In this BSA series – “AI@Work” – enterprise software leaders explain in their own words how artificial intelligence (AI) is having a positive impact on people’s jobs and the workforce. In this submission, Palo Alto Networks’ Executive Vice President and General Counsel Bruce Byrd talks about how AI tools can improve cybersecurity outcomes and increase employee morale.
How do people use AI@Work?
At Palo Alto Networks, we use AI to transform security outcomes and streamline efficiency. By analyzing enormous amounts of security data in real-time, AI is revolutionizing Security Operation Centers (SOCs) by expediting threat detection, significantly reducing incident detection and response times, and enabling intelligent incident response – all while drastically reducing the flood of false positives that historically overwhelm analysts. After implementing a cutting-edge AI-driven SOC tool, our customers have seen substantial benefits with four times the amount of data ingested each day, a reduction in the MTTR from 2-3 days down to under two hours, and a 5x increase in incident close out rate.
Who are some of the people who benefit from using AI@Work?
Given the sheer volume of security data they must process, today’s SOC analysts face a range of challenges that contribute to high stress levels and burnout. With over 50% of SOCs struggling to keep up with alerts, and with a complex web of disparate security tools further exacerbating this “whack-a-mole” challenge, the psychological toll of this inefficient, legacy posture cannot be overstated. AI-driven SOCs flip this paradigm and significantly enhance enterprises’ cybersecurity toolkits while reducing analyst burnout. Routine tasks can now be automated, freeing up human experts to focus on more strategic work and advanced threat hunting. This drives better cybersecurity outcomes and increased employee morale.
How will AI@Work change how people do their jobs, and how should we prepare?
Those starting or advancing their cyber careers should prepare for an AI-integrated future by embracing continuous learning. Data science will likely gain heightened importance in the years ahead, as the ability to think critically and interpret and act on AI-generated insights becomes more central to tackling the complex security challenges that AI alone can’t solve.
Soft skills like communication, teamwork, and collaboration will remain important – as greater emphasis will be placed on these strategic drivers with AI-augmented workplaces automating many mundane tasks. Palo Alto Networks is proud to champion hands-on experience with AI-powered security tools through internships, labs, and competitions to provide practical knowledge and a competitive edge.
How have you addressed using AI@Work for members of your team?
Using AI as a force multiplier, our professionals will continue to drive innovation, make critical decisions, and ultimately secure our digital future. It is our mission to make each day safer than the one before by protecting and defending against ever-evolving threats. To do this, it’s essential to harness the full power of AI.
About the author:
Bruce Byrd is Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Palo Alto Networks and a BSA Board Member. He is responsible for legal affairs, policy and government affairs, corporate governance, compliance, and risk resilience globally.