Cybersecurity is evolving rapidly, and former White House technology leader David Chow, now Trend Micro's Chief Technology Strategy Officer, sheds light on the complexities. In a world grappling with cloud complexities and a sophisticated threat landscape, Chow emphasizes the importance of visibility and prioritization in cyber resilience.

Chow identifies visibility as the initial step, followed by prioritizing critical vulnerabilities. He discusses the shifting trends, from 'zero-trust architecture' to the prominence of 'artificial intelligence' and the anticipation of 'geopolitical risk' in the coming year.

Addressing challenges like ransomware incidents and AI-generated threats, Chow advocates for extended detection and response (XDR). Trend Micro's Vision One, part of the XDR approach, unites data from various products, even incorporating insights from competitors, offering a comprehensive view for control and visibility.

“Based on [observed] exposures, [you can compute] a risk score [and] apply resources [accordingly],” he said. “And that’s within a single pane of glass that you have for control, as well as for visibility.”

Apart from the five years of intensive R&D invested in Vision One, Trend Micro has been building on its regional presence. Its team in Saudi Arabia has grown from seven to more than 80. The company leverages the local knowledge of on-the-ground teams, including their awareness of nation-level regulations, to help governments and enterprises to improve their cyber-defense capabilities. The Global Cybersecurity Forum, recently held in Saudi Arabia, drew government dignitaries from around the world to discuss threats they all face. The latest and greatest is AI, but the technology can also be used for defense to address a global 2.1-million workforce shortage in cybersecurity specialists.

“There is a lot of advantage [in using] artificial intelligence,” Chow said. “For example, you can use [it] to create content to [enhance] efficiency in your work. But on the cybersecurity front, a lot of organizations can leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to tackle the shortage of cybersecurity staff.”

With an extensive regional presence, Trend Micro's team in Saudi Arabia has grown significantly, leveraging local knowledge to enhance cyber defense. Chow emphasizes the role of AI in tackling the global shortage of cybersecurity specialists, foreseeing a future where AI streamlines responses, making us all safer.