The Role of CTOs in Integrating the Environmental, Social, and Governance Journey

There has always been a growing concern and realization of the need for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors as a critical component for successful business development across all sectors. From customers to stakeholders, regulators have been insisting companies consider the environmental impact and contribute their share of corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs to developing a greener society.

Consequently, with the rising competition, ESG factors have arisen as crucial considerations for IT organizations across the globe.

Therefore, to ignite that constant innovation and sustainability consciousness in a business, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) must come forward to develop a strategic company by uniquely positioning the leverage of numerous technologies that eventually help the company stand out from its competitors.

Today’s exclusive AI Tech Park article aims to highlight the role of the CTO in the ESG journey and how implementing ESG will transform your IT organization.

The Relationship Between ESG and the CTO

The CTOs are the driving force behind the ESG initiative in an IT organization; however, the contribution of employees is equally vital to getting on board for a dignified project. The employees and C-suites need to understand the company’s vision and guide the CTO and IT employees to positively adopt the new ESG practices and prototype sustainability goals that will benefit the overall business. Let’s focus on some of the steps the CTOs can take to adopt their achievable sustainability goals:

Reputational Risk

The failure to integrate the ESG program into the business model can lead to reputational damage and legal risks for the IT firm. CTOs can clearly define their ESG agenda with the help of a supportive ESG team. Further, CTOs need to ensure that the investors are well aware of the required ESG information to let them participate in strategizing ESG goals rather than depending on third-party agencies.

As we move into a digitized business landscape, the incorporation of ESG has become an essential component of profitable business. The technologies implemented can be leveraged as a form of an ESG enhancement strategy with data and insights. CTOs and IT professionals also need to address ESG issues and integrate a modern approach that aligns security practices with business objectives.

To Know More, Read Full Article @ https://ai-techpark.com/the-role-of-ctos-in-esg/

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Eric Sugar, President at ProServeIT – AI-Tech Interview

Eric, could you please introduce yourself and elaborate on your role as president at ProserveIT?

Hello, I’m Eric Sugar, President at ProServeIT, my focus is on helping clients set their strategic direction with regards to technology that enables their business.  Eric’s passion is teaching how technology can be leveraged by businesses to enable growth and added value.  As President at ProServeIT  I support our clients and team in creatively deploying and using technology.

Eric holds a Bachelor of Arts (Economics and Math) from the University of Toronto.

I’m an avid rower, cyclist and hockey player who can put a golf ball in the woods better than most.

Can you provide a concise overview of Zero Trust Architecture and its significance in modern cybersecurity?

Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is a security model that assumes that any user, system, or service operating within or outside of an organization’s network perimeter is untrustworthy until proven otherwise. It is based on the principle of “never trust, always verify” and requires strict identity verification for every person and device trying to access resources on a private network, regardless of their location. The principles behind a Zero Trust network include Identity and Access Management (IAM), Data Protection, and Network Segmentation

In the context of ZTA, how does the concept of “never trust, always verify” apply to both internal and external network environments? What are the key implications of this approach for organisations?

In the context of ZTA, the concept of “never trust, always verify” applies to both internal and external network environments. This approach has key implications for organizations, as it requires them to implement strict identity verification and access controls for every person and device trying to access their resources, regardless of their location. This helps organizations mitigate cybersecurity risks and protect sensitive data effectively

What are the key benefits of implementing Zero Trust Architecture, and how does it help organisations mitigate cybersecurity risks and protect sensitive data effectively?

The benefits of implementing ZTA include reducing the attack surface and preventing lateral movement by attackers within the network, as each resource is isolated and protected by granular policies and controls. It also enhances the visibility and monitoring of network activity and behavior, as each request and transaction is logged and analyzed for anomalies and threats.

To Know More, Read Full Interview @ https://ai-techpark.com/ai-tech-interview-with-eric-sugar-president-at-proserveit/

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How Chief Privacy Officers are Leading the Data Privacy Revolution

In the early 2000s, many companies and SMEs had one or more C-suites that were dedicated to handling the IT security and compliance framework, such as the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Chief Information Officer (CIO), and Chief Data Officer (CDO). These IT leaders used to team up as policymakers and further implement rules and regulations to enhance company security and fight against cyber security.

But looking at the increased concerns over data privacy and the numerous techniques through which personal information is collected and used in numerous industries, the role of chief privacy officer, or CPO, has started playing a central role in the past few years as an advocate for employees and customers to ensure a company’s respect for privacy and compliance with regulations. 

The CPO’s job is to oversee the security and technical gaps by improving current information privacy awareness and influencing business operations throughout the organization. As their role relates to handling the personal information of the stakeholders, CPOs have to create new revenue opportunities and carry out legal and moral procedures to guarantee that employees can access confidential information appropriately while adhering to standard procedures.

How the CISO, CPO, and CDO Unite for Success

To safeguard the most vulnerable and valuable asset, i.e., data, the IT c-suites must collaborate to create a data protection and regulatory compliance organizational goal for a better success rate.

Even though the roles of C-level IT executives have distinct responsibilities, each focuses on a single agenda of data management, security, governance, and privacy. Therefore, by embracing the power of technology and understanding the importance of cross-functional teamwork, these C-level executives can easily navigate the data compliance and protection landscape in their organizations.

For a better simplification of the process and to keep everyone on the same page, C-suites can implement unified platforms that will deliver insights, overall data management, and improvements in security and privacy.

Organizational data protection is a real and complex problem in the modern digitized world. According to a report by Statista in October 2020, there were around 1500 data breaching cases in the United States where more than 165 million sensitive records were exposed. Therefore, to eliminate such issues, C-level leaders are required to address them substantially by hiring a chief privacy officer (CPO). The importance of the chief privacy officer has risen with the growth of data protection in the form of security requirements and legal obligations.

To Know More, Read Full Article @ https://ai-techpark.com/data-privacy-with-cpos/

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The Algorithmic Sentinel: How AI is Reshaping the Cybersecurity Landscape

The ever-evolving digital landscape presents a constant challenge in the face of cyber threats. While traditional security methods offer a foundation, their limitations often become apparent. AI & Cybersecurity emerges as a powerful new tool, promising to enhance existing defenses and even predict future attacks. However, embracing AI necessitates careful consideration of ethical implications and fostering harmonious collaboration between humans and algorithms. Only through such mindful implementation can we build a truly resilient and secure digital future.

The digital frontier has become a battleground teeming with unseen adversaries. Cybercriminals, wielding an arsenal of ever-evolving malware and exploits, pose a constant threat to critical infrastructure and sensitive data. Traditional security methodologies, built upon rigid rule sets and static configurations, struggle to keep pace with the agility and cunning of these digital attackers. But on the horizon, a new solution emerges: Artificial intelligence (AI).

The Evolution of AI in Cybersecurity

AI-powered solutions are rapidly transforming the cybersecurity landscape, not merely enhancing existing defenses, but fundamentally reshaping the way we understand and combat cyber threats. At the forefront of this revolution lie cognitive fraud detection systems, leveraging machine learning algorithms to scrutinize vast datasets of financial transactions, network activity, and user behavior. These systems, adept at identifying irregular patterns and subtle anomalies, operate at speeds that surpass human analysis, uncovering fraudulent activity in real-time before it can inflict damage.

Gone are the days of rule-based systems, easily circumvented by attackers. AI-powered algorithms, in perpetual self-improvement, evolve alongside the threats. They learn from prior attacks, adapting their detection models to encompass novel fraud tactics and emerging trends. This approach significantly surpasses the static limitations of conventional methods, reducing false positives and ensuring a more resilient, adaptive defense.

The future of cybersecurity is intricately intertwined with the evolution of AI. By embracing the transformative potential of these algorithms, while remaining mindful of their limitations and fostering a human-centric approach, we can forge a future where the digital frontier is not a battleground, but a safe and secure terrain for innovation and progress. The algorithmic sentinel stands watch, a powerful ally in the ongoing quest for a more secure digital world.

To Know More, Read Full Article @ https://ai-techpark.com/evolution-of-ai-in-cybersecurity/

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Top Trends in Cybersecurity, Ransomware and AI in 2024

According to research from VMware Carbon Black, ransomware attacks surged by 148% during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, largely due to the rise in remote work. Key trends influencing the continuing upsurge in ransomware attacks include:

Exploitation of IT outsourcing services: Cybercriminals are targeting managed service providers (MSPs), compromising multiple clients through a single breach.

Vulnerable industries under attack: Healthcare, municipalities, and educational facilities are increasingly targeted due to pandemic-related vulnerabilities.

Evolving ransomware strains and defenses: Detection methods are adapting to new ransomware behaviors, employing improved heuristics and canary files, which serve as digital alarms, deliberately placed in a system or to entice hackers or unauthorized users.

Rise of ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS): This model enables widespread attacks, complicating efforts to counteract them. According to an independent survey by Sophos, average ransomware payouts have escalated from $812,380 in 2022 to $1,542,333 in 2023.

Preventing Ransomware Attacks

To effectively tackle the rising threat of ransomware, organizations are increasingly turning to comprehensive strategies that encompass various facets of cybersecurity. One key strategy is employee education, fostering a culture of heightened awareness regarding potential cyber threats. This involves recognizing phishing scams and educating staff to discern and dismiss suspicious links or emails, mitigating the risk of unwittingly providing access to malicious entities.

In tandem with employee education, bolstering the organization’s defenses against ransomware requires the implementation of robust technological measures. Advanced malware detection and filtering systems play a crucial role in fortifying both email and endpoint protection. By deploying these cutting-edge solutions, companies can significantly reduce the chances of malware infiltration. Additionally, the importance of fortified password protocols cannot be overstated in the battle against ransomware. Two-factor authentication and single sign-on systems provide formidable barriers, strengthening password security and rendering unauthorized access substantially more challenging for cybercriminals.

To Know More, Read Full Article @ https://ai-techpark.com/top-trends-in-cybersecurity-ransomware-and-ai-in-2024/

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Prateek Bhajanka, APJ Field CISO Director at SentinelOne – AITech Interview

Could you please share some insights into your professional journey as APJ Field CISO Director at SentinelOne?

Prateek: The role of Field CISO is very interesting as it focuses on the value proposition of the security initiatives and deployments. This role helps me in cutting the prevailing noise in the industry because of the overwhelming number of jargon, overmarketing, and overpromises of the providers. At the same time, it helps the security leaders climb the maturity curve and define the security charter.

Can you provide an overview of the current cloud security landscape in the Asia Pacific Japan region and explain why it’s becoming an increasingly critical concern?

Prateek: The adoption of cloud technologies and platforms is only accelerating in the APJ region alongside the threat landscape, and the risks are increasing too. With businesses moving their critical business applications, data, and operations to the cloud, they are increasingly being targeted by threat actors as the organizations’ maturity level in cloud security is relatively lower than the traditional architecture. Additionally, the data protection and privacy laws in different countries and regions emphasize the need for cloud security.

According to you, what could be the key strategies and best practices that organizations should prioritize when securing their cloud platforms within the Asia Pacific Japan region?

Prateek: The first step is the realization that the approach to securing the cloud is different from the traditional approaches and understanding the shared responsibility model between the cloud service provider and the client. Cloud is not inherently secured but can be secured with the right policy, configurations, and controls. The journey to securing the cloud should start with Cloud Security Governance.

Can you identify specific challenges that organizations in the Asia Pacific Japan region typically encounter when it comes to maintaining the integrity and security of their cloud-stored data?

Prateek: Security in the cloud is more of an identity and access management issue. When the identities and access to cloud resources such as data storage are configured with secured configuration such as no public access to storage buckets, expiration of API tokens, etc, it will ensure the integrity and security of the data stored in the cloud.

To Know More, Read Full Interview @ https://ai-techpark.com/aitech-interview-with-prateek-bhajanka/

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Building a Fortified Wall: Effective Third-Party Risk Management Against Cyber Threats

In today’s interconnected business environment, companies regularly rely on third parties for critical business functions like supply chain, IT services, and more. While these relationships can provide efficiency and expertise, they also introduce new cybersecurity risks that must be managed. More than 53% of businesses worldwide have suffered at least one cyber attack in the past 12 months and one in five firms attacked said it was enough to threaten the viability of the business. Recent high-profile breaches like the SolarWinds attack have highlighted the dangers of supply chain compromises. Implementing a comprehensive third party risk management program is essential for security. In this post, we’ll explore key strategies and best practices organizations can use to defend against cyber threats from third party relationships.

Limit Access and Segment Third Parties

Once a third party relationship is established, limit their access to only what is required for their role. Segment them into their own virtual network or cloud environment isolated from your core infrastructure. Implement the principle of least privilege access for their credentials. Disable unnecessary ports, protocols, and services. Lock down pathways between your network and the third party. The goal is to reduce their potential impact and restrict lateral movement if compromised.

Continuously Monitor for Threats

Monitor third party networks vigilantly for signs of compromise. Deploy tools like intrusion detection systems that generate alerts for anomalous behavior. Monitor for unusual data transfers, unauthorized changes, malware, and other IOCs. Conduct vulnerability scans and penetration testing against your third parties’ environments. Audit their logs and security events for issues impacting your security posture. The goal is early detection that can limit damage from a third party breach.

Practice Incident Response Plans

Even rigorous security can still experience incidents. Develop plans for quickly responding to a breach impacting a third party. Define escalation protocols and response team roles. Maintain contacts for your third parties’ security staff. Institute plans for containment, eradication, and recovery activities to limit the impact on your organization. Practice responding to mock third party breach scenarios to smooth out the process. Effective incident response can significantly reduce the damage from real world attacks.

Foster Strong Relationships with Third Parties

While security requirements and controls are critical, also focus on building strong relationships with your vendors, suppliers, and partners. Collaborate to improve security on both sides. Offer guidance and training to enhance their practices and controls. Recognize those who exceed expectations. Build rapport at the executive level so security is taken seriously. Cybersecurity does not have to be adversarial – work together to protect against shared threats.

Third party risk management is essential in modern interconnected business ecosystems. Businesses can no longer rely solely on their own security – all external connections must be assessed and managed.
To Know More, Read Full Article @ https://ai-techpark.com/third-party-risk-management-strategies-against-cyber-threats/

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From Man to Machine: Robots Reimagine the Executive Playbook

In recent years, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) have witnessed a surge in popularity, and it’s anticipated to expand as organizations become more dependent on AI solutions to address issues. Numerous tech giants, like Amazon, Apple, and Alibaba, have already started to explore the possibilities of implementing AI and robotics in their organizations.

The introduction of robots into the workplace is set to alter how C-level decision-makers will do business, as they need to share space with robots as coworkers and learn new skills as robots will gradually take over tedious and dangerous tasks on behalf of their employees. There will be a shift in job responsibilities and obligations, creating bandwidth for strategic planning for better business development in sections where robotics are not utilized. Functional leaders in customer-facing roles may identify the best methods to serve clients and use automation to deliver personalized products and services on demand.

Robotics is becoming a game changer in various industries throughout the world.

Chief Operating Officers (COOs)

COOs will play an important role in transforming the workplace by integrating AI and robotics, creating a digital strategy for automating services, and streamlining operations. Thus, COOs will drive and manage the organization’s transformation into a human-robot workforce; however, they must update their knowledge of technologies by understanding the changes and how they can affect the business. For instance, in a manufacturing company, the role of COOs will be to assess the need for automation technologies like IoT and blockchain in a department. After evaluation, they should come up with an investment strategy by analyzing how AI and robots will reshape the manufacturing industry and streamline the supply chain.

Chief Information Officers (CIOs)

CIOs will have to adjust to technology issues and work closely with other C-suits as they navigate a new landscape of risk and compliance. They will have the liberty to explore and evaluate the areas of data management, analytics, and cybersecurity. With automation technology and robot workers having a positive impact on the organization, CIOs will witness changes in function becoming more deeply integrated.

Other tech leaders, like CTOs and CDOs, may be joined by Chief Robotics Officers (CROs), who will help in navigating how robots will perform, providing robust road maps, and setting strategies for future developments.

Robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) will change the workplace as some job roles will be replaced by robots and automation, but the technology will also lead to the creation of new jobs and highly valued responsibilities. This development will also affect the C-suite, as robots will minimize their responsibilities and help in creating robust strategies in this digital era. Large-scale enterprises and SMEs must prepare their employees for collaboration with new technologies by providing adequate L&D opportunities, upskilling, reskilling, and giving them the bandwidth to accept the change.
To Know More, Read Full Article @ https://ai-techpark.com/robotics-is-changing-the-roles-of-c-suites/

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Arun Shrestha, Co-founder and CEO at BeyondID – AITech Interview

Can you provide a brief overview of your background and your current role as the Co-founder and CEO at BeyondID?

I have over 20 years of building and leading enterprise software and services companies. As CEO, I’m committed to building a world class organization with the mission of helping our customers build secure, agile, and future-proof business. I pride in partnering with customers to strategize and deploy cutting edge technology that delivers top business results.

Prior to co-founding BeyondID, I worked at Oracle, Sun Microsystems, SeeBeyond and most recently Okta, which went public in 2017. At Okta, I was responsible for delighting customers and for building world class services and customer success organizations.

The misuse of AI and deep fakes is becoming a serious concern in the realm of identity and security. Could you share your thoughts on how bad actors are leveraging these technologies to compromise trust and security?

The use of AI-powered deepfakes to create convincing images, audio, and videos for embarrassing or blackmailing individuals or elected officials is a growing concern. This technology can be used for extortion and to obtain sensitive information that can be used in harmful ways against individuals and businesses. Such actions can erode trust and harm society, as individuals may question the authenticity of genuine content, primarily if it depicts inappropriate or criminal behavior, by claiming it is a deepfake. Malicious actors can also use AI to mimic legitimate content and communications better, making it harder for email spam filters and end users to identify fraudulent messages and increasing phishing attacks. Automated AI attacks can also identify a business’s system vulnerabilities and exploit them for their own gain.

In the context of a zero-trust framework, could you explain the concept of verifying and authenticating every service request? How does this approach contribute to overall security?

The Zero Trust philosophy is founded on the belief that nobody can be fully trusted, and so it is essential to always authenticate any service request to ensure its authenticity. This can only be achieved through the authentication, authorization, and end-to-end encryption of every request made by either a human or a machine. By verifying each request, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary access privileges and apply the appropriate access policies at any given time, thereby reducing any potential difficulties for service requestors while providing the required service.

In conclusion, what would be your key advice or message to organizations and individuals looking to strengthen their security measures and ensure trust in an AI-driven world?

Consider adopting Zero Trust services as the fundamental principle for planning, strategizing, and implementing security measures in your organization. The Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has recently released a Zero Trust Maturity Model that provides valuable guidance on implementing Zero Trust Security. Identity-First Zero Trust Security is the most effective approach to Zero Trust because it focuses on using identity as the main factor in granting access to human and machine services.

To Know More, Read Full Interview @ https://ai-techpark.com/aitech-interview-with-arun-shrestha/

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cyberconIQ, Founder Dr. James Norrie – AITech Interview

Can you tell us about your background and journey that led you to establish cyberconIQ?

I am both an academic and a consultant/entrepreneur who has been studying technology trends, information privacy and security issues and considering the impact of disinformation on society for many years.  In both my professional practice and personal experience, cybersecurity – and now AI which will rapidly transform this important issue even further – are technology problems with a human dimension that more technology alone cannot fix.  So we need to blend psychology and technology better together in order to address the human elements of cybersecurity risk with proven behavioral science methods instead of simply pretending that humans are programmable like machines – they are not.  Knowing something is not the same as doing something, so we founded cyberconIQ to create pathways to voluntary changes in user behavior that creates a security 1st culture inside any organization more effectively than generic training that is unengaging and has proven to not have any meaningful impact on user behavior.

Dr. Norrie, could you please explain how cyberconIQ’s proprietary platform utilizes behavioral psychology to measure and manage personalized cybersecurity training and education programs?

By blending in proven elements of behavioral science including trait-based personality theory, understanding habituation and pattern interrupts as well as  the value of supporting humans as part of the solution instead of the problem, we EMPOWER  humans as your last line of organization defense against increasingly sophisticated attacks. Additionally, we can prove in side-by-side client studies that we can virtually eliminate phishing as a significant risk to your organization using this patented method.

Often, there is a gap between the technology implemented by organizations and the potential for human error. How can individuals and organizations bridge this gap to create a more robust cybersecurity posture?

I opened with the premise that more technology cannot solve a problem that new technology originally created.  That is because for most technologies, there is still an operator who is a human.  And humans are not programmable just because they are told what they should do, does not mean that they will do it.  So how do you inspire individuals to think of themselves not as a weak link in the chain, but the strongest?  And then use that dedication to new security habits to improve your organizations overall security posture one human and one style at a time?  And it works. Very well.

To Know More, Read Full Interview @ https://ai-techpark.com/aitech-interview-with-dr-james-norrie-founder-of-cyberconiq/

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