Applied Artificial Intelligence in Cyber Security: Theory, Practices and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

This special issue highlights the applications, practices and theory of artificial intelligence in the domain of cyber security. In the past few decades there has been an exponential rise in the application of artificial intelligence technologies (such as deep learning, machine learning, block-chain, and virtualization etc.) for solving complex and intricate problems arising in the domain of cyber security. The versatility of these techniques have made them a favorite among scientists and researchers working in diverse areas. The primary objective of this topical collection is to bring forward thorough, in-depth, and well-focused developments of artificial intelligence technologies and their applications in cyber security domain, to propose new approaches, and to present applications of innovative approaches in real facilities. 

AI can be both a blessing and a curse for cybersecurity. This is confirmed by the fact that AI is being used both as a sword (i.e. in support of malicious attacks) and as a shield (to counter cybersecurity risks). With an additional complication: while the use of AI for defensive purposes faces a number of constraints, especially as governments (and the European Union) move to regulate high-risk applications and promote the responsible use of AI, on the attack side the most pernicious uses are multiplying, the cost of developing applications is plummeting, and the ‘attack surface’ is becoming denser every day, making any form of defence an uphill battle.

Machine-learning and deep-learning techniques will make sophisticated cyber-attacks easier and allow for faster, better targeted and more destructive attacks. The impact of AI on cybersecurity will likely expand the threat landscape, introduce new threats and alter the typical characteristics of threats. Besides, other than introducing new and powerful vectors to carry out attacks, AI systems will also become increasingly subject to manipulation themselves.

In the cybersecurity sector, AI will become increasingly indispensable to manage cyber threats: indeed, the market is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 23.6% from 2020 to 2027 and to reach $46.3 billion by 2027. At the same time, the adoption of AI is not without risks in itself: more than 60% of companies adopting AI recognize cybersecurity risks generated by AI as the most relevant ones.

The basic idea is to propose new approaches and ideas, and to present applications of those innovative approaches in real-time environments. 

Dr. Tushar Bhardwaj
Dr. Upadhyay Himanshu
Dr. Alexander Perez-Pons
Guest Editors

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• cyber security
• artificial intelligence
• machine learning
• deep learning
• anomaly detection
• block chain