GET TO KNOW credentials are a liability . Therefore , the biggest investment in the industry is to mitigate credential attack vectors using a variety of technologies to layer on top of , or replace , the mechanisms for access and authentication all together , regardless of how they are being used .
What are the region-specific challenges when implementing new technologies in North America ?
What do you think is the current hot technology talking point ?
The current hot technology talking point is not about a new device , software or website . It is a concept that applies to everything and everyone regardless of technology and their favorite vendors . What I am referring to is personification . This simple concept empowers existing technology and new initiatives to tailor their output specifically for the users behind the screen and keyboard . Personification presents the data the way you want to see it . In fact , many individuals have already experienced personification in banner ads , social media feeds and even email advertisements for years . Now , extend that concept to the tools we use for business and enable applications to be smart about who you are and what you like . Personification will be the next wave supported in business applications .
How do you deal with stress and unwind outside the office ?
The truth of the matter is that B . C . ( Before Coronavirus ), I would have answered this question differently . Prior , I would have answered that I unwind by spending time with my family since I spent nearly 200 nights in hotels around the world in 2019 . Now , like many others , I am home full-time . The stress is still present from work , but it is different . Now , in order to manage stress , I have taken up cycling again and been busy with home improvement projects . Between the two , I have been keeping myself busy and able to keep work separate even though I have been working from home . Of course , family and a new puppy helps too .
If you could go back and change one career decision what would it be ?
Very early in my career I had a superior whose personality and verbal mannerisms were laden with prejudicial clichés and sexual innuendoes . I let many of his comments slide even though I knew better . It was my first leadership job and I was young and naïve on how to respond . With all the troubles in the world today regarding racism , prejudice and violence , I would go back in time and stand up for what I believe and make sure he understood that his comments and actions were inappropriate .
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry ?
The Privileged Access Management ( PAM ) industry has been growing at over 20 % year-over-year for the last several years with minimal changes in future projections . While the market itself has become more crowded with vendors , there have been some major areas of investment to protect the way we authenticate to services , noting that traditional passwords and
Service and support of solutions can be a universal problem . For example , many IoT devices are manufactured in Asia , and while these products may suit the technical and business needs , they can fall short on other needs such as security updates , quality and obtuse technical support hours . These issues can pose a severe challenge when these products are deployed and maintained in North America .
What changes to your job role have you seen in the last year and how do you see these developing in the next 12 months ?
The biggest change in my job role has been the influence of secure computing on various teams within the organization . For the next 12 months I do see this evolving . It is one thing to help people change their mindsets but it is another way to become a part of its culture . With our recent achievement of ISO 27001:2013 certification , this journey has begun . The influence of the security and compliance teams is not just another process or roadblock for the organization but rather an enabler to ensure that the business we do is secure and predictable .
What advice would you offer somebody aspiring to obtain a C-level position in your industry ?
For most professionals , I would recommend becoming a general practitioner in security . Learn and practice a broad range of security disciplines from threat hunting to vulnerability management . Attempt to absorb as much information as you can and , most importantly , learn how to communicate your knowledge to others . Security professionals that can communicate can excel in their positions and lead teams to accomplish business goals . •
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