Palo Alto Networks finds over half of respondents take responsibility for their data online.
An online study of more than 10,000 respondents in EMEA conducted by Palo Alto Networks and YouGov alongside Dr Jessica Barker, an expert in the human nature of cybersecurity, explores attitudes towards new cybersecurity technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), and how these technologies protect their digital way of life.
Just over a quarter (26%) of EMEA respondents would prefer their cybersecurity to be managed by AI rather than a human. Italy has the most confidence in relying on AI (38%), while in the UK only 21% of people prefer AI over humans to protect their digital way of life.
The research suggests that those who are more open to AI technologies have a positive outlook on the role cybersecurity plays in their day-to-day lives. Almost a third (29%) of respondents online who preferred their cybersecurity managed by AI feel having cybersecurity checks in place has a very positive impact on their overall online experience, compared to the combined average of 20%.
Greg Day, VP and CSO EMEA at Palo Alto Networks, commented: “AI is already playing a vital role in cybersecurity, helping to detect and prevent breaches with new capabilities that the human brain simply could not achieve. It is encouraging, therefore, to see the gap closing between AI- and human-managed cybersecurity technologies, and the positive attitude towards cybersecurity checks that comes with a preference for AI technologies is one we hope to see embraced by more people in the future. Humans are risk averse, yet innovation requires taking new steps and many still see change as risk. Taking responsibility for data loss and keeping personal data secure is the first step in ensuring we are using best practice within a business and education is key in helping respondents feel safer online.”
The study also uncovered mixed views on the perceived security of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, such as smart home devices and wearables: 38% of EMEA respondents believe them to be secure, with a similar number (43%) thinking the opposite. However, this did vary across the region, with those in the UAE most trusting of IoT’s security (71% believe it to be secure), whereas a higher proportion in Germany (53%), France (48%) and the UK (46%) believe them to be insecure.
Topics like data privacy and ethics are becoming more mainstream and Dr Jessica Barker says it’s not surprising to see hesitation in adopting new technologies like AI and IoT. She commented: “When any new technology emerges, there is often a reticence among many to embrace the change, even when it offers an improvement to our way of life. Telephones, trains and televisions were all a source of fear for the general public when they were first introduced. Many people are unaware of the way in which AI and Machine Learning are already enabling our use of technology, protecting our data and preventing cyberattacks, largely because it is often non-invasive to the end-user. This can mean people feel hesitant about the concept of embracing AI, without realising that it is already a positive presence in their lives. It is interesting to note that IoT is considered insecure by the majority of participants, whereas most people feel that technology in general is helping them to be more secure online. This suggests that the technology industry needs to address security and privacy concerns surrounding IoT in a meaningful and transparent manner.”
