The rapid evolution of information technology (IT), particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), is transforming the business landscape. With the AI and ML market projected to exceed $400 billion in value, IT leaders are increasingly leveraging these technologies to enhance various aspects of business operations.
“AI-powered business transformation is still in its early days. AI will only continue to transform how companies operate, go to market, and compete,” Forbes predicts. Senior executives at organizations that are setting the pace for advanced IT adoption rank cybersecurity, regulatory compliance and privacy issues as the top three challenges.
Moreover, the magazine notes, AI-first companies are leveraging ML to integrate workflows and data across business units. A common characteristic among the leaders is the involvement of senior executives’ commitment to upskilling their workforces to design, deploy and optimize the next generation of digital defenses.
How Do You Join the Next Generation of Information Systems Professionals?
Murray State University’s online Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS) with a concentration in Information Security program is a top educational path for professional development in this dynamic field. The program prepares graduates with comprehensive skills to defend information systems from cyberattacks, malware, data breaches and other vulnerabilities. The interdisciplinary curriculum includes elective courses that address the top challenges mentioned in the Forbes article:
- Information Systems Security provides an overview of security challenges, mitigation controls, network intrusion prevention and detection, incident response, public key encryption, and message authentication.
- Information Security Risk Management engages students in using industry-standard frameworks to conduct IT risk assessments, develop risk management policies and mitigation plans, and define security measurements.
- Legal Issues in Information Security surveys, among other topics, privacy concepts in financial, healthcare, education and corporate verticals. It also surveys legal issues related to data breaches, notifications, contracts, governance and investigations.
“Whether you want to work for a single organization, partner with law enforcement agencies or offer your cybersecurity services as an independent contractor, there are plenty of career options you can explore once you graduate,” according to Indeed. The skills gained through this program are in demand for roles that pay close to $120,000 annually.
What Is Advanced Machine Learning, and What Impact Is AI Having on Business Information Technology?
Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence. AI is the broader concept of creating machines that can simulate human intelligence, while ML refers to the methods and algorithms that allow machines to learn from data without being explicitly programmed. ML is the tool that enables AI to automatically learn and adapt.
Digital transformation and AI/ML adoption across industries are solving core challenges in information technology in business. Companies on the leading edge of AI integration are gaining efficiencies by reducing systems development time, boosting productivity and producing higher-quality outcomes. Specific examples include:
- Better digital defense: Using advanced ML and AI algorithms supports proactive cyberdefenses that identify potential IT vulnerabilities and close them before hackers can exploit them.
- Higher productivity: AI/ML-enabled automation relieves employees of rote work, freeing them to participate in strategic activities and streamline processes to reduce costs.
- Improved software QA: AI accelerates the identification of software issues, suggests improvements and ensures engineers use the right tools to implement them.
With ML and deep-learning capabilities, AI technology is transforming business information technology by making processes more efficient, effective and focused on key objectives and tasks.
How Does Machine Learning Work to Extract Value From Real-time Data?
According to another Forbes article, streaming data and ML are expanding at astonishing rates. The market for real-time data is expected to grow by 20% annually through 2030. Also, the ML market is growing by over 38% annually. Companies that are ahead of the curve in harnessing the two technologies gain efficiencies that will propel them to market-leader status over laggards.
“Not only can machine learning and real-time data help organizations make better decisions and operate with more efficiency, but they can also help them save money using predictive analytics and unlock new revenue streams by supercharging innovation,” according to Forbes.
ML has an unrivaled capacity for crunching enormous unstructured data sets, uncovering trends and anomalies and analyzing the results in real time. Predictive analytics enable business leaders to make decisions more rapidly and with greater confidence in verticals ranging from customer behavior and preferences to risk assessment, supply chain optimization, marketing strategy and employee performance. Graduates of Murray State University’s online MSIS Information Security program are prepared to enhance business information systems using these modern technologies.
Learn more about Murray State University’s online MSIS with a Concentration in Information Security program.
