Current events · 2 MIN READ · SCOUT SCHOLES · MAY 8, 2025 · TAGS: Event
TL;DR
- Expel recently returned from RSAC 2025
- Our team pet puppies, goats, and ate tons of great food and made great connections
- Hot topics we saw at RSAC this year were AI, current world events, and the role of ethics for CISOs
As everyone is recovering from RSAC, we wanted to take a minute and highlight some of the key themes our attendees saw this year. Spoiler alert—all these key topics are heavily intertwined, and some of them can seem a bit bleak on the surface. But what is cybersecurity if not perseverance? The state of the cyber landscape today included a variety of topics covering:
- AI (who’s using it and how)
- Geopolitical shifts and events, and the impact on cybersecurity
- Changes in resources, corporate expectations, overall mindsets related to AI, and geopolitics
- How all of these (and more) are shaping new tech
AI, AI, and more AI
Honestly, a lot of these topics find themselves at the forefront of talk tracks year after year, and it’s the tone that changes. This year, the focus was less on what AI can do and if and when it’s utilized. Instead, lots of vendors focused on how they were using it, and how it’s benefiting customers. This fits with the larger mindset shift we’re seeing across the market of AI usage becoming a commonplace, daily thing for many (hello, ChatGPT).
AI is also beginning to shape new technologies. In a session from Jon France, CISO, ISC2 on “Futureproofing Cyber Ahead of the Next Wave of Emerging Tech,” he spoke about how those new technologies are unknowns, and it’s up to cybersecurity leaders to prepare for them now. He stated organizations need to foster a culture of learning and adaptability, and create clear policies around AI and quantum computing, and ensure everyone has a basic understanding of what’s what. Even small businesses can no longer avoid having a digital footprint, so they too must know how to protect against evolving digital risks.
The impact of current world events: CISOs take the wheel
Kevin Mandia, Founder & General Partner at Ballistic Ventures (and Expel board member), presented his annual report on the cyber landscape with Nicole Perlroth, Cybersecurity Author, Investor & Advisor at Silver Buckshot Ventures. The phrase “everything everywhere all at once” applies to both the current state of the world, and opportunities for cyber attacks.
The pair highlighted that breaches are inevitable because there’s truly endless opportunities for exploits in today’s attack surface. With changes in China’s strategies and increases in resource constraints and nation-state threats, businesses have to know how to protect themselves. At the end of the day, leadership—from the CISO to the CEO—must communicate effectively and transparently with each other and their teams. To do more with less, your security strategy must focus on keeping security at the core of your technology, and building everything securely from start to finish (“security-in-depth”). No exceptions or cost-cutting.
At the end of the day, successful security leaders are experts who also have to maintain unwavering personal principles. While the world around them is changing constantly, they must be a steady beacon for what good cybersecurity is in practice. This came from a session on “CISO Ethics and Protection: Navigating the Cybersecurity Minefield” and is especially pertinent in today’s world. And if you ever find yourself butting heads with security, they had a great takeaway: “Cybersecurity is not about stopping business, but accelerating it safely.”
Live animals (if you know, you know)
It wouldn’t be RSAC without acknowledging the creative booths and campaigns floating around the showroom floor. This year, puppy and goat petting stations were all the rage, and games—both old and new—were popular as well!
We’ll see you next year!
