Apple @ Work: What Apple IT teams need to know about AI-driven threats

4 weeks ago 2

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GenAI is not coming to the enterprise security space. It is already here and being used to run faster phishing, smarter malware, and more convincing spoofing campaigns from hackers. A recent survey from The Register showed that 65% of organizations are now using GenAI to automate routine security tasks like telemetry log monitoring and alerting to try to combat the rise in GenAI security attacks.

Hackers are also using the same AI tools that security teams are leaning on. That is the reality, and it’s not stopping. It means Apple IT teams need to look at every layer of their environment through a new way. The good news is that if you manage Apple hardware (Mac, iPad, iPhone, etc), you already have a strong foundation thanks to some of Apple’s past design decisions.

About Apple @ Work: Bradley Chambers managed an enterprise IT network from 2009 to 2021. Through his experience deploying and managing firewalls, switches, a mobile device management system, enterprise grade Wi-Fi, 1000s of Macs, and 1000s of iPads, Bradley will highlight ways in which Apple IT managers deploy Apple devices, build networks to support them, train users, stories from the trenches of IT management, and ways Apple could improve its products for IT departments.

Apple Silicon, Secure Enclave, and You

Apple has never treated enterprise hardware like everyone else. That was true back when Windows XP machines were getting slammed with malware, and it is still true today. With Apple Silicon, every device has a Secure Enclave built in. That foundation matters. The Register’s latest report found that 56% of organizations already use AI to speed up threat detection and response. That is not just helpful. It is necessary. Attacks are faster now, and your defenses have to move just as quickly even if you are using Macs. 97% of security professionals believe their organization will eventually face an AI-generated attack

I heard a quote recently, and it rang true to me: attackers are not trying to breach as much as they are just logging in. This affects Apple just as much as it does everyone else. Apple has a leg up thanks to a secure ecosystem, but the problem with modern security is not always the system. It is the user. It is a PEBKAC problem.

That is why Apple’s focus on passkeys and biometrics matters so much. Touch ID and Face ID are critical layers of defense for Apple. When attackers automate credential stuffing and phishing at scale using AI, a strong password is not good enough anymore. You need something that cannot be phished or reused. Apple builds that into every single Mac, iPhone, etc.

“Apple’s tightly integrated ecosystem, encompassing hardware, software, and their powerful Apple Silicon, provides a unique advantage in the realm of security. This cohesive design allows for unmatched standardization and, consequently, deeper optimization and control, creating a more robust and inherently secure environment compared to more fragmented platforms. The on-device processing capabilities of Apple Silicon, coupled with advancements in AI, further enhance this security posture by enabling sophisticated threat detection and proactive protection directly on the device. For organizations managing Apple fleets, this translates to a much more consistent and manageable security landscape.” – Alcyr Araujo, CEO at Mosyle

GenAI is showing up in real-world security workflows

When I first thought about AI and security, I sorta gloss over it as a hype in a way, but the reality is way more practical. GenAI is providing some compelling use cases, though.

One of the most useful ways GenAI is showing up today is in cutting down alert fatigue. A lot of EDR tools are starting to use AI to group alerts, spot patterns, and help IT teams quickly see what actually matters. If you’ve ever stared at a wall of log data trying to figure out what triggered an alert, you know exactly how valuable that kind of context can be.

It also shows up in the incident response. GenAI can take in telemetry data (that’s growing rapidly according to IDC) from across macOS and give security teams faster answers to questions like: What happened? What user triggered it? Was a SaaS service accessed? The Register report says that almost two-thirds of organizations said they are using AI to automate routine tasks like log monitoring. This is another reason why I am a big fan of Kolide from 1Password as it limits the devices that can log into your SSO and SaaS tools.

Is it perfect? No. But for Apple IT teams trying to keep up with growing fleets and limited staff, GenAI is becoming less of a buzzword and more of a helpful assistant as it becomes backed into your security tools.

Wrap up

The survey is a great read. There is a lot of hype around GenAI in IT in the headlines, but there are two realities: telemetry data is growing, and staff is not. It is hard to find qualified security professionals, and that will not change anytime soon. According to the report, 41% of organizations said they either lack or seriously lack the skilled security staff they need to stay protected. That is why GenAI coming to your security tools is critical, which is one way to bridge the gap and keep your Apple environment secure without burning out your team.

Today, hackers aren’t breaking in; they’re just logging in.

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