CEO explains why cybersecurity still needs people - Bryan College Station Eagle

Chris McKeithen, from Mount Vernon, is the founder and CEO of Aegis Cyber Defense, Inc., a nationwide company specializing in exposure intelligence and software development. He is currently on track to receive his associate degree in Cybersecurity from Texas State Technical College in Waco.

McKeithen, who is mainly self-taught, chose to attend TSTC to back his practical experience with educational credentials. He believes that the college’s programs in Cybersecurity and Computer Networking and Systems Administration remain vital even as AI use grows.

AI lacks human judgment

A growing belief that AI will replace cybersecurity professionals is a myth, McKeithen said. He argues that the technology is not going to take anybody’s jobs, but rather the people who can leverage AI and use it appropriately will be the ones who succeed.

McKeithen said many parts of cybersecurity still require human judgment, experience and critical thinking. He explained that AI can give information, but it takes the human element to discern what is real, what’s not real, and what actions to take.

He noted that humans have the ability to go off of expertise, their knowledge and their feelings. AI only knows what it is programmed to know, and some of the information it gathers might be poor.

Real threats require human analysis

In his field of exposure intelligence, McKeithen uses an AI that runs a scan to tell him what a company has that is exposed. He must personally go in and look at the information to decipher whether or not it is a threat or if it needs to be exposed.

There are some pieces of a business that need to be exposed or else nobody is going to see them. McKeithen said he has to go in and make that judgment call, a task that AI cannot perform.

He emphasized that cybersecurity is changing all the time, and one must continually be on their toes because new threats are coming all the time. With the birth of AI and the capacity that we’re using it today, threat actors are able to do things quicker.

AI and networking go hand in hand

AI can’t run without networking, and somebody’s got to be able to put it all together, read the data and connect the wires. McKeithen said that networking and AI go hand in hand.

AI can diagram, show what needs to be done, and build systems, but you still have to go out and do it. As far as cybersecurity, it’s going to be very important to have cybersecurity personnel to regulate the AI and make sure you put safeguards on it.

You’re going to be highly sought after if you know what you’re doing and you’re familiar with AI. To set yourself apart, you have to be a forever student and be able to listen, follow directions and give feedback when needed.

Education remains valuable

For prospective students who are hesitant to enroll because they are worried AI will take over the field, McKeithen emphasized the value of education. He believes that knowledge is power.

The more knowledge you have, the more attractive you’re going to look to the job market. An institution like TSTC has a top-grade Cybersecurity program that is going to teach you what you need to know to be successful.

It’s going to give you opportunities to use the tools that you’re going to use in the field. McKeithen’s advice is to understand that education is key to navigating the evolving landscape of cybersecurity.