On November 7, the Fortinet Cybersecurity Summit 2024 will take place in Toronto. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with cybersecurity experts and leaders from the IT ecosystem and learn about the future trajectory of cybersecurity.
This will be the second year in a row that Canada has hosted the event, providing an opportunity to demonstrate and share information about market trends, the future of cybersecurity, and its influence on organizations. The 2023 summit focused on future-proofing cybersecurity strategies with human-AI collaboration as cybercrimes evolve. This year’s summit will maintain a focus on how AI impacts cybersecurity posture but will also include how economic constraints, skill shortages, and regulatory compliance play a role in cybersecurity.
Increase in outbreak alerts
Speaking to Channel Insider about the event, Jack Pagano, Regional VP of Sales at Fortinet in Central Canada, said that their data found a 35 percent increase in outbreak alerts last year from the previous year. He highlighted that not only are the attacks growing, but the sophistication of attacks are also increasing. This increase in outbreak alerts will be a major talking point for the cybersecurity summit.
He highlights that hybrid workforces, siloed cybersecurity solutions, and the cybersecurity skills shortage have contributed to the complexity of security posture and “creates a perfect storm for cyber criminals.”
“We’re going to see continued growth in sophistication and the frequency of attacks, and I strongly believe that we will continue to see that moving forward in 2025,” Pagano said. “Other things we’re dealing with are the economic headwinds– organizations are forced to do more with less– and AI is going to be big.”
Additionally, regulations and compliance for different sectors will continue to be implemented, and organizations will have to adapt to these changes.
Use of AI in cybersecurity
One aspect of cybersecurity that is on Fortinet’s mind is the prevalence of AI in the industry. While AI has been able to help organizations complete various tasks and free up employees to complete more important tasks, it also gives threat actors more time to initiate attacks and develop more sophisticated attacks. AI-related malicious activity can take the form of social engineering and deepfakes that are increasing in sophistication and realism.
“The future looks really great when it comes to artificial intelligence, but the cyber criminals are also using AI for malicious activity,” Pagano said, adding that “the attack surface is getting wider and the threat actors are taking full advantage of the complexity and of these new tools that are entering our environment.”
While AI has been a transformational and disruptive tool, it requires organizations to plan and implement proper security strategies to maximize the potential of this emerging technology.
Cybersecurity by design
You may hear quite a bit about cybersecurity by design at the Fortinet Cybersecurity Summit, a practice that Fortinet is committed to. Cybersecurity by design ensures ethical product development and the proactive disclosure of vulnerabilities. Adherence to industry and international standards and transparency are critical to a strong security posture.
“Cybersecurity by design tells our customers that they’re working with a technology partner that is committed to ethical product development and really being completely transparent to our customers and to the industry,” said Pagano. “Ensuring that we follow industry and international standards gives our customers confidence that we will continue to build and evolve on the security by design pledge.”
Pagano adds that in Fortinet’s 25-year history, their policy has always been to be transparent with their customers and that they’re going to continue to lead this way.
“We’re about 2,600 employees across Canada and we partner with public and private organizations. Not only do we share threat intelligence with some of our competitors in this industry, but we also work with law enforcement– such as NATO and Interpol– to make sure we protect our customers,” said Pagano. “These are all great things that we do as an organization and we want to make sure that we share this with our customers.”
Company and event aims
Through its events, Fortinet aims to share knowledge, improve cybersecurity postures, and help customers stay ahead of threats. The Fortinet Cybersecurity Summit will feature various highlights, including expert voices in cybersecurity, networking opportunities to share best practices with peers, and an expansive Tech Expo that explores Fortinet’s most innovative solutions.
Through events like these, Fortinet reinforces its commitment to being a strong partner from a technology perspective and beyond. In addition to all the great products Fortinet offers, its creative consumption model helps customers manage products and stay ahead of cyber criminals. It also understands the importance of being socially responsible, efficient, and cost-effective, with a focus on environmental sustainability.
“As an organization, we’ve done all of the heavy lifting, all of the integration of these products so our customers don’t need to deal with it,” said Pagano. “We’ve layered AI and automation on top of that so our customers don’t have to, and we’re helping address that skills gap.”
If you’re not able to attend the Summit, no need to fret. Fortinet holds various events in Canada and globally throughout the year, including larger events and smaller tech talks to share more about cybersecurity for your organization.
“This is what these events are all about– sharing what we know, helping improve the cybersecurity posture of our customers and ensuring that they know that Fortinet is a great technology partner for our customers,” Pagano said.
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