It’s a wrap on RSA 2023! We had a whirlwind of a week gaining new security insights, meeting with clients and reporters and networking with the largest community of cyber professionals. Given the valuable insight and connections Highwire team members gathered onsite (and virtually) we wanted to share a recap of key takeaways that can guide future communication initiatives.
The future of generative AI and its cautionary tale: Generative AI and the impact on the cyber industry was a key focal point throughout press conversations; Generative AI product announcements received notable coverage and it seemed to be a conversation topic at many networking events. The Axios event touched on early indicators of AI malware generation to the cybersecurity risks of AI’s unpredictability.
Cybersecurity regulations are at a pivotal point: Second to generative AI, cybersecurity regulations were a topic of discussion at RSA. Overall, sentiment throughout the conference was that we are at an inflection point for regulation and that collaboration between regulators and cybersecurity leaders will be paramount.
Mainstream publications trend toward smaller cyber reporting teams: Business publications like the New York Times and CNBC continue to operate without a dedicated cybersecurity beat reporter – with enterprise tech reporters pinch-hitting to cover this space. For PR teams, that means high-impact events and touchpoints are key to maximizing reporters’ time and attention. Consider combining events with key partners so that reporters can meet with multiple sources/vendors in one location.
| Learn how the Highwire security team breaks though the noise |
Additional themes/trends worth noting:
- Cybersecurity and the Boardroom: CISOs are struggling to educate and influence the C-Suite and the boardroom on the importance of implementing stronger cybersecurity cultural awareness.
- Cybersecurity Skills Shortage: The industry continues to face a skills shortage challenge and the supply of experts is not growing at the pace required.
- Securing the Convergence of the Physical and Digital World: This year’s conference highlighted conversations on the complexity of securing the physical and digital world simultaneously.
- Secure by Design: On the heels of CISA’s newly announced secure by design principles, the regulatory tension between government and technology manufacturers continues to be a key topic to watch.
As we look to the upcoming Black Hat Conference in August, we’ll be watching to see how AI, nation state security and the changing threat landscape will make headlines in the coming months. Stay tuned to see how these trends evolve and take shape in the security industry.
