A roadmap for harnessing AI-powered intelligence for proactive risk management

In today’s rapidly evolving security landscape, enterprise organizations face increasing challenges in ensuring resilience against physical, cyber, and operational threats. The importance of leveraging security data intelligence for proactive threat detection, decision-making, and crisis management has never been greater. Dataminr, a leader in AI-powered security solutions, plays a critical role in providing organizations with real-time insights to mitigate risks and enhance resilience.

SecurityInfoWatch.com Editorial Director Steve Lasky recently interviewed Rob Crowley, a security expert at Dataminr, who discusses the transformative impact of AI on security operations. Crowley has extensive work experience in various leadership and analytical roles. He has been serving as the Chief Security Officer at Dataminr since January 2022. Previously, they worked at Uber, holding several positions, including Senior Program Manager for Global Law Enforcement Outreach & Partnerships.

Crowley’s discussion extends from integrating cybersecurity and physical security into a unified risk management strategy to enhancing global travel risk management, providing valuable perspectives on how AI-powered platforms can streamline decision-making, reduce response times, and optimize security operations. He also sheds light on the future of security operations centers (GSOCs) and how AI agents will collaborate with human specialists to predict and mitigate threats before they escalate.

Steve Lasky: When it comes to enterprise organizations, resiliency, and the overall security framework, things have evolved, especially in the last decade. Given today's evolving threats, what key elements should be included in a security framework to ensure resilience?

Rob Crowley: Understanding the business is the first and most essential element. Security teams must align their core mission with the business's goals. While traditionally focused on protecting people and facilities, more entrepreneurial teams are considering how security can support the organization's overall resilience and recovery.

Knowing where the business operates, identifying potential vulnerabilities and planning scenarios are crucial. Corporate security must establish strong relationships across various departments, including HR, legal, and facilities. It's also about increasing internal awareness and ensuring stakeholders understand how security supports the company's success.

When security personnel have a clear understanding of the company’s operations, they can be proactive in anticipating potential threats. For instance, geopolitical instability, economic changes, or cyberattacks may disrupt supply chains or business continuity. By being embedded in strategic planning, security professionals can offer valuable insights and ensure that contingency plans are robust and actionable.

Furthermore, leveraging real-time intelligence and predictive analytics can strengthen an organization's resilience. Security teams equipped with actionable data can make faster, more informed decisions to mitigate threats before they escalate.

Lasky: C-level security personnel need a seat at the table to engage with other business leaders. How does this collaboration enhance risk management?

Crowley: Security is a cross-functional department that touches many areas of a business. When security teams are involved in strategic conversations, they can offer valuable insights into risks that other departments may overlook.

For example, consider the financial impact of a supply chain disruption. Security teams can identify potential weak points and recommend diversification or alternative routes to minimize losses. Similarly, understanding local political and environmental factors can inform decisions on where to expand or adjust operations.

A good example is understanding the risks associated with third-party vendors. If a geopolitical event affects a key supplier, how does that impact downstream services? Having a security voice in these discussions ensures that resilience planning is comprehensive.

Regular engagement with business leaders also helps break down silos. By fostering cross-departmental collaboration, organizations can develop more cohesive and adaptive security strategies.

Lasky: How can organizations integrate cybersecurity, physical security, and operational resilience into a unified risk management strategy?

Crowley: One practical approach is to establish cross-functional committees that address physical, cyber, and reputational risks together. Breaking down silos and fostering collaboration ensures a holistic perspective on resilience.

These committees should include representatives from IT, legal, compliance, HR, and operations to ensure that risks are viewed from multiple perspectives. By using scenario planning and conducting regular crisis management exercises, organizations can build a robust framework that enhances their response capabilities.

Additionally, real-time data intelligence plays a significant role in unifying risk management. Platforms like Dataminr can aggregate insights from public data sources, providing timely alerts that enable rapid decision-making. This integration creates a seamless flow of information across departments.

Lasky: Dataminr focuses on using security data intelligence to predict, prevent, and respond to threats. How can organizations balance resilience with cost-effectiveness when implementing data-driven security measures?

Crowley: It begins with identifying top concerns and understanding where technology can serve as a force multiplier. Not every organization needs to spend billions. Instead, they should focus on leveraging technology to enhance operational efficiency.

For instance, Dataminr processes vast amounts of data, to the extent that it would take a human 950 years to read the equivalent in real-time. AI enables companies to detect and respond to events quickly, reducing reliance on large security teams while maintaining situational awareness.

Furthermore, organizations can measure the return on investment by evaluating incident response times, operational continuity, and potential cost savings from preventing security breaches.

Lasky: AI and machine learning are prominent in security. How does Dataminr leverage AI to enhance threat detection and mitigation?

Crowley: We use purpose-built AI explicitly designed to detect events and threats from public data. Our AI models analyze text, images, video, sound, and sensor data, providing a comprehensive view of emerging situations.

The advantage is scale. AI can analyze millions of data points in seconds, far beyond human capability. Additionally, we continuously retrain our models to improve accuracy and predictive capabilities.

AI’s ability to perform multilingual analysis is another strength. Our platform supports over 170 languages, making it easier for global organizations to monitor threats in real-time across different regions.

By leveraging AI, companies can proactively mitigate threats, optimize resource allocation, and reduce operational downtime.

Lasky: How does AI contribute to cost-effectiveness while enhancing resilience?

Crowley: AI platforms like Dataminr operate 24/7, processing data across multiple languages and formats. Continuous monitoring reduces the need for manual oversight, allowing security teams to focus on strategic decisions.

For instance, in retail, quickly detecting looting or active shooter events can prevent loss and protect employees. Similarly, during natural disasters, timely alerts enable businesses to safeguard their assets and reopen operations more quickly, benefiting both revenue and community recovery.

Organizations also benefit from AI’s ability to provide predictive insights. AI can identify patterns that may indicate emerging threats, enabling companies to take preventive measures rather than reactively managing crises.

Lasky: Dataminr recently launched a travel risk management solution. What challenges does it address, and how does AI enhance traveler safety?

Crowley: Travel risk management has long been reliant on slow, manual processes. Existing systems often fail to capture events or provide generic, delayed alerts. Our AI-based solution offers real-time, hyper-local intelligence.

For example, during the recent Munich attack, our platform delivered 67 updates within five hours, providing actionable insights to affected clients. AI continuously synthesizes data, generating live briefs that evolve as the situation changes.

Travelers receive personalized alerts based on their exact location, not just general city-wide information. This level of specificity allows organizations to make faster, more informed decisions to protect their employees.

Lasky: How might AI solutions like yours transform GSOCs (Global Security Operations Centers)?

Crowley: AI is a game-changer for GSOCs. Traditionally, operators manually monitor news and cross-reference data to assess risks. Our platform automates this process, offering real-time, actionable insights.

AI agents can analyze events, determine exposure, and trigger alerts within seconds. With automated messaging, security teams can quickly inform employees and manage incidents, reducing response times and improving decision-making.

Additionally, GSOCs can leverage AI-powered dashboards that provide visualized insights into ongoing incidents, making it easier to manage multiple situations simultaneously.

Lasky: Looking ahead, what role will AI play in the future of corporate security?

Crowley: AI will continue to evolve, moving from reactive to predictive capabilities. By analyzing vast datasets, AI can anticipate threats before they materialize, enabling organizations to take proactive measures.

The future GSOC will likely feature human specialists working alongside AI agents. This collaboration will enhance situational awareness, improve crisis response, and ultimately strengthen organizational resilience.