the Boardroom.” The Chertoff Group LLC does not have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE