Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming cybersecurity, presenting both unprecedented risks and a powerful defence for public sector organisations, according to a panel of cybersecurity experts.
They were speaking at A10 Networks Connect in Albufeira, Portugal this week.
Jake Breach, head of marketing at tech distributor Exertis Enterprise, warns that AI has dramatically lowered the barrier to entry for potential cyberattacks. “Anyone now has almost super intelligence,” he said.
Breach outlined several scenarios where AI could be weaponised, including creating AI agents specifically designed to generate and execute attacks. “I could set up a team of five AI agents, one targeting a particular form of attack, another loading malware and creating new versions in real-time,” he explained.
The potential for AI-powered threats extends beyond traditional hacking. Voice cloning technology can now replicate someone’s voice with minimal input, enabling sophisticated social engineering attacks.
“You can receive a voice call from someone who sounds exactly like a loved one, potentially tricking people into transferring money,” said Breach.
From his perspective, A10 Networks’ VP for EMEA, Tony Webb, said that organisations can no longer afford to be complacent.
“You are not going to be able to avoid or cheat the inevitability,” he said. “It’s going to increase in frequency, it’s going to be more complex, it’s going to be more skilled, and it’s just going to accelerate.”
AI a powerful defensive tool
However, the panel also highlighted how AI can be a powerful defensive tool, particularly for public sector organisations. Webb pointed to healthcare as an example, where AI can transport expert knowledge remotely.
If you liked this content…
Could AI deliver on the broken promise of “many eyes” in cybersecurity?
11 emerging technologies the public sector needs – Forrester
The rising risk of insider threats to the public sector in the AI-era 
AI Driving Innovation, Security and Efficiency in Transport
Laboratory for AI Security Research to drive innovation in UK national security
“AI technology can take an expert in a certain medical field from the US or UK and deliver that expertise to a village or town in Africa, as long as they have connectivity,” he explained.
A10 Networks’ head of security, product management, Elisa Caredio, stressed the importance of a multi-layered approach to AI security.
“You start from the network layer, protect your network, then protect your applications, then protect your APIs, then protect your AI models,” she said.
Additionally, A10 Networks’ CTO, Brett Ley, emphasised the need for organisations to work with companies investing in advanced protective technologies.
“Work with companies who are investing in mitigating against the unimaginable,” he said. “We don’t know what’s out there, what’s coming, but we need to work with companies investing in smarter technologies.”
The experts all agreed that embracing AI is crucial, despite the risks. “Don’t fear it. Embrace it,” said Webb. “Any organisation needs AI to be part of their strategy, regardless of whether they’re in retail, finance, logistics, or utilities.”
Breach compared AI’s potential impact to the industrial revolution. “Expect disruption on a level you’ve never seen before,” he said. “If you don’t embrace it, you’ll look a little silly in a few years, just like those who didn’t invest in the industrial revolution.”
Caredio offered an optimistic perspective: “Embrace AI, embrace innovation. Do not starve innovation because you don’t know what you’re getting into. AI has immense potential to improve efficiency, productivity, and capabilities across virtually all sectors.”
