Jump Into Our DeLorean and Travel Back and Forth Into the Future | An Infosecurity Europe 2024 Conversation with Madelein van der Hout and Paul McKay from Forrester | On Location Coverage with Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli

Guests: 

Madelein van der Hout, Senior Analyst Security & Risk at Forrester [@forrester]

On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelein-van-der-hout-65452025/

On Twitter | https://x.com/HoutMadelein

Paul McKay, Vice President, Research Director at Forrester [@forrester]

On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-mckay-5304a115/

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Hosts: 

Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast [@RedefiningCyber]

On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/sean-martin

Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast

On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/marco-ciappelli

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Episode Notes

The Human Side of Cybersecurity

Infosecurity Europe 2024 in London brought together some of the industry's most knowledgeable professionals. Marco Ciappelli and Sean Martin, your hosts, were joined by Madeline Van Der Hout, Paul McKay, both from Forrester, and various other experts to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and solutions within the cybersecurity landscape. This exciting episode of "On Location With Marco and Sean" dives deep into essential topics such as the significant role of the human element in cybersecurity, skill shortages, industry fragmentation, and future trends.

Reimagining Cybersecurity: Back to the Future

The episode begins with a nostalgic touch as Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli discuss the iconic movie "Back to the Future". Drawing a parallel between the film's theme of time travel and the evolving cybersecurity landscape, they emphasize how the industry might benefit from lessons of the past while anticipating the future.

The Reality of Cybersecurity Innovation

Madeline Van Der Hout and Paul McKay shed light on the changing dynamics of cybersecurity events. Paul mentions that events like Infosecurity Europe must now compete with other regional events like CyberSec Europe in Brussels. This healthy competition fosters localized insights and innovations.

Madeline adds that cybersecurity innovation often stems from startups. She believes these events stimulate larger vendors to communicate with smaller startups, thus supporting the entire ecosystem.

API Security: A Case for Consolidation

Both Paul and Madeline reflect on the notable presence of API security vendors at the conference. Madeline points out the consolidation in the market driven by various approaches to API security. CISOs today expect API security to be an integral part of their infrastructure, driving the conversation towards prioritization and efficient resource management.

The Human Element and Mental Health

One of the crucial points discussed was the significant skill shortage in the cybersecurity industry. Madeline stresses the need for more conversations around mental health and burnout prevention among cybersecurity professionals. Paul supports this by highlighting common hiring challenges where organizations are often looking for the "purple squirrel" or the "five-legged sheep."

Training and Educating Future Talent

The conversation moves towards the barriers to entry for new talent in the industry. Both experts agree that focusing on certifications alone can create a class divide. Paul argues that this practice restricts access to the industry for those unable to afford costly certifications.

Madeline emphasizes the need to work closely with HR departments to create better job profiles and hiring practices. This could alleviate some of the industry's talent shortages.

Cybersecurity's Future: More Than Just a Business Problem

Madeline takes a broader view by asserting that cybersecurity is not just a business problem. It's a civilian issue as well, affecting everyone with a digital footprint. She encourages leveraging the power of informed voting and education to address cybersecurity at a societal level.

Data-Driven Decision Making: The Key to Security's Evolution

Sean Martin concludes by discussing the immense data available in the cybersecurity sector. He emphasizes the potential for the industry to drive businesses by making better, data-driven decisions. Paul agrees, pointing out the need for cybersecurity to evolve similarly to how the CIO function has over the years.

Conclusion: A Call for Innovation and Humanity

The episode wraps up by reinforcing the focus on the human element. Marco highlights the need to utilize existing resources effectively rather than being distracted by the latest technological gadgets. Madeline's call to talk more about humans in every cybersecurity breach serves as a profound takeaway.

As the conversation echoes through the media room at Infosecurity Europe 2024, it's clear that the journey forward in cybersecurity involves a blend of technology, human touch, and innovative thinking.

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Resources

Learn more about InfoSecurity Europe 2024: https://itspm.ag/iseu24reg

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