Protecting the yesterday to guarantee the tomorrow*
Today, we live in an era when the past is more closely tied to the future than ever before. The infrastructures that underpin our society, based on antiquated security paradigms, are outdated. The accelerated evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) not only presents numerous possibilities but also intensifies and diversifies the range of threats. What was designed yesterday is now at the mercy of increasingly sophisticated and automated attacks, with the near future suggesting that they will continue to evolve.
The urgency of protecting these infrastructures is becoming clear. Automating the detection of security breaches in infrastructures is no longer just an operational improvement; it is now a strategic requirement. And when AI increasingly powers attacks, the importance of protecting ourselves through intelligent risk monitoring and anticipation mechanisms becomes clear.
On the one hand, detecting increasingly intelligent attacks
Many organizations continue to rely on manual mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the security of their infrastructures, unable to keep up with rapid technological evolution, especially in a context where AI is playing an increasingly important role. Curiously, it is AI itself that has been changing this reality, as it enables the continuous analysis of large volumes of data, the identification of anomalous patterns, and the early detection of potential failures.
In more complex environments, reactive detection is no longer viable, as manual approaches are unable to detect faults effectively.
Cyberattacks are no longer carried out exclusively by humans. Today, many are conducted by “bots” that utilize AI models capable of exploiting vulnerabilities, adapting in real-time, and not following predictable patterns. These offensive AI models are used to attack systems that have not been adequately updated, monitored, or protected, exploiting both known and unknown vulnerabilities.
On the other hand, simulation for prevention and proactive protection
On the other hand, simulation for prevention and proactive protection
One of the most effective forms of defense is anticipation. By systematically conducting penetration testing and continuous vulnerability scans, we can identify and correct flaws before potential attackers exploit them. Simulations, when conducted with intelligent tools, provide a realistic perspective on the organization’s security posture, allowing priorities to be set based on actual risk rather than assumptions or lists of best practices.
Protecting ‘yesterday’ requires automating these weakness detection processes without overloading human and technological resources. Intelligent automation enables the reduction of false positives, minimizes human error, prioritizes genuine risks, and facilitates a faster and more efficient response. This way, it’s possible to keep the infrastructure safe and operational. However, it’s important to note that security must not compromise operational flexibility. The balance between enabling continuous innovation and rigorously protecting existing assets is key. It’s not a question of choosing between security and flexibility, but of ensuring that both coexist.
In an increasingly digital, interconnected, and unpredictable world, where AI is gaining more strength, protecting legacy infrastructures is an ever-greater challenge. Early detection of vulnerabilities, simulation of attacks, and intelligent automation are crucial to ensuring an effective response before a potential threat materializes. Automating these processes is no longer a question of efficiency, but a necessity for technological survival. It’s safe to say that organizations that don’t adapt their protection systems to the present-day risk see their past (and future) compromised.
*Article originally published in Revista do Empreendedor
