By Marissa Kelly on April 22, 2024

Attending RSA? Here’s what you can expect to discuss on the show floor

It’s that time of year again! Security professionals across the U.S. are flocking to the Moscone Center in San Francisco for the annual RSA Conference, a place to celebrate the ever-changing cybersecurity world. With this year’s theme as The Art of Possible there is no doubt conversations on and off the show floor will focus on how we can leverage today’s most innovative technologies and creative minds to shape a more secure world.

If you’re heading to the conference this year, here are the key trends we expect to be top of mind for attendees: 

Artificial intelligence’s impact on, well, everything

AI for threat hunting, AI for code analysis, AI for hacking, AI for workforce operations—expect artificial intelligence to weave its way into every discussion onsite this year. While we expect there to be a focus on how the C-Suite is implementing responsible AI protocols within organizations, we also anticipate conversations around the impact of AI risks on a consumer or end user level as we see a rise in threats such as chatbot hallucinations and virtual kidnapping.

Misinformation, nation state interference and the war on election security

The 2024 elections are swiftly approaching, leaving many left wondering how the country is planning to ensure the safety of our voting infrastructure. Couple this with AI’s role in fortifying misinformation and the potential for Russian and other major state-linked hacking groups to influence election systems and we have the perfect storm for cyber discourse leading up to November.

Six months post-SEC disclosure laws—where are we now?

With new SEC cybersecurity rules in effect, public companies face increased pressure to implement an enterprise-wide approach to risk assessment, loss mitigation, and incident reporting. May marks six months since the disclosure laws officially went live and those attending RSA will be curious how organizations are weathering the new regulation, as well as how it has influenced cybersecurity conversations in the boardroom, and potentially exposed a C-Suite cyber skills gap.

 

The proliferation of today’s ransomware market

High-profile ransomware victims such as MGM and Caesar's have forced organizations over the last year to beg the question: to pay or not to pay? Whether attackers are leveraging advanced AI weapons to break down internal networks or simply taking advantage of IT help desk lines, the war on ransomware is likely to escalate in tandem with the skyrocketed cost of payouts we’ll continue to see.

As most RSA attendees know, the cybersecurity landscape is a quick and changing minefield. While these trends may be top of mind as we approach the conference, all it takes is one data breach, a vulnerability discovery or the exposure of a new extortion tactic to completely overhaul the cyber market. The #HWCyberSquad will be eagerly watching to see how these trends evolve in the weeks to come. 

If you’re attending RSA this year, be sure to check out Highwire’s guide to trade shows in 2024 for insights on how to make the biggest impact for your business while onsite.

Published by Marissa Kelly April 22, 2024