RPA in Cyber Security & Its Use Cases - A Brief Guide

Today various organisations look for ways to automate their processes and, hence, involve Robotic Process Automation (RPA) technology. This technology has even found its application in Cybersecurity. RPA in Cybersecurity can be used to automate the cybersecurity process to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of defending against cyber-attacks. We have seen that many businesses, in recent years, have become victims of cyber-attacks and other digital threats. Every day there is an exchange of a massive amount of data and information over the internet, so safeguarding the data has become necessary for companies.   

RPA and Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help reduce the frequency and damage of cyber-attacks. According to recent studies from IBM, companies adopting AI and Robotic Process Automation can control instances of data leak in 74 days less than organisations that do not rely on such technology. In addition, companies using AI and RPA can additionally save £2.5 million every year.  

In this blog, you will learn the need for RPA in Cyber Security. Learn how RPA is used to automate Cyber security activities. Read this blog to know more! 

Table of Contents 

1) Idea of RPA implementation in Cybersecurity  

2) How is RPA favourable for securing IT Systems

3) Cybersecurity system in RPA: Its types 

4) Use Cases of RPA in Cybersecurity 

5) Conclusion 

Idea of RPA implementation in Cybersecurity    

Cybersecurity is the process of protecting systems, data, hardware, and software from cyberattacks. Even though technology has evolved so much, human involvement is still the biggest issue affecting cybersecurity systems' overall quality and effectiveness. Data and systems are risked in terms when errors made by humans performing manually repetitive tasks. Such tasks essentially result in data breaches and expose sensitive data. Data and systems can truly be secured once these mistakes are eliminated.

RPA offers assistance to prevent cybersecurity attacks and improvise the system in an organisation by decreasing manual, repetitive tasks. This technology can be used by IT people to create software bots and to mimic and accomplish rule-based processes. Through the automated detection and alert notification system, RPA can bring down the risk of cyberattacks and increase the response rate of the system.

To automate a typical repetitive task, RPA has a logical flow process. Firstly, a business process flow needs to be created, and developed by the designer. Next, this process flow will then be recorded by the robots or RPA bots which complete rule-based tasks by working closely with apps and data. Then the RPA workflows and functioning of robots are monitored by an orchestrator.

However, human intervention will be needed if there is any abnormality in the process. At last, the robotic process is produced, and to increase the efficiency and accuracy of the process it is continuously refined. Regular monitoring of this process is critical to ensure that robots work within the given limits by limiting access to the RPA atmosphere.

So far, we have discussed how RPA can be implemented on a typical repetitive task. One thing to be noted is that in an organisation, before bringing in RPA, there is a need for proper strategy. It includes the ways to engage the workforce through this technology and whether there is enough talent on board who can work on it. Secondly, assessing the suitability of this technology in the long term while considering change management. Thirdly, is the use of RPA making things easier or difficult what are the goals that need to be achieved in the short and long term once this technology is implemented in the current functionalities?
 

How is RPA favourable for securing IT Systems

Here, we discuss some of the benefits which can be achieved by implementing RPA cyber security. 

Human error infiltration prevention and closing cyber threats immediately 

Working on unsecured networks can lead to increased risk for cyber threats. Other threats involve the presence of malicious viruses that can affect the system and provide a window for cybercriminals to hack essential data. Technology like RPA and AI-enabled bots can reduce these kinds of threats and create better security measures by raising the alarm to the IT team. 

Access control for company systems

For better risk management, the RPA can eliminate repetitive tasks and reduce the number of users accessing computer systems. Some tasks that involve repetitive logins can be eliminated if RPA security processes are added to the company's workflow. 

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Cybersecurity system in RPA: Its types

Different types of cybersecurity systems exist in RPA, which are discussed below: 

Application security

In cybersecurity, the primary purpose of Application security is to protect the data and code of the software from being the target of external cyber threats. If there is a defect in the design of the application system or a defect found while deploying, developing, maintaining, or upgrading the system, this Application security protects it. The focus should be on reducing the likelihood of malicious hackers accessing systems, applications, or data without authorisation in all application security operations.

A countermeasure or security control is any action taken to ensure application security. For instance, an application firewall is a security control for securing software. Based on the installed program, firewalls decide how files are handled and executed. However, other types of countermeasures exist, such as the use of antivirus programs, spyware detection, encrypting and decrypting of programs, etc., to name a few. 

Network security 

Network security is another cybersecurity measure implemented by an organisation to protect the usability and integrity of its data and computer network. There is a presence of some network security components that are used in the network security system. Some of them include Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), anti-malware and antivirus applications, web security, etc., to name a few.

A VPN regularly encrypts the communication between an endpoint and a network. A remote-access VPN, which uses IPsec, validates the communication between a device and a network. This way, an added layer of encryption and authentication is added that helps enhance the protocol's security. This functionality can also be used in RPA bots. An IPS is another tool that prevents any malicious activity on the network by monitoring and controlling such activity by reporting or blocking them.

Many malware affects a network and remains inactive for days or weeks. This malware includes ransomware, spyware, trojans, and viruses. The role of anti-malware programs and antivirus is to detect such viruses or malware and further track files that have been infected by them so that they can be removed and damages can be fixed. These programs can also be implemented to secure RPA systems. 

Disaster recovery 

In cybersecurity, an organisation's capacity to react to and recover from a situation that adversely impacts business operations is known as Disaster Recovery. As soon as a disaster strikes, the organisation should be able to use its critical systems and IT infrastructure, including commencing the Robotic Process Automation activities and using the Disaster Recovery techniques. These involve risk assessment performance, setting up priorities, and developing recovery strategies. 

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Use Cases of RPA in Cybersecurity 

Here, we discuss some of the use cases of RPA in Cybersecurity: 

Automating tasks of data enrichment and data management privilege 

RPA's use in cybersecurity can help human professionals shift their attention to more serious situations that could potentially endanger the organisation's security. Many of the data related tasks can be automated by the RPA bots which will send alerts to the IT teams. It is due to the reason that there are some manual tasks like data gathering, obtaining website URLs, analysing domains, getting IP addresses, etc., which can cause errors. However, with the help of RPA, these tasks can be scaled up quickly.

RPA can prevent data leaks by entering the correct data and values. In addition, the automation technology can also review the information sent over email or by message to ensure that such sensitive information does not go to inappropriate email addresses. Through these capabilities of RPA security, Use Cases of RPA can be applied to automatically privilege user data management where there is involvement in manipulation or sharing data as per requirement.

Detection of data loss and unauthorised access prevention  

RPA bots can be created, deployed, and programmed in cybersecurity to detect potential data loss. To ensure that such data loss does not happen, they block unknown users to restrict access. The RPA bots automatically block any unauthorised access when they are running specific tasks and functions. Thus, they are able to contribute towards protecting the data from any unauthorised user. In addition, better efficiency and accuracy of the process make these bots useful to keep track of access and record every individual's action and give access to only authorised individuals. 

Software Updation 

If any software update is required in the system, then RPA bots can identify the requirement through pop-ups and alert the IT team, informing them about the necessary action. Regular software updates are standard in cybersecurity as they remove most of the vulnerabilities that could occur and fill up the software gaps in web applications. 

Using Artificial Intelligence to track Inventory Application 

RPA has the potential to help any organisation classify and discover sensitive data automatically. This can be further amplified by the use of algorithms of machine learning and artificial intelligence to automate findings of risky data; this is needed because organisations keep deploying new technologies and systems, and with the help of IT, there should be a proper and effective flow of data between legacy machines and new systems. 

Detecting cyber threats 

RPA bots powered by AI can are used for detecting cyber threats, such as spotting odd login patterns through account activity of users, unusual changes in system files, and spikes in database volumes. Analysts from the cybersecurity team cannot manually do this type of detection as they need to look through a massive amount of data which can make them weary, and the process might take a lot of time. 

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Conclusion 

After reading this blog, you will now be able to appreciate the idea behind implementing RPA in Cybersecurity and the favourability of RPA in securing IT systems along with their use cases. Robotic Process Automation aims to automate repetitive manual operations and assist employees in concentrating more on other essential duties. The cybersecurity management team can detect and cease many suspicious activities using Robotic Process Automation.

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