As the curtain goes up on the first in-person RSA Conference since 2020, this year marks something special.
It feels like a lifetime ago since the last show, and a lot has since happened in the world of security. There have been numerous high-profile breaches – from SolarWinds to Colonial Pipeline – that no doubt will drive discussions at this year’s event. And a new administration has taken control in Washington, laying out new priorities to combat the onslaught of cyber-threats – from issuing executive orders aimed at strengthening national cyber defenses, to mandating extensive cybersecurity measures for the Federal Government and critical infrastructure sectors, to creating more public-private partnerships and initiatives to enhance our overall cybersecurity.
We at Big Valley have also been busy since RSA 2020, working with both innovative startups and industry giants, we’ve been able to tell the stories of some of the brightest minds in cybersecurity and demonstrating their importance in today’s digital, always connected world.
I look forward to hearing those and other hot security stories discussed at RSA. I expect we’ll see some familiar themes at this year’s show, from the continued rise of ransomware to new Zero Day vulnerabilities to discussions about ongoing supply chain attacks. The newly released 2022 Verizon Data Breach Report which called out that “ransomware attacks continue to rise (a 13% increase from 2020 to 2021),” will certainly be discussed throughout the show. Nation-state threats, especially from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, will likely be a part of the larger conversation, and I look forward to hearing from top administration officials on the topic.
What I’m most looking forward to is being back in-person. The past two years have been rough. While Zoom and other video services certainly have helped close the gap between my colleagues, clients and me, there is no substitute to face-to-face meetings, or getting actual drinks in person at happy hour. I think I speak for everyone when I say, it’s exciting to be going somewhere (outside of my house) once more. If you’re at RSA this year, I’d love to connect with you and would love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out to me directly at jswarz@bigvalley.co
