The City of San Diego, in a significant step towards bolstering cybersecurity for local businesses, has launched a handy tool that promises to erect a digital defense for businesses with limited resources. The “My eCISO”, a new platform in the arsenal of the San Diego Regional Cyber Lab, uses artificial intelligence to guide both public and private organizations when it comes to crafting their cyber-protection strategies. The web-based tool is aimed at small business owners who are most vulnerable to cyber threats because of their lack of technical knowledge and manpower.
My eCISO, an AI-driven chatbot, is a virtual Chief Information Security Officer who can help those who are unsure about how to establish a cybersecurity program. Jonathan Behnke is the Chief Information Officer of the Department of IT. He was quoted by City of San Diego as saying that “organizations and small business with limited resources” need all the assistance they can get in order to protect themselves from the ever-changing digital landscape. Behnke’s comments highlight the uphill struggle smaller organizations face in order to stay afloat despite technological changes.
My eCISO was created as a result of a partnership between the City of San Diego and California Polytechnic State University. Amazon Web Services also played a role. Users begin the interaction by chatting with the AI, which asks questions and analyzes responses in order to assess the security landscape for the entity that it is assisting. It then generates a report card, aligned with the benchmarks of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Design choices ensure that privacy concerns are alleviated, as only the user who entered their data can access and inspect it. The system will automatically delete any conversational records within 30 days. Users can also take control and delete their data before the period expires. According to City of San Diego these features were deliberately integrated into My eCISO. This has made it a paragon of security for users.
My eCISO, which is part of the San Diego Regional Cyber Lab (as well as other regional cybersecurity initiatives), continues to be a key component in the fight against cyber threats. The lab offers specialized training, and provides resources to combat this threat. The lab’s goal is to increase cybersecurity awareness by collaborating with cutting-edge technology and intelligence gathering assets. It also serves as a stronghold for the local economy in the face of cyber malice, which shows no signs to abate.