Unauthorized software in the workplace.

Devo Technology this morning released a study they commissioned from  Wakefield Research detailing unauthorized use by security professionals of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The study found that IT security professionals are increasingly dissatisfied with their company’s adoption of automation in Security Operation Centers (SOCs).

Going rogue due to lack of automation.

96% of IT security professionals admit to knowing that someone in their organization is using external, unauthorized AI tools, with a surprising 80% admitting to the use of these tools themselves, the researchers report. These pros report the use of these unauthorized AI tools because 96% report dissatisfaction with their organization’s implementation of automation in the SOC. 42% of respondents expressed concern over a limited scalability and flexibility currently within their organizations’ implemented solutions, while 39% reference financial issues, such as high costs. These unauthorized tools are reportedly appealing to respondents because of better user interfaces, more specializations, and more efficiency, with 47%, 46%, and 44% of those surveyed reporting these reasons, respectively.

Financial support for cybersecurity automation.

Cybersecurity investments are expected to be a priority this year, despite the turbulent economy. 80% of security professionals, according to the research, are anticipating increased investments in cybersecurity automation in 2023, with 55% predicting an over 5% increase. All of the security professionals surveyed reported benefits of automation in the SOC, with 70% citing efficiency and 65% citing financial gains as pluses.

Automation to aid in filling the talent gap.

100% of the professionals surveyed said automation would help fill talent shortages, with incident analysis, landscape analysis of applications and data sources, and threat detection and response as the most common places for automation to bridge gaps at 54%, 54%, and 53%, respectively.