Black Hat , Events , Standards, Regulations & Compliance

Carrot/Stick: Innovation, Regulation, Cybersecurity Trends

The cybersecurity landscape is structured like Swiss cheese - fragmented and full of vulnerabilities. This complex and ever-evolving cybersecurity environment requires a multifaceted approach to address gaps and a specific focus on data security and identity protection, said Maxine Holt, senior director of content and cybersecurity at Omdia. Cybersecurity is not keeping pace with digital innovation, so organizations are becoming more aware of the importance of managing security, identity and privacy.

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Holt said regulations can play a significant role in shaping cybersecurity priorities by using "carrots" for innovation and "sticks" for compliance, "I'm quite a fan of regulation and legislation when it comes to cybersecurity because I don't think some organizations pay enough attention to security, and being forced into doing it is not a bad thing - to have that stick to make things better for customers, patients and citizens," she said.

In this video interview with Information Security Media Group at Black Hat Europe 2023, Holt also discussed:

• How specific challenges in Europe - such as staffing and skill shortages, budget constraints and ransomware attacks - compare to the rest of the world;
• Findings from Omdia's Cybersecurity Decision Maker Survey 2023;
• CISO priorities for 2024.

At Omdia, Holt leads a team that delivers a comprehensive cybersecurity research program to support vendors, service providers and enterprise clients. She has developed thought-leading security research during her tenure at the Information Security Forum and previously spent 15 years in research at Ovum.