A GPU, or Graphics Processing Unit, is a processor optimized for many operations at the same time. That parallel design makes it ideal for AI training and inference, image rendering, and other workloads that can be split across thousands of cores.
In cyber security, GPUs matter because they change both attack and defense capabilities. Attackers use them to accelerate password cracking, cryptocurrency mining, and large-scale data processing, while defenders use them for machine learning, malware analysis, and high-speed analytics. In dense AI systems, GPUs also create operational risk: they draw large, bursty power and produce significant heat, so voltage disturbances or cooling problems can trigger throttling and reduce performance without a full outage. Monitoring GPU telemetry alongside power and thermal data helps operators detect instability, workload abuse, or infrastructure weaknesses before they become service-impacting failures.