In sunny and warm Las Vegas (47 degrees or 116 fahrenheit) was an interview between myself and Kavitha Mariappan, Executive Vice President, Customer Experience and Transformation from Zscaler. Kavitha spoke to me exclusively at Zenith Live about her thoughts on today’s cyber market and predictions in regards to the future of cybersecurity.

The crucial role of cloud security in reducing overhead costs and improving efficiency for organisations is something that should be a focus within a business. The need for simplifying cybersecurity architecture and reducing the complexities associated with traditional security measures is becoming more mainstream amongst organisations.

“Reducing the IT and security overhead. One of the main benefits of cloud solutions, as we know, is agility and its efficiency. And that same the same goes for cloud security.”

Central to the conversation was the integration of cloud solutions with other point solution vendors. Mariappan conveyed the ability of cloud security to eliminate tedious maintenance and upgrade costs associated with traditional security stacks.

The frequent dilemma of modern IT and the intricate web of complexities that IT and security teams currently face and how to find the balance of managing this securely and effectively. The velocity of which workloads change, user diversity, and the proliferation of applications. The importance of simplicity in security architecture, driving home the holistic impact of reducing complexity on costs and security.

“I don't think people go in with the with the motive to create complexity… You're also trying to manage multiple devices between, phones, laptops, devices, IoT, OT devices, electric cars.”

Cyber Trends in the ANZ Region

Discussing cybersecurity trends in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), Mariappan drew attention to the region’s vulnerability in the face of growing cyber threats. She provided a comprehensive overview of recent breaches and underscored the need for proactive measures to combat rising cyber risks. The escalating geopolitical considerations and the potential involvement of state actors added a layer of complexity to the region’s cybersecurity dynamics. However, Mariappan expressed confidence in the region’s commitment to addressing cybersecurity challenges.

Zero Trust Security and the Rise of AI

The growing momentum behind the Zero Trust security paradigm. Mariappan discussed the increasing acceptance of Zero Trust among IT and security leaders and cited Zscaler’s strategic partnerships with industry leaders like Google and NVIDIA. Moreover, the invaluable role of AI in enhancing threat detection and predictive analysis was emphasized, marking a pivotal shift in the battle against AI-generated cyber threats.

Mariappan led with a forward-looking perspective on the future of cybersecurity, including the rising prominence of Zero Trust Security leading to a firewall-free enterprise, heightened focus on AI-driven threat mitigation, and the shift towards Zero Trust SD-WAN displacing traditional solutions.

Mariappan commented,

“Firewalls have proven to be ineffective.”

Furthermore, the Zscaler Executive offered a glimpse into the future of cybersecurity trends, including the rise of zero trust SD-WAN displacing traditional SD-WANs and the potential impacts of AI-driven cybersecurity solutions on mitigating cyber threats. Additionally, Mariappan touched on Zscaler's strategic investments, such as the Air Gap acquisition, and their role in transforming network segmentation which is turn drives a higher level of security.

TLDR;

1. Zero Trust Security: Paradigm for IT and Security

Zero Trust Security is gaining momentum as a proven paradigm for maintaining a high cyber risk posture in organisations globally.

2. AI in IT and Security

AI capabilities are enhancing threat detection and predictive analysis, empowering organizations to combat AI-generated threats with AI solutions.

3. Firewall-free Enterprise

Legacy firewalls are proven ineffective, leading organisations to search for new methodologies for protecting their systems and data.

4. Zero Trust Network Segmentation

Zero Trust segmentation ensures finer access control, preventing criminals from accessing critical organisation assets even through weaknesses in the network.

5. Zero Trust SD-WAN

Applying Zero Trust framework principles to SD-WAN connectivity enhances security, making branch connectivity as secure as traffic flowing through Zero Trust exchange.