CyberSmart 2026 – The Two Edges of AI’s Sword

Cybersecurity is always a volatile topic – new threats, new approaches to defense, emerging new attack surfaces. The emergence of AI as a commercially viable technology introduces new considerations, including growing recognition that it substantially increases the need for risk management.

The cyber cold war between U.S. agencies and hostile interests – from criminals to nation-states – has entered a new phase with the widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI), which has emerged as a true two-edged sword in the conflict. AI can be a powerful tool in cyber defense, but it will have to be used against AI-driven cyber attacks.

Another defense against AI is the concept of Zero Trust; it is the basis of federal policy mandating that agencies adopt ZT architectures. Today, however, the premise must be expanded to include supply chain security. And the need for stronger, more comprehensive cybersecurity must extend to include U.S. critical infrastructure – another way that the cyber attack surface is expanding.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify where new AI tools can reinforce existing cyber defenses
• Examine how to protect data privacy within an AI-enabled system
• Evaluate your software supply chain to determine how and where to implement zero trust requirements
• Delineate the elements of a universally applied ZT architecture, including identities, accounts, assets, resources, authentication, behavior, and data
• Review your agency’s operations to locate where OT is used and conduct risk assessments to determine corrective measures