AI Reshapes Cyber Security With Faster Threat Detection

His expertise includes cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, and cyber threat analysis. He is the inventor of patented technologies and the author of the book Artificial Intelligence – Driven Approaches for Proactively Securing Cloud Infrastructure, which explores how artificial intelligence can be used to strengthen cloud security. He has also published research on emerging cybersecurity challenges and practical strategies for protecting modern enterprise systems.

Through his work in both industry and academia, Gurram has built a reputation for developing innovative solutions to complex technology and security problems.

In a free flowing interview with Deccan Chronicle, Nikhil gave replies to various questions ranging from AI, Cloud Security, precautions to be taken by firms to avoid falling prey to cyber criminals and others.

1.How is artificial intelligence changing the future of cybersecurity?

Artificial intelligence is changing cybersecurity in a very significant way, especially with the rise of large language models such as ChatGPT and Gemini. These technologies can process and understand vast amounts of security data much faster than humans, helping analysts identify threats, investigate incidents, and respond more efficiently.

For security teams, LLMs can assist with reviewing logs, summarizing threat reports, generating detection rules, and even analyzing source code for vulnerabilities. This reduces the time spent on repetitive tasks and allows professionals to focus on more complex security challenges.

I believe AI will become a core part of cybersecurity in the coming years. Organizations that use AI effectively will be better equipped to detect threats earlier, automate response, and strengthen the security of their applications, cloud environments, and critical infrastructure.

2.How can organizations use AI to detect cyber threats in real time?

Organizations are increasingly using artificial intelligence to make cybersecurity faster and smarter. Every day, applications, cloud platforms, and networks generate huge amounts of data. It is nearly impossible for human analysts to review all of it manually. AI helps by learning what normal activity looks like and quickly identifying behavior that appears unusual or risky.

For example, imagine an employee who normally logs in from Hyderabad during business hours. If the same account suddenly tries to access sensitive systems from multiple countries and begins downloading a large volume of data, AI can detect that unusual pattern within seconds. It can automatically assign a high-risk score, block the session, require additional verification, and alert the security team to investigate.

This ability to spot threats in real time and respond automatically is why AI is becoming such an important part of modern cybersecurity. It allows organizations to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated attacks and protect their systems more effectively.

3.Can cybercriminals also use AI to launch more sophisticated attacks?

Yes, absolutely. Cybercriminals now have access to the same AI tools many of us use every day, including ChatGPT, Gemini, and open-source models like Llama. These tools make it much easier to create convincing phishing emails, fake websites, and even voice recordings that sound like a real person.

For example, a scammer can ask an AI tool to write an email that looks like it came from your bank or use voice-cloning software to imitate a company executive asking an employee to transfer funds urgently. Because the messages are well written and highly realistic, they can be much harder for people to spot.

That is why I believe cybersecurity is becoming an AI-versus-AI battle. As attackers use AI to make scams more sophisticated, organizations will need to use AI just as aggressively to detect and stop these threats.

4.How is AI improving cloud security?

Artificial intelligence is making cloud security much smarter and easier to manage. Today, many companies run their applications across cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. These systems generate an enormous amount of operational and security data every day.

Tools like Open Telemetrywhich is another AI built for observations help bring together logs, metrics, and traces from applications and Kubernetes environments into one place. AI platforms such as Vertex AI can then analyze that data and quickly identify unusual activity that may indicate a security issue.

As more organizations move to the cloud, AI will become an essential tool for helping security teams identify risks earlier and protect their systems more effectively.

5.Will AI eventually automate most cybersecurity operations?

I believe AI will automate a significant portion of routine cybersecurity work, including alert analysis, threat detection, vulnerability assessment, and incident response. By processing large volumes of security data, AI can help teams identify the most critical threats and respond much faster.However, human expertise will remain essential for making strategic decisions and handling complex attacks. In the future, AI will serve as a powerful assistant that enables cybersecurity teams to work more efficiently and effectively.

6.What role will AI play in protecting banking and payment systems?

Artificial intelligence is becoming an important part of how banks and digital payment platforms protect customers behind the scenes. Whether someone uses a banking app, pays through UPI, or sends money using platforms like Paytm, PhonePe, or Google Pay, AI helps analyze each transaction in real time to make sure it appears legitimate.

For example, if a user who typically makes small UPI payments for groceries and utilities suddenly attempts a high-value transfer to a new account, AI can recognize that the behavior is unusual. The system may temporarily pause the transaction, request additional verification, or alert the fraud monitoring team.

In simple terms, AI acts like a digital security guard working in the background. It helps banks and payment providers detect fraud faster, prevent unauthorized transactions, and make everyday digital payments safer for millions of users.

7.What role does cloud security play in today’s digital world?

Cloud security is what helps protect the applications and data that companies store online. Today, many businesses rely on cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure to run everything from banking apps to shopping websites.

As more services move to the cloud, protecting that infrastructure becomes essential. Cloud security helps ensure that sensitive information remains private, systems stay available, and applications continue to operate reliably even as they scale.

In simple terms, cloud security is the foundation that allows businesses to deliver fast and convenient digital services while keeping customer data safe.

8.What are the most common cyber scams targeting individuals today?

Three of the most common scams people face today are fake bank messages, customer support scams, and cryptocurrency investment fraud.

The first is a text message or email that appears to come from your bank, asking you to click a link because your account has been blocked or a suspicious transaction was detected.

The second is a phone call from someone pretending to be from your bank, Amazon, or Microsoft. They create a sense of urgency and try to get you to share passwords, one-time passcodes, or remote access to your device.

The third is cryptocurrency or investment scams that promise guaranteed returns and direct people to fake websites or apps.

My advice is simple: if something feels urgent or too good to be true, pause and verify it through an official source. A few extra minutes of caution can prevent a significant financial loss.

9.Why are cryptocurrency hacks increasing?

Cryptocurrency scams are increasing because many people are drawn to the idea of quick profits without fully understanding how digital assets work. Unlike traditional banking, crypto transactions are usually irreversible. Once the money is sent, there is often no way to recover it.

A common scam in India begins with a message on WhatsApp or Telegram from someone claiming to be a crypto expert. They show fake screenshots of profits and encourage the victim to invest a small amount. At first, everything appears genuine, and the victim may even see impressive returns on a professional-looking website or mobile app. That builds trust and often leads to larger investments.

This pattern mirrors several cases reported by The Times of India, including incidents in Hyderabad where individuals lost substantial amounts to fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms.

My advice is simple: if someone promises guaranteed returns or pressures you to invest quickly, consider it a serious red flag. In cryptocurrency, a single mistake can result in a permanent loss of funds.

10.What should companies do to build secure applications?

The best approach is to think about security from the very beginning. It is much easier to build a secure application than to fix vulnerabilities after the application is already in production.

That means writing clean code, limiting access to sensitive data, encrypting critical information, and performing regular vulnerability assessments to identify security weaknesses before each release. Companies should also continuously monitor their applications and infrastructure so they can detect and respond quickly to new threats.

In my view, the most secure applications are built by teams that treat security as an essential part of the software development lifecycle rather than something that is addressed at the end.

11.Is artificial intelligence more of an opportunity or a risk for the technology industry, and for society as a whole?
I believe artificial intelligence is one of the most exciting technologies we have seen in decades, but it also comes with real risks.

On the positive side, AI can help people work faster, solve problems more efficiently, and make services like healthcare, education, banking, and cybersecurity smarter and more accessible.

At the same time, AI can be misused. We are already seeing AI-generated scams, deepfake videos, and false information spreading online. There are also understandable concerns about privacy and the impact on jobs.

In my view, AI is a powerful tool. If we use it responsibly and put the right safeguards in place, it has the potential to improve many aspects of our lives. If we use it carelessly, it can create serious challenges. Like any major technology, the outcome depends on how we choose to use it.