AI and machine learning tools unlock insights in data and ongoing security threats

As federal agencies step further into a digitally transformed world, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning will play an increasingly critical role in how organization leaders put data to use in decision making, according to a new report.

The new report, “AI and Machine Learning in your Organization,” published by Splunk, highlights why AI will be a pivotal tool for organizations to manage and make sense of growing data, combat cyberthreats and augment decision making by the workforce.

Organizations may fail to realize the value of AI if they are currently deterred by the time and manual effort spent refining large volumes of data, the report states. This includes moving, aggregating and correlating data from disparate tools and systems. The loss of time, resources and opportunities are precisely the challenges which AI tools can mitigate.

Nourished from rich datasets, software is now capable of adapting responses and building models for future decisions based on new data points.

“In short, the more information machines process, the more they learn,” the report explains. “It’s not quite human thought, but it’s more than fancy automation.”

Additionally, AI tools enable IT leaders to monitor and investigate security incidents. Agencies that shift to a proactive cybersecurity approach are better prepared to analyze to respond to security incidents, all while reducing cost and stress on limited resources.

AI and machine learning can be particularly useful in detecting and responding to “advanced attacks involving lateral movement within a network, compromised privileged users and accidental access to sensitive information by unwitting users,” the report says.

As data feeds AI and machine learning-powered initiatives, agency employees will be able to make better, data-informed decisions and improve the way they work.

The report warns that the use of “dirty” or unrefined data for AI and machine learning can lead to flawed outcomes. However, effective data preparation can provide powerful fuel for AI and machine learning and deliver critical insights.

“Effective AI and machine learning mean you are not bogged down by data, you are elevated by it,” the report states.

Software systems can also combine big data with AI and machine learning to improve and replace a broad range of IT operations processes and tasks. This can include performance monitoring, event correlation and analysis, IT service management and automation.

AI used for IT operations helps organizations see patterns in its systems and performance and quickly find and solve problems with predictive analytics coupled with automated incident response and resolution.

Read the report, “AI and Machine Learning in your Organization” for more on the ways AI and machine learning tools can help agencies improve operations and decisions.

This article was produced by FedScoop for, and sponsored by, Splunk.