Fighting the battle to keep sensitive company data and personal information safe from the clutches of hackers is a constant struggle against ever-evolving cybersecurity threats. From catastrophic ransomware and data destroying worms to info tampering and computer hijacking, new risks force companies to adapt or face devastating results if and when they're hit. As the danger of data security breaches grows in insidious directions, it's critical for technological innovation to rise up and meet the challenge head on.

Eager to see what new cybersecurity tricks are empowering companies to stave off attacks? Here's a look at three innovative areas of technology that are poised to make a difference in the world of data protection and info security.

AI and Machine Learning

Advancements in artificial intelligence over the last decade have brought machine learning technologies to the fore across many industries. These breakthroughs allow software to continually monitor a system, watch for patterns, and detect unusual behavior on the network. Paired with AI, the software can learn and adapt to better uncover cybersecurity threats based on previous experiences and human input. This allows security teams to more readily catch and contain breaches and threats in real-time, preventing significant damage and system-wide infection when hackers strike.

As computers have grown more advanced and powerful, development of more adaptive artificial intelligence has been steadily evolving as a natural part of the study of scientific robotics. Machine learning is applicable to a wide range of industries and uses, but its relevance to the information security field could be a game-changer in the future for tightening cybersecurity and containing threats before they spin out of control.

Deception Technology

Sometimes the best line of defense against hackers is to beat them at their own game. Developed as a means of flipping the script on cybercriminals, deception technologies like sinkholes, honeypots and black holes turn tricky tactics used by criminals of the computing underworld against them. They're used to trip up hackers, thwart attacks, gain vital information on the perpetrators, and delay invaders long enough to deploy other defenses.

Deception technology often acts as an internal layer of protection that kicks in when cyberthreats breach your infrastructure. Honeypots, for example, act as alluring decoys - prime targets that lure hackers to a section of the network but don't actually contain anything important. Applying stealthy tricks and covert defenses can make a big difference in enhancing security company-wide, and learning from each new generation of hackers can provide valuable insights into strategies to keep them at bay.

Biometric Scanning

Beyond traditional desktop and laptop computers, portable tech online-enabled hardware is a hot target for cybercriminals to gain access to wider networks and sensitive information. New smartphones are beginning to deploy fascinating technology that verify a user's identity through biometric scanning -- a scientific process that reads body data to grant access. What once rested squarely in the realm of science fiction is now a reality, opening the door to new ways to defend against online threats.

From facial recognition and fingerprint reading software to retina and heart scanning, biometric options are powerfully accurate means of verifying user identities and preventing stolen data from being used by hackers. While this technology is still newer, it has great potential to be applied as a gatekeeping mechanism to prevent unwanted intrusion in the future.

Alongside each of these innovative cybersecurity-enhancing technologies comes a need for skilled individuals to implement, maintain and update the cutting edge systems that will better protect companies against modern hackers well into the future.