Adversarial AI: Attacking, Defending & Governing ML Systems

Intermediate Level
1 week to complete
Flexible Schedule

Matt Bushby

What You’ll Learn

Analyse adversarial attack vectors targeting ML systems including poisoning, model stealing, & backdoor exploits, and assess their operational impact

Design & implement layered technical defences using differential privacy, guardrail protection, & secure algorithm design to maintain model integrity

Plan and conduct AI security testing using red, purple, and blue teaming approaches to validate ML model robustness under adversarial conditions

Evaluate responsible AI governance frameworks and regulatory requirements to ensure AI systems are ethical, fair, and compliant

Skills You’ll Gain

Cyber Governance Malware Protection AI Security Responsible AI Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) Secure Coding Information Privacy Regulatory Compliance Data Ethics Data Governance Penetration Testing Machine Learning Methods Cybersecurity Model Training Artificial Intelligence Cyber Attacks Governance Security Testing Security Controls Threat Modeling

Shareable Certificate

Earn a shareable certificate to add to your LinkedIn profile.

Develop Your Specialized Knowledge

Learn new concepts from industry experts

Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool

Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects

Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 5 modules in this course

As machine learning integrates into cyber defences, so do methods for breaking it. This module helps you understand how machine learning systems are manipulated and how to defend against it. You will examine adversarial machine learning through examples of threat models, adversarial inputs, and poisoning attacks. Learn how data can compromise models and how attackers exploit vulnerabilities. This module also covers defensive techniques to build resilient models and implement countermeasures. Safeguard your models in malware detection, intrusion systems, or fraud analytics against sophisticated attacks.

As AI systems deploy, exposure to adversarial threats and misuse increases. This module explores how AI is attacked and exploited, a critical focus for cyber professionals. You will dive into AI-specific attack vectors: model poisoning, information leakage, model stealing, and backdoor exploits. These threats compromise AI performance and pose risks to data privacy, intellectual property, and user safety. Examine harmful AI outputs from biased data or manipulation. Learn how output alignment, ethical censorship, and AI-powered surveillance affect public trust and legal compliance. Analyze case studies to identify AI vulnerabilities and understand societal consequences of insecure deployments. Ensure AI shapes the world securely and responsibly.

Defending AI systems against emerging threats is critical. This module explores technical controls and testing strategies to secure AI models. You will learn to apply AI-specific defences, from secure algorithm design to privacy-preserving techniques like differential privacy. Examine how to test and validate AI model robustness using red, purple, and blue teaming approaches. Focus on balancing security, utility, and performance to make informed trade-offs. Gain practical skills to implement trusted controls and rigorously test for resilience against real-world threats, whether building or auditing AI systems.

As AI systems grow, responsible design, deployment, and governance are imperative. This module introduces Responsible AI principles: fairness, bias mitigation, transparency, and ethical accountability. You will explore how AI decisions impact individuals and communities, navigating trade-offs between user privacy, model performance, and transparency. Unpack challenges like data sourcing, labelling, and ethical implications of large-scale models. Learn practical strategies for enhancing trust in AI systems. Dive into global frameworks, policies, and governance models supporting secure, ethical AI adoption. Ensure AI systems are functional, fair, transparent, and aligned with regulatory expectations.

In this module, you will analyse a simulated adversarial attack on a deployed ML model, identify the attack type, and recommend a defence strategy. The project allows you to build a comprehensive portfolio artefacts demonstrating your end-to-end capabilities.