Insights from an Industrial AI agency: How to build secure solutions

As we approach the middle of 2024 at Smartbi, we have witnessed significant growth in industrial AI inquiries, particularly as businesses and their employees increasingly adopt AI-based tools in their practices. Just as AI continues to push operational efficiency and productivity to new heights, other concerns have emerged.

One significant concern, notably apparent in smart factory settings where a bundle of technologies such as Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) sensors, connectivity solutions, cloud computing, and AI are employed, is the growing worry about cybersecurity threats. Statistics also support this; according to The Logicalis survey of 2024, 83% of Chief Information Officers (CIOs) experienced a cyberattack in the last year, with almost all of those surveyed reporting business damage as a result.

Another emerging news is the sophistication of AI-driven attacks. Attackers utilize advanced machine learning algorithms for identifying vulnerabilities, predicting patterns, and exploiting weaknesses to create more advanced methods to exploit systems, including manipulating software dependencies and generating malicious code.

Fortunately, there are ways to address and minimize these risks. In the next section, we'll discuss practical strategies that we, as an industrial AI agency, employ when building systems and safeguarding them against potential cyber threats.

We only use what we know inside and out

While the world of AI is evolving rapidly, with numerous new models, tools, and gadgets available (that we are also very excited about), in our daily work we at Smartbi primarily strive to use tools that we are thoroughly familiar with. For example, for infrastructure and DevOps work, we rely on a toolkit we've mastered. This includes tools – widely adopted, “gold standard” tools – like Kubernetes, Helm, Terraform, Docker. This deep understanding allows us to seamlessly build AI solutions into your existing infrastructure with minimal disruption.

Building the best often means customized

Building customized, tailored solutions by integrating different platforms and tools can seem to be a daunting task. However, it comes with a significant and most important advantage – the highest possible security status. Relying only on the security solutions provided in an off-the-shelf application or platform increases vulnerability, particularly when that system encounters failures or gets hacked. Off-the-shelf applications often suffer from not properly tying into existing IT infrastructure, leaving critical gaps in security when it comes to integrations and maintaining overall visibility to the security landscape. Companies that choose to co-develop tailor-made solutions with us can expect a holistic cybersecurity approach that is seamlessly integrated into the rest of their IT and cybersecurity systems, improving their ability to protect against cyber threats, attacks, and potential data breaches.

"Secure by Design" methodology and thinking in everything we build

Security is ingrained in our DNA. We embrace a "Secure by Design" philosophy, ensuring every project is built with security as a top priority. In case an organization needs to depend on a singular system, we make sure to build a solution where you retain ownership of the tailored first-party system able to withstand any potential threats. What does this look like in practice? For example, we've engineered an air-gapped system for our client where data flows exclusively in one direction, mitigating the risk of unauthorized access. This ensures that your data remains shielded from external threats, with no entry points for potential breaches. In another client case, we've mastered the method of remotely and securely processing data for North American-based clients.

In addition to the abovementioned, our "Secure by Design" methodology includes a wide range of security measures such as:

• Least privilege access control: Ensures users only have the access they need.
• Robust data encryption (at rest and in transit): Protects your data from unauthorized access while stored and moving.
• Meticulous security architecture reviews: Proactive identification and mitigation of potential vulnerabilities.
• Failover mechanisms: Guarantees uninterrupted, secure operation even in the event of disruptions.
• Immutable infrastructure principles: Ensures consistent and traceable deployments.

Furthermore, our commitment to the highest security standards is reinforced by subjecting our systems to rigorous third-party audits.

We have built secure AI solutions for the past 6 years with leading industrial companies, including Fortune 500. Let's discuss how we can tailor solutions to fit your needs.