Not Just Software: Securing AI Infrastructure Is Critical

Trend Micro

By Kevin Simzer, COO, Trend Micro

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Protecting next-generation technology requires a new approach

The AI era is in full swing, transforming businesses and opening doors for innovation, productivity, and customer satisfaction. These powerful and complex tools are becoming ubiquitous—but they also pose new challenges for security and privacy. Furthermore, they are often not protected beyond basic measures.

If we are going to truly maximize the potential of new technology, we need to secure not just the software involved, but the underlying infrastructure as well. But this can’t be done alone. Collaboration across the tech and cybersecurity industry is essential to long-term success.

AI data centers

Generative AI models require immense computing power, data, and bandwidth, which are quickly exceeding the capacity of traditional data centers. As a result, many organizations are turning to next-generation AI data centers specifically designed to handle these massive volumes of data and high-demand workloads. These data centers are the foundation of AI applications, but they are subject to the same potential risks as other technologies:

• They store and process large amounts of sensitive and valuable data, such as personal information, intellectual property, and trade secrets. Breaches and data theft could be very costly, and potentially dangerous
• They rely on the integrity and quality of the data they use to generate new content. If the data is tampered with or compromised, the output can be distorted, inaccurate, or harmful
• They power applications that can produce realistic and convincing content which can be used for fraud, deception, or propaganda. This can be problematic if data outputs are not properly labeled and verified

No defense is perfect, but AI data centers need a comprehensive and robust security solution that can reduce risk for the data, applications, and infrastructure involved while ensuring compliance with privacy, sovereignty, and regulatory requirements.

Where we’re headed

Securing all these complex functions across the massive infrastructure of data centers is no small task. Cybersecurity vendors must balance top-of-the-line risk management, detection, and response against computing requirements, complexity, and cost. Trend Micro recently showcased its latest data center solution designed to accelerate the deployment of generative AI across the cloud, data center, and workstations.

As the industry’s first major step in the critical process to secure the future of AI technology, our new capabilities empower AI data centers to stay ahead of the threats they face. The model enhances the detection and response capabilities of the security platform, enabling real-time analysis and rapid threat mitigation while improving data privacy and reducing CPU consumption and latency.

Our commitment to protecting sensitive and valuable data and AI applications used worldwide is exemplary of the initiatives that will be necessary across the industry to keep the future of AI secure. There is no better way to harness the power of generative AI without compromising on security.