Key Takeaways From Cybersecurity Industry Leaders

Today's morning reading finds me sharing five key business takeaways pulled from from The DEF CON 32 Hackers’ Almanack: 1. AI Security Needs a Fundamental Overhaul AI red teaming, as currently practiced, is insufficient for securing AI systems. The approach needs to shift from "penetrate and patch" to "secure by design" to address issues like hallucinations, biases, and prompt-injection vulnerabilities. Businesses deploying AI must integrate systematic design, definition, and testing processes rather than relying solely on red teaming 2. Cybersecurity Must be Built into Product Design, Not Bolted On The AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC) demonstrated that AI can help discover and fix software vulnerabilities, but major security issues remain. Companies must integrate security measures at the foundational level of software and hardware design, similar to how some regulatory frameworks approach medical devices 3. Ransomware Defense is Failing—Alternative Approaches Are Needed Despite government efforts, ransomware attacks remain a growing billion-dollar industry. Some hackers, like Vangelis Stykas, have taken an activist approach by directly targeting ransomware infrastructure, leaking decryption keys, and disrupting attacks. Businesses need to reconsider their reliance on law enforcement and look into proactive defenses, information-sharing initiatives, and more aggressive cybersecurity strategies 4. Biohacking & DIY Medicine Present Opportunities and Risks The ability to 3D print medical devices and self-synthesize pharmaceuticals is becoming a reality, offering both cost-saving benefits and major regulatory challenges. Companies in healthcare and biotech must prepare for the implications of decentralized medicine, ensuring product safety, while governments need to balance innovation with regulatory oversight 5. The Expanding Attack Surface in Connected Systems Vehicles, smart locks, cloud services, and voting machines all demonstrated significant vulnerabilities at DEF CON 32. Bluetooth in cars, smart locks in buildings, and modems in homes remain highly exploitable, highlighting the need for businesses to prioritize secure architectures in IoT and cloud applications. The clean energy transition, particularly electric vehicle networks, must integrate security at the infrastructure level to prevent future systemic vulnerabilities #techtrends #defcon #Hacking #AI #Ransomware #Biohacking #Vulnerability #EthicalHacking #CyberThreats #Infosec #DigitalPrivacy

How do we navigate AI's promise and peril in cybersecurity? Findings from Gartner's latest report "AI in Cybersecurity: Define Your Direction" are both exciting and sobering. While 90% of enterprises are piloting GenAI, most lack proper security controls and building tomorrow's defenses on today's vulnerabilities. Key Takeaways: ✅ 90% of enterprises are still figuring this out and researching or piloting GenAI without proper AI TRiSM (trust, risk, and security management) controls. ✅ GenAI is creating new attack surfaces. Three areas demand immediate attention: • Content anomaly detection (hallucinations, malicious outputs) • Data protection (leakage, privacy violations) • Application security (adversarial prompting, vector database attacks) ✅ The Strategic Imperative Gartner's three-pronged approach resonates with what I'm seeing work: 1.   Adapt application security for AI-driven threats 2.   Integrate AI into your cybersecurity roadmap (not as an afterthought) 3.   Build AI considerations into risk management from day one What This Means for Leaders: ✅ For CIOs: You're architecting the future of enterprise security. The report's prediction of 15% incremental spend on application and data security through 2025 is an investment in organizational resilience. ✅ For CISOs: The skills gap is real, but so is the opportunity. By 2028, generative augments will eliminate the need for specialized education in 50% of entry-level cybersecurity positions. Start preparing your teams now. My Take: ✅The organizations that will win are the ones that move most thoughtfully. AI TRiSM is a mindset shift toward collaborative risk management where security, compliance, and operations work as one. ✅AI's transformative potential in cybersecurity is undeniable, but realizing that potential requires us to be equally transformative in how we approach risk, governance, and team development. What's your organization's biggest AI security challenge right now? I'd love to hear your perspective in the comments. Coming up on CXO Spice: 🎯 AI at Work (with Boston Consulting Group (BCG)): A deep dive into practical AI strategies to close the gaps and turn hype into real impact 🔐 Cyber Readiness (with Commvault): Building resilient security frameworks in the GenAI era To Stay ahead in #Technology and #Innovation:  👉 Subscribe to the CXO Spice Newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gy2RJ9xg  📺 Subscribe to CXO Spice YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gnMc-Vpj #Cybersecurity #AI #GenAI #RiskManagement #BoardDirectors #CIOs #CISOs

Our team has been studying a common area of C-suite tension: The tug-of-war felt by CIOs and CISOs trying to align rapid tech progress with solid cybersecurity.  To better understand these dynamics, we teamed up with our global search partner, Amrop, on a series of interviews with CIOs and CISOs in the U.S. and Europe to get their perspective on this area of tension. As part of this project, I had the pleasure of interviewing Harvey Ewing, a CISO turned CIO and former Chief Operation Officer at Specialized Security Services and a Mercy Technology Security Board Member. Harvey shared four insights that stuck out to me: #1 - Risk needs to be accepted at the right level: If you have the CIO and CISO trying to accept risk at their level, it exacerbates friction. He emphasized the importance of risk acceptance happening at the senior executive and board levels. #2 - CISOs must be business-focused leaders: Harvey stressed the importance of CISOs embracing a business mindset and business language. The reasons are twofold: 1) It supports more pragmatic conversations with CIOs about balancing security objectives with business goals, and 2) It’s critical for communicating effectively with boards.  On the latter point, Harvey shared a personal story. In his early days as a CISO, he made the mistake of being too technical during a board presentation. The board’s feedback: your job is to help us translate risk levels in a business context. #3 - DevSecOps collaboration: He suggests integrating application security engineers into DevSecOps teams. When coders run into security issues (e.g., clickjacking), security engineers don’t just enumerate the problems; they help remediate them. This inclusion can enhance collaboration between security and development teams, leading to more secure and efficient development processes. #4 Culture fit is key: Nowadays, the intersection between business, technology, and security goes far beyond CIOs and CISOs. As Harvey notes, a new alphabet soup has emerged: CTOs, CDOs, CPOs, and CCOs are now part of the configuration. As such, it’s more important than ever for every C-suite leader to be the right culture fit. The secret sauce? Ego-free leaders who can keep the company’s big-picture interests top of mind. A conflict of competing priorities can exist in any reporting structure, not just with CIOs and CISOs. And it’s certainly not always the case that conflict will present itself. Plenty of CIOs and CISOs I have met have strong working relationships. That said, understanding these common challenges and solutions can guide companies in hiring and managing CIOs and CISOs effectively. Want more insights from Harvey and other CIOs and CISOs? Check out our full insight paper, linked in the comments.

For the first time in history, the #1 hacker in the US is AI …but as the threats have been evolving, so have the solutions. Over the past year, the focus for all major players has shifted to building an AI-enhanced SOC (Security Operations Center). Every company has a different approach, but the key trend has been building out data infrastructure and response capabilities on top of the data that companies already have. Here are the key components of the Agentic AI SOC. ◾ Sources of Data ◾Data Infrastructure ◾Response and Decision Layer ◾AI Agents that act on these insights While the ultimate goal is to create AI Agents, that is not necessarily where the value lies. Companies were able to whip up AI Agents shortly after the first LLMs were introduced. I think the value will be in the data, both the Source and the Data Infrastructure Layer. 1. Sources of Data. This stems from a large installed customer base. Here, leaders in Network, Endpoint, Identity, and Cloud security have a significant advantage, as they already possess large amounts of data. 2. Data Infrastructure: This is an emerging area where there is ample room for new entrants to offer innovative solutions. It is also the primary source of acquisitions for large, publicly traded companies. As Francis Odum from Software Analyst Cyber Research put it “We know that data sources are multiplying rapidly with GenAI. More tools mean> more data sent into SIEMs > which means more storage, costs, and alert noise! If we solve issues at the data sources (filter, normalize, threat intel enrichment, and importantly, fix detection rules, etc.), everything else will follow. In the next phase of cybersecurity, the winners will be those who can move from collecting data to orchestrating outcomes and build cohesive platforms. Where do the public players stand today? 🟩 Companies that are building unique platforms are winning: Zscaler, Cloudflare, CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks 🟥 Companies that rely on antiquated technologies are losing: Splunk, Exabeam We just published Spear 's updated Cybersecurity Primer, which delves into recent cybersecurity trends and provides a lay of the cybersecurity landscape. You can access it here: https://lnkd.in/gWdRfxnz #cybersecurity #ai #technology

Nikesh Arora did not hold back on AI this earnings call. And I was loving his take on DeepSeek, AI Agents, and AI accelerating on-prem to cloud transition.🚀 I expected AI for cybersecurity to be a big theme in Palo Alto Networks’ Q2 earnings call, and Nikesh did not disappoint. 😀 If you haven’t listened yet, I highly recommend it. Here are some standout insights that grabbed my attention. 1. AI is accelerating both cyberattacks and defenses. The future of security must be AI-driven. 2. Legacy on-prem architectures are blocking AI adoption, driving a resurgence in cloud transformation. 3. Bad actors are using AI to create attacks faster, generate custom payloads, and evade detection. 4. Security is a data problem. AI needs complete context to stop threats before they escalate. 5. To deploy AI securely, enterprises must isolate models, run firewalls, and enforce strict data guardrails. 6. The biggest cloud security shift is happening in runtime—AI-driven agents will be key to defense. 7. DeepSeek is a pivotal moment for AI—cheaper, more efficient, and fueling experimentation across industries. AI firewalls will become essential to protecting enterprises from both external threats and AI misuse. (on Hamza Fodderwala’s question around AI proliferation) 8. Agentic AI is the next evolution—autonomous security agents that act in real-time to protect systems. (on Matt Hedberg's question around Agentic AI 9. Building AI-driven security agents that automate detection and remediation is a major opportunity. (on Brian Essex, CFA question around AI across the platform) AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s actively reshaping cybersecurity right now. The stakes are higher, the threats are faster, and automation is no longer optional. Aside, among all cybersecurity companies, PANW feels already knee-deep in AI. 🔐 #AI #Cybersecurity #DeepSeek #AIAgents

From recent conversations with CISOs on AI and cybersecurity, it’s apparent that three priorities are emerging for security leaders: 1. Securing the Organization's Use of AI: As AI technologies become integral to decision-making processes, data analysis, and overall operational efficiency, safeguarding these systems against potential threats and vulnerabilities is paramount. This involves implementing robust policies and processes, access controls, and continuous monitoring of AI models to mitigate risks. 2. Leveraging AI within the Security Group: Second is the need for security groups to actively incorporate AI into their own security operations. ML has been around for some time, and been effective for sifting signal from noise. But what is promising are new AI-driven tools to enhance threat detection, incident response, and overall cybersecurity posture. The number one tool I hear security organizations are looking at is Microsoft CoPilot. I don’t have direct experience with it, but it feels like Microsoft is underplaying their hand here and taking a slow and cautious approach. This is an area with a lot of potential for many years to come. 3. Anticipating Adversarial Use of AI: CISOs are increasingly concerned about how adversaries may leverage AI for malicious purposes. The importance of staying vigilant and proactive in anticipating how threat actors might deploy AI in cyberattacks. This involves constant threat intelligence gathering, adopting AI-driven threat modeling, and implementing advanced defenses that can counteract adversarial AI techniques. Perhaps most important is increasing education and training of employees to identify these threats. While there are a lot of questions on how to address these challenges, the sources of information still seem limited. Collaboration between security professionals, AI experts, and industry stakeholders is essential. How professional share best practices, staying informed about emerging threats, and investing in AI-specific security measures will be key to fortifying organizations against evolving cyber risks. What other AI cybersecurity priorities do you see organizations taking on? #AIsecurity #Cybersecurity #CISOInsights #FutureofSecurity #AI #CISO #cyber 

The next $1 trillion company won't be AI — it'll be cybersecurity. Rubrik founder Bipul Sinha predicts that this will happen by 2029, and the data supports his claim. Here's why elite operators in cybersecurity are positioned to win big: Cybercrime costs are projected to hit $10.5 trillion annually by 2026 — up from $3 trillion in 2015. Each attack costs companies an average of $4.35 million in damages. The cybersecurity market is growing at a rate of 14.3% annually, three times faster than the overall software industry. But here's the fundamental flaw in today's approach. Most solutions focus on prevention while overlooking what happens after a breach, which is inevitable. Sinha's insight is dead-on: Security isn't about perfect defense — it's about surviving when your walls fail. His execution-focused approach at Rubrik prioritizes resilience and recovery: • Cloud-native architecture that scales without friction • Immutable backups attackers can't touch • Near-zero recovery time post-attack Microsoft validated this vision with a $100M investment at a $4B valuation. Three market forces are making the trillion-dollar prediction real: 1. The talent crisis creates a massive opportunity With 3.4M unfilled cybersecurity positions globally, companies that automate security will dominate their markets. 2. Security has shifted from a cost center to a business enabler 73% of boards now run dedicated cybersecurity committees. Critical infrastructure protection alone has scaled to a $153B market. 3. Industry consolidation is accelerating Current leaders: • Palo Alto Networks: ~$113B valuation • CrowdStrike: ~$87B • Fortinet: ~$74B The winner will be a platform that delivers end-to-end security without compromise. Is $1T realistic? When digital defense becomes as essential as electricity, this prediction will look conservative. It's not a question of if, but when. Follow me for more software, cybersecurity insights, and execution strategies that work.

As I talk to startups, CISOs, and government leaders, I get asked a lot what I'm watching in terms of trends shaping cybersecurity. As we enter 2025, I shared some of my thoughts on Forbes on what I'm seeing across our portfolio and the industry more broadly. What's on the list? 🌟 Cybersecurity threats will continue to rise - something we've already seen in January. These threats have real-world consequences and government and businesses will need to invest in risk mitigation. 🌟 AI's role in cybersecurity has grown exponentially. In 2025, we'll see this sector evolve tools that aid in threat detection to fully integrated systems capable of autonomous defense, as well as see new iterations like ReGenAI emerge. 🌟 Securing cloud environments will become an even more critical priority, even for critical infrastructure organizations who are becoming more comfortable connecting OT systems. 🌟 Zero Trust will grow to be an even more fundamental part of enterprise security strategies, driving demand for vendors who can consolidate SD-WAN and SASE. 🌟 Cybersecurity will be increasingly integrated into corporate risk frameworks, ensuring that cybersecurity efforts align with physical security, organizational goals and long-term sustainability. Read the rest in Forbes here - https://lnkd.in/gPfBR8PA Dataminr interos.ai Claroty iboss ThreatConnect

Appreciate this story from Belle L. at the The Wall Street Journal. It covers a lot of what we've been seeing at ReliaQuest for years. Enterprise security leaders have dynamic and unique environments that make sending all of their data to a single platform difficult, inefficient and too costly. They want to be able to leverage their existing architecture and their existing tech stack, to detect, contain, investigate and respond in minutes to protect and enable their businesses. The idea that a single security platform will solve enterprise security problems is illogical. Security is a team sport, and enterprise security leaders want an ecosystem of security and technology tools that work together to optimize cost and enable automation -- to make sure their teams are spending time working on the most important things, first and foremost. There are too many platforms selling the enterprise on the “send me all your data” message, which increases the cost to secure an organization. Instead, they want to connect the value of the telemetry they already own to reduce the time to detect and respond to minutes without all the cost and technical overhead. The industry often forgets that we exist to solve the customers' problems, which doesn’t always mean buying more of one tool. Customers should be asking themselves if the one-platform narrative is there to support customers' desired outcomes or the vendors' desire to sell them more. https://lnkd.in/e--D7kBP #cybersecurity

🌟 Back from an inspiring cybersecurity founders’ event where some of the industry’s sharpest minds shared insights that every founder and cybersecurity professional needs to hear. From transformative takes on AI and security, to hard-earned wisdom from 2nd and 3rd-time founders, here are my top takeaways: 1️⃣ Innovative Pricing Models & the Next Cybersecurity Revolution Muddu Sudhakar, Founder of Aisera, highlighted how outcome-based licensing is changing the game, pushing companies to focus on real impact over features. With a $4.6 trillion opportunity in AI-driven automation, he urged founders to identify “killer apps” in copilots, AI search, and AI agents. 2️⃣ Purpose Over Perfection: Building with Grit Listening to Tomer Weingarten, Founder of SentinelOne was truly inspiring, as he shared the raw reality of building a company from the ground up. SentinelOne’s early journey was born out of a frustration with existing endpoint security solutions that simply weren’t innovating. His philosophy? Don’t just stay in “founder mode”—embrace a purpose-driven mindset and be relentless in delivering value. Failure is inevitable. You choose - give up, or learn and move forward. 3️⃣ Customer-Centric Growth & Product-Led Growth Realities The idea that “PLG is overrated” got everyone talking. While it’s effective for some models, many founders agreed that for larger, enterprise-level deals, you need a top-down, sales-driven strategy. Their advice? From day one, make listening to your customers a habit. One founder shared how their first 10 customers were hard-won through hundreds of conversations and relentless industry focus—figuring out which customers were in real pain and staying present with their evolving needs. Focus deeply on one vertical and build a reputation there before expanding. As they put it, "don’t spread yourself thin.” 4️⃣ Never Stop Learning & Self-Care is Non-Negotiable It’s easy to get buried in the demands of building a company, but every founder stressed that continuous learning is the only way to stay relevant. Read, learn, and adapt constantly—the tech landscape is always shifting. Just as crucial is personal well-being: cybersecurity isn’t just mentally intense; it’s a high-stress journey. Recognize that taking care of yourself isn’t optional; it’s what makes longevity in this field possible. It was a privilege to listen to Nir Polak Ajit Sancheti Tom Kemp Sourabh Satish Srinivas Mukkamala Sanjay Kalra and others! Thanks Pramod Gosavi for putting this together! #Cybersecurity #FoundersJourney #AI #Innovation #Leadership #Networking