Building the Future of AI Security: The IBM and Celerity Partnership

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Introduction: A Story of Resilience and Innovation
In the world of cybersecurity, no company is immune to risk, no matter how prepared they may seem. One prominent example was the SolarWinds breach in 2020, which demonstrated how a single vulnerability in widely used software could have far-reaching consequences across both public and private sectors. This event marked a turning point for many businesses, highlighting the urgent need to enhance cybersecurity measures beyond traditional defences.

Recognizing this challenge, Celerity, a leading Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP), took proactive steps to transform its Security Operations Center (SOC) to stay ahead of the evolving threat landscape. With cybercriminals increasingly using advanced techniques such as AI-powered attacks and supply chain infiltrations, Celerity sought to elevate its SOC capabilities. The solution came through their collaboration with IBM, a partnership built on innovation, trust, and a shared commitment to cybersecurity excellence.

IBM, an industry leader in cybersecurity with over a century of experience helping enterprises solve their most complex challenges, was the partner of choice for Celerity’s SOC transformation—enabling them to handle the cyber threats of the future.

A Strategic Collaboration: IBM and Celerity
The partnership between IBM and Celerity was not just about integrating new tools; it was about rethinking how security operations should function in today’s threat landscape. Through IBM’s Client Engineering team, Celerity underwent a complete transformation, co-creating a solution to prepare them for next-generation cyber threats. At the core of this partnership was the IBM Security QRadar Suite, which played a pivotal role in enhancing Celerity’s threat management capabilities.

The QRadar Suite provided the agility and intelligence that Celerity’s SOC required. By integrating real-time alerts, AI-driven threat detection, and comprehensive insights, the solution seamlessly complemented Celerity’s existing systems, ensuring they could quickly detect and neutralize even the most sophisticated attacks. The results were clear: faster threat detection, reduced response times, and enhanced overall efficiency.

IBM QRadar Suite: Amplifying Threat Management
IBM QRadar Suite was the linchpin of Celerity’s transformation. This industry-leading SIEM platform provided:

• Automated threat detection and response, reducing manual intervention and increasing efficiency.
• Comprehensive visibility across the digital environment, enabling rapid detection and neutralization of emerging threats.
• Seamless integration with existing systems, ensuring a smooth transition without disruption.

With the QRadar Suite, Celerity reduced threat detection times by 35%, improved response times by 25%, and increased SOC productivity by 40%—demonstrating the clear benefits of collaboration with IBM.

The IBM Open Evening: Showcasing Transformation and AI Security
The transformation of Celerity’s SOC was showcased during the IBM Open Evening in June 2024, where IBM and Celerity co-hosted a booth highlighting their collaboration. Attendees from across industries were also keen to discuss a growing concern: AI Security. As AI and GenAI solutions become more prevalent, security leaders are increasingly aware of the vulnerabilities AI brings. From adversarial attacks to model theft, securing AI is rapidly becoming a top priority.

AI Security: Protecting the Future of Intelligence with IBM’s Advanced Solutions
As artificial intelligence continues to permeate critical business functions, the risks and vulnerabilities associated with AI are evolving just as rapidly. AI systems are susceptible to unique and sophisticated threats that require specialized security measures. Some of the major risks facing AI include:

• Data Poisoning: Malicious actors can manipulate the data used to train AI models, resulting in flawed outputs or dangerous decisions, particularly in critical sectors like healthcare or autonomous driving.
• Adversarial Attacks: These involve creating deceptive inputs to trick AI models into making incorrect predictions or decisions, potentially leading to serious consequences in real-world applications.
• Model Inversion: This allows attackers to reverse-engineer an AI model to extract sensitive information from the training data, posing significant privacy risks.
• Model Theft: AI models represent valuable intellectual property. Unauthorized use of proprietary models can lead to financial loss and reputational damage, as well as potential misuse of the technology.
• Shadow AI: AI models deployed outside the oversight of the organization’s security protocols create significant vulnerabilities, exposing critical data to unregulated environments.

IBM understands these risks and has developed a suite of AI security solutions to address them, using its proven security products like IBM Guardium, IBM Security Verify, and IBM QRadar.

IBM’s AI Security Solutions: Mitigating AI Risks with Proven Products
While IBM continues to innovate in AI security, many of the necessary tools to protect AI systems already exist within IBM’s robust security portfolio. Here’s how IBM’s products help mitigate AI risks:

1. Securing Training Data with IBM Guardium
   • IBM Guardium protects sensitive data used to train AI models. It ensures data integrity by preventing unauthorized access and manipulation, thus protecting against data poisoning. Guardium also provides automated compliance monitoring, ensuring AI systems align with data privacy regulations like GDPR.
2. Preventing Model Exploitation with IBM Security Verify
   • IBM Security Verify offers comprehensive identity and access management to protect AI systems from adversarial attacks and model inversion. It enforces strict authentication protocols and provides real-time monitoring of access to AI models, ensuring secure interactions and preventing model theft.
3. Detecting AI Anomalies with IBM QRadar
   • IBM QRadar enhances AI system security by providing real-time visibility into anomalies that could indicate data poisoning or adversarial inputs. QRadar’s AI-driven threat detection monitors AI environments for suspicious activity, ensuring that AI models remain resilient to evolving threats.
4. Monitoring and Managing Shadow AI with IBM’s AI Security Solutions
   • AI Model Discovery allows organizations to detect and monitor “Shadow AI”—models deployed without security oversight. IBM’s solutions ensure visibility and control over all AI models within an organization, preventing unregulated and unsecured AI operations.

IBM’s Holistic Approach to AI Security
IBM’s comprehensive approach to AI security integrates capabilities across its security portfolio to address threats to both AI models and training data. By leveraging products like Guardium, Security Verify, and QRadar, IBM helps organizations secure AI systems from development through deployment. Key features of IBM’s AI security strategy include:

• Detection of Prompt Injections and Jailbreaks: IBM safeguards AI-driven interfaces from malicious exploitation by detecting and blocking prompt injections and jailbreak attempts.
• Continuous Compliance Monitoring: IBM’s automated tools ensure that AI models meet evolving data privacy and security regulations, offering peace of mind as organizations deploy AI at scale.

By combining its expertise and existing products, IBM provides a secure foundation for the next generation of AI systems.

Call to Action:

Collaborate with IBM Client Engineering
Are you ready to rapidly co-create innovative AI security solutions tailored to your unique business challenges? IBM Client Engineering provides a distinctive opportunity to collaborate on cutting-edge AI security solutions. Our approach focuses on:

• Rapid co-creation and innovation to address complex AI security challenges.
• Delivering proof of value in weeks, not months.
• Leveraging a human-cantered approach to develop user-centric solutions.
• Providing access to a diverse team of business and technology experts.
• Ensuring enterprise scalability for secure deployment on platforms of your choice.

By partnering with IBM Client Engineering, you can transform your AI security challenges into opportunities for innovation. Our team is ready to rapidly co-create solutions that protect your AI assets and drive your business forward.

Learn more at https://www.ibm.com/client-engineering

Leverage IBM Security Expertise
How can you ensure your AI systems are secure from development to deployment and beyond? IBM Security offers advanced AI-powered security solutions designed to protect your organization’s critical AI assets throughout their lifecycle. Our comprehensive approach includes:

• AI-driven threat detection and response for proactive cybersecurity.
• Enhanced data protection for AI training datasets and models.
• Automated compliance monitoring for AI systems to meet regulatory requirements.
• Improved risk-based user authentication for AI interfaces.
• Comprehensive security for AI endpoints in distributed environments.

Connect with IBM Security to explore how our AI-focused security solutions can safeguard your organization’s AI initiatives. Our security experts are prepared to guide you through the process of fortifying your AI infrastructure against emerging threats, ensuring that your AI systems remain secure, compliant, and trustworthy.

Learn more at https://www.ibm.com/security