SECURE horizons
By Jess Abell , our Chief Content Officer
In this column , we ’ ll be discussing key issues for CISOs and their teams – from AI to wellbeing and from Zero Trust to communication . If you ’ d like to get in touch , email jess @ lynchpinmedia . com
Investment trends reveal a positive shift in cybersecurity budgets , with a substantial increase reported by the majority of respondents . Advanced threat detection and cloud security are identified as top investment areas , highlighting a strategic alignment with evolving cybersecurity challenges .
Looking ahead , participants prioritise investments in Quantum Computing security and AI / ML , reflecting a recognition of their critical role in shaping the future landscape of cybersecurity .
In conclusion , the findings emphasised the importance of leveraging AI for cybersecurity to navigate the threat landscape effectively . Organisations must remain proactive , adaptable and committed to fostering a culture of cyber-resilience to safeguard against emerging threats in an increasingly digital world .
Vendor-CISO relationships
June saw a visit to Infosecurity Europe in London , where we had the opportunity to sit down with two leading CISOs to get their take on they key threats and technology focus areas for them .
The scale of threats today is well-reported . Organisations are targeted via a plethora of attack vectors – requiring a broad range of cybersecurity solutions across their entire technology stack .
While attackers are constantly adapting their techniques to bypass advanced security systems , technology vendors globally are meeting them head on through continued innovation in their product portfolios .
And while there are many exciting , innovative security solutions on the market right now , we also know there is an issue with tool sprawl and alert fatigue for the teams managing them all .
For CISOs , it can be difficult to navigate this environment . Which tools should they invest in , and which vendors should they choose to spend their budget with ?
Sarah Lawson , CISO at UCL , said there is a need for a ‘ clear output ’ from vendors .
If a solution meets the demand of what her team needs , next , it ’ s about digging past the sales hype to understand if a tool really does what it says on the tin , via testing .
“ The other part is that I always want vendors to be partners ,” she said . “ I want to be able to be honest with them if things aren ’ t working and for them to be honest with us about how their roadmap is going and how things are working . And it needs to be a longevity trust partnership .”
Munawar Valiji , Former Trainline CISO , agreed that trust and partnerships with vendors – rather than a purely transactional relationship – are crucial .
As the threat landscape continues to diversify , with more competition than ever before , the vendors that put relationship management at the heart of their programmes will be those that emerge triumphant .
Building a community
More recently , we shared the news of our new digital platform – CXO Cyber Connections . Through this brand , we ’ re aiming to build a community of CXOs , all with a remit for – or interest in – cybersecurity .
Whether you ’ re a CISO looking to forge connections with others in your industry or region , a CFO that better wants to understand how to set and manage cybersecurity budgets , or a CHRO keen to explore innovative training and awareness programmes for employees , there ’ s a place for you .
CXO Cyber Connections will serve as a hub for content specially curated for CXOs , with exclusive interviews , video content and resources to help organisations shore up their defences and – ultimately – build a community of peers to lean on for advice , support and knowledge-sharing . This is all supported by our calendar of events for those in-person meetings and data-rich market research to keep the pulse on latest trends , priorities and investment areas .
The platform is set to launch in early 2025 , and we ’ d love to speak to CISOs , vendors and those in the channel who are interested in finding out more .
In the meantime , I ’ d like to wish our readers a joyful holiday period – we look forward to bringing you more news and views from across the cybersecurity sector in the year ahead .
Email jess @ lynchpinmedia . com to get in touch .
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