Technology

<p>Every startup ecosystem has two founder types investors will not back. Both show up all the time. Both believe they will win. Neither will. They remind everyone of two cartoon lab mice from a classic show.</p><p>One mouse is hopeful and upbeat, always chasing a new idea. The other mouse is sharp and strategic, always hunting the next shortcut to success. They sound different but they share a blind spot. Both want the end result without sticking through the hard work of building a company. Both miss the core requirement of startup success, which is the commitment to create real value in the real world.</p><p>At ISHIR <a href="https://www.ishir.com/texas-venture-studio.htm" rel="noopener">Texas Venture Studio</a> we have seen these types often. We have strong opinions on why they fail and why some founders win. The missing link always comes down to willingness to build, to work through hard problems, and to create impact.</p><p>This blog explains what we see, how the idea guy and the schemer compare, and how ISHIR <a href="https://www.ishir.com/blog/311111/how-venture-studios-eliminate-the-early-stage-execution-gap.htm" rel="noopener">Texas Venture Studio helps startup founders</a> who are serious turn ideas into companies that grow and scale.</p><h2>What Startup Founders Get Wrong</h2><p>The idea guy and the schemer may look different. They may talk differently. Their motivations may seem different. But they both miss a core element that all investors look for. They do not want to build a company. They want something else.</p><p>One wants the thrill of an idea. The other wants the reward of success without the effort. A real builder wants to do both. Real founders solve hard customer problems over time. They stay with the work when it is not fun. That is what separates investable founders from un-investable ones.</p><h2>What Investors Look For</h2><p>Investors study founders. Not just the idea. Not just the market. Investors assess whether a founder can build, adapt, and go through the daily work of launching and growing a company.</p><p>Investors look for a particular mindset. They look for founders who:</p><ul> <li>Know customers and their problems.</li> <li>Will prioritize hard decisions about product, team, and <a href="https://www.ishir.com/go-to-market.htm" rel="noopener">go to market</a>.</li> <li>Will push through setbacks and market feedback.</li> <li>Will stick with the company for the long haul.</li> </ul><p>Investors avoid founders who shift from idea to idea. They avoid founders who shift from strategy to strategy. They avoid founders who chase trends instead of solving problems.</p><h4><strong>Type One: The Idea Guy</strong></h4><p>This startup founder type shows up every year. He has a new idea that he believes will change everything. It is exciting. It is new. It sounds plausible. It may even benefit from current technology or market trends.</p><p>But he does not have the patience or grit to stick with the work. When the early challenges come, he moves on. When feedback is hard, he moves on. His focus is on the next idea rather than the current one.</p><p>This startup founder wants validation through enthusiasm, not through execution. He aims for the dream of success. He does not want the daily work that success demands.</p><p>Even when he tries to build something real, his attention drifts. He continues to think about the next pitch, the next idea, the next opportunity. He does not commit fully to building a business.</p><h4><strong>Type Two: The Schemer</strong></h4><p>This startup founder looks more experienced. He may have built pieces of product or gathered data or filed patents. He speaks in buzzwords and builds narratives that sound advanced. He aligns his pitch to whatever is hot in the market.</p><p>Investors see this founder often. Today it might be web3. Tomorrow it might be AI. Next year it may be something else.</p><p>The schemer wants value extraction over value creation. He wants to capture attention and resources. If that means abandoning co-founders, investors or teams, he will do it.</p><p>The schemer exaggerates progress and underestimates work. He optimizes for short term gain and often leaves others holding the bag when the next trend arrives.</p><h2>Why Both Types of Startup Founders Fail</h2><p>Both founders lack the commitment to build lasting value. They may show intelligence. They may show enthusiasm. They may show technical knowledge. Those traits are useful. They do not replace the discipline to build a company that customers choose, keep choosing, and pay for.</p><p>Startup Founders who build real companies go through many cycles of learning. They adjust <a href="https://www.ishir.com/blog/157221/product-innovation-strategy-how-to-drive-growth-stay-competitive-and-build-lovable-products.htm" rel="noopener">software product strategy</a>. They pivot based on customer feedback. They refine business models. They hire, fire, restructure. They solve operational problems every single day.</p><p>Value extraction fails in the face of real customer demand. Without solving a real customer problem over time, there is no sustainable business.</p><h2>What Startup Founders Who Win Have in Common</h2><p>Investable founders are not defined by their ideas. They are defined by their approach. They show up early. They work late. They stay when others leave. They listen to customers. They adjust. They do not chase trends. They chase problems with high value and real demand.</p><p>They lean into learning faster than competitors. They invest in teams. They build process. They measure outcomes. They do not expect shortcuts.</p><p>Startup founders who win earn trust from investors, co-founders, and early employees. They earn long term commitment from customers. They build companies that outlive the initial idea.</p><h2>How ISHIR Texas Venture Studio Helps Founders Build</h2><p>ISHIR Texas Venture Studio exists to help serious founders build companies with a repeatable process. We do not invest in ideas alone. We invest in founders who want to build and grow.</p><p>We bring experience, structure, and frameworks that help early stage founders transform an idea into a scalable business. Our approach has four key stages:</p><ol> <li><strong>Problem discovery and validation.</strong></li> <li><strong>Product design and development.</strong></li> <li><strong>Go to market and growth planning.</strong></li> <li><strong>Scaling and operational support.</strong></li> </ol><h4><strong>Problem discovery and validation</strong></h4><p>Most startups fail because they build the wrong thing. They assume customers want the idea. We help founders test assumptions early. We guide founders to gather evidence from real customers. We focus on <a href="https://www.ishir.com/blog/114157/validate-customers-have-a-problem-theyre-willing-to-pay-to-solve-before-building-the-software-product.htm" rel="noopener">customers who will pay for a solution</a>. We ensure the problem is large enough for a business model to work.</p><h4><strong>Product design and development</strong></h4><p>Great software product development is not random. It follows a sequence of decisions that lead to usable, reliable software or technology. We bring design thinking. We validate prototypes. We build minimum scalable products that can be tested with users. Our teams of engineers work with founders every step of the way to turn concepts into real products ready for market.</p><h4><strong>Go to market and growth planning</strong></h4><p>Ideas fail without customers. We help founders define who the early adopters are, where they spend time, what motivates them, and how to reach them. We integrate cross functional planning for sales, marketing, pricing, and distribution. A good product alone is not enough. A company needs customers willing to buy early and often.</p><h4><strong>Scaling and operational support</strong></h4><p>Once product market fit is within reach, the focus shifts to repeatability and growth. We help founders build the systems and processes that enable growth without chaos. We assist with hiring strategies, technology infrastructure, and operational frameworks that support growth beyond the first product version.</p><h2>Why This Approach Matters</h2><p>We have seen startup founders with drive who get derailed. They build a product without a market. They sell to the wrong customer. They scale too early. They hire too soon.</p><p>What unites all failed attempts is missing one or more fundamentals. We help founders build those fundamentals into their company from day one.</p><p>If the founder is not serious about building a company, our process reveals that early. If the founder is ready to invest in the work, our process amplifies their ability to build, adjust, learn, and grow.</p><p>Founders who get real support, real feedback, and real structure outperform those who chase the next shiny thing.</p><h2>How ISHIR Texas Venture Studio Works With Founders</h2><p>Startup founders who work with us do so with respect for the hard work of building. They are not looking for shortcuts. They<a href="https://www.ishir.com/blog/137129/should-you-actually-build-this-software-solution.htm" rel="noopener"> want to build something that matters</a>. They want to make impact.</p><p>We begin with listening. We help founders clarify the problem they are solving. We help them refine their pitch into customer outcomes. We help them test assumptions before code is written.</p><p>Next we align product development with business goals. We focus on building the smallest valuable product that tells us something real about the market.</p><p>We stay with founders through early customer acquisition. We support them in understanding metrics, adjusting strategy, and iterating product.</p><p>We help them prepare for growth, including team building and operational infrastructure.</p><p>The startup founders who succeed with us are founders who are committed to the long process of building a company, not chasing the next trend, or chasing the next payout.</p><h2>Frequently Asked Questions About Founder Types and Startup Success</h2><h4><strong>Q. Why do investors avoid founders who switch ideas often</strong></h4><p><strong>A.</strong> Investors look for evidence of execution and commitment to <a href="https://www.ishir.com/blog/134644/how-to-debug-and-solve-a-big-production-problem-with-product-development.htm" rel="noopener">solving a real problem</a>. Founders who switch ideas often do not show persistence in solving hard challenges.</p><h4><strong>Q. What is the difference between a good idea and a real business</strong></h4><p><strong>A.</strong> A good idea addresses a real customer problem with a solution customers are willing to pay for. A real business can repeat that process with growth in customers, revenue, and sustainable unit economics.</p><h4><strong>Q. How does ISHIR Texas Venture Studio help early-stage startup founders</strong></h4><p><strong>A.</strong> ISHIR Texas Venture Studio helps founders with problem validation, product design and development, go to market strategy, and scaling operations. We guide founders through structured steps that increase likelihood of success.</p><h4><strong>Q. Can a founder learn to be investable</strong></h4><p><strong>A.</strong> Yes. Founders learn by focusing on understanding customers, prioritizing execution, and building teams. Investability increases when founders show discipline in building customer value over time.</p><h4><strong>Q. What mistakes do first time founders make</strong></h4><p><strong>A.</strong> Common mistakes include building without validating customer demand, scaling too early, ignoring feedback, and lacking operational readiness.</p><h4><strong>Q. How important is customer validation</strong></h4><p><strong>A.</strong> Customer validation is critical. It reveals whether the solution addresses a problem customers care enough about to pay for. Without it, founders guess rather than learn.</p><h4><strong>Q. What is problem discovery</strong></h4><p><strong>A.</strong> Problem discovery is the process of understanding the real customer pain points, measuring their impact, and early validating that the problem is worth solving as a business.</p><h4><strong>Q. How should founders approach product development</strong></h4><p><strong>A.</strong> Founders should build the smallest version of product that tests critical assumptions about customer value and usability. That product should give real insight about how customers behave.</p><h4>Q. When should a startup focus on scaling</h4><p><strong>A.</strong> A startup focuses on scaling after achieving <a href="https://www.ishir.com/blog/128526/early-validation-the-key-to-building-a-solution-that-achieves-product-market-fit.htm" rel="noopener">product market fit</a> and having predictable patterns of customer acquisition and retention.</p><h4><strong>Q. What attributes make founders attractive to investors</strong></h4><p><strong>A.</strong> Investors look for grit, clear understanding of customer problems, ability to learn from data, and discipline in execution.</p><h4><strong>Q. What is product market fit (PMF)</strong></h4><p><strong>A.</strong> Product market fit (PMF) means a product satisfies the needs of a defined group of customers who are willing to buy it repeatedly.</p><h4><strong>Q. Does market trend matter if product is weak</strong></h4><p><strong>A.</strong> No. Trends attract attention but do not replace solid product market fit and sustainable business fundamentals.</p><h4><strong>Q. How do investors assess founder potential</strong></h4><p><strong>A.</strong> Investors look at track record of execution, depth of market insight, clarity of strategy, and willingness to adjust based on feedback.</p><h4><strong>Q. What differentiates ISHIR Texas Venture Studio’s approach</strong></h4><p><strong>A.</strong> ISHIR Texas Venture Studio focuses on fundamentals of building, including disciplined validation, product development aligned to customer needs, go to market planning, and operational readiness for growth.</p><h4><strong>Q. How does ISHIR Texas Venture Studio support founders after product launch</strong></h4><p><strong>A.</strong> ISHIR Texas Venture Studio helps founders with customer acquisition strategy, performance measurement, and building processes that support consistent growth.</p><h4><strong>Q. What should startup founders prioritize in year one</strong></h4><p><strong>A.</strong> Startup founders should prioritize understanding the customer deeply, launching a testable product, measuring real usage data, and refining based on results.</p><h2>Real Problems. Real Customers. Real Business.</h2><p>Many startup founders start with ideas. Only a few become builders who solve real problems over time. Investors look for evidence of that commitment. ISHIR Texas Venture Studio supports founders who want to build companies that grow beyond the first version of their product. We guide serious founders through a structured process that improves decision making, reduces waste, and increases the odds of finding product market fit and scaling successfully.</p><p>Strong ideas matter. Execution matters more. Focus matters most. When startup founders commit to building value over time, they increase their chance of success and impact.</p><div class="ctaThreeWrapper"> <div class="ctaThreeContent"> <div class="ctaThreeConList"> <div class="content"> <h2>Most startups fail because they chase ideas or shortcuts instead of solving real customer problems.</h2> <p>ISHIR Texas Venture Studio helps founders validate, build, launch, and scale with a proven venture-building process.</p> <div class="linkWrapper"><a href="https://www.ishir.com/get-in-touch.htm" rel="noopener">Get Started</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>The post <a href="https://www.ishir.com/blog/312905/why-most-startup-founders-fail-and-how-ishir-texas-venture-studio-helps-the-right-ones-win.htm">Why Most Startup Founders Fail and How ISHIR Texas Venture Studio Helps the Right Ones Win</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.ishir.com/">ISHIR | Custom AI Software Development Dallas Fort-Worth Texas</a>.</p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/why-most-startup-founders-fail-and-how-ishir-texas-venture-studio-helps-the-right-ones-win/" data-a2a-title="Why Most Startup Founders Fail and How ISHIR Texas Venture Studio Helps the Right Ones Win"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fwhy-most-startup-founders-fail-and-how-ishir-texas-venture-studio-helps-the-right-ones-win%2F&amp;linkname=Why%20Most%20Startup%20Founders%20Fail%20and%20How%20ISHIR%20Texas%20Venture%20Studio%20Helps%20the%20Right%20Ones%20Win" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fwhy-most-startup-founders-fail-and-how-ishir-texas-venture-studio-helps-the-right-ones-win%2F&amp;linkname=Why%20Most%20Startup%20Founders%20Fail%20and%20How%20ISHIR%20Texas%20Venture%20Studio%20Helps%20the%20Right%20Ones%20Win" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fwhy-most-startup-founders-fail-and-how-ishir-texas-venture-studio-helps-the-right-ones-win%2F&amp;linkname=Why%20Most%20Startup%20Founders%20Fail%20and%20How%20ISHIR%20Texas%20Venture%20Studio%20Helps%20the%20Right%20Ones%20Win" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fwhy-most-startup-founders-fail-and-how-ishir-texas-venture-studio-helps-the-right-ones-win%2F&amp;linkname=Why%20Most%20Startup%20Founders%20Fail%20and%20How%20ISHIR%20Texas%20Venture%20Studio%20Helps%20the%20Right%20Ones%20Win" title="Reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fwhy-most-startup-founders-fail-and-how-ishir-texas-venture-studio-helps-the-right-ones-win%2F&amp;linkname=Why%20Most%20Startup%20Founders%20Fail%20and%20How%20ISHIR%20Texas%20Venture%20Studio%20Helps%20the%20Right%20Ones%20Win" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div><p class="syndicated-attribution">*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from <a href="https://www.ishir.com/">ISHIR | Custom AI Software Development Dallas Fort-Worth Texas</a> authored by <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/author/0/" title="Read other posts by Rishi Khanna">Rishi Khanna</a>. Read the original post at: <a href="https://www.ishir.com/blog/312905/why-most-startup-founders-fail-and-how-ishir-texas-venture-studio-helps-the-right-ones-win.htm">https://www.ishir.com/blog/312905/why-most-startup-founders-fail-and-how-ishir-texas-venture-studio-helps-the-right-ones-win.htm</a> </p>

<p>If you run a fast-growing <a href="https://mojoauth.com/blog/passwordless-authentication-saas-options">Software as a Service</a> (SaaS) company or lead an engineering team, you feel constant pressure to deliver 24×7 support and stay compliant across regions.</p><p>This guide shows you how to buy external help that delivers measurable outcomes without expanding your risk surface. You will get concrete metrics to track, contract language to include, and a 90-day rollout plan that protects security, uptime, and compliance.</p><h2><strong>Make External Help Work By Contracting For Clear Outcomes</strong></h2><p>External partners can cut time to resolution and extend coverage, but only if you contract for outcomes and route vendor access through your identity stack. Track metrics like First Contact Resolution (FCR), Mean Time To Resolve (MTTR), and customer satisfaction (CSAT) every week with trendlines. Access must be time-bound, scoped, and logged.</p><h3><strong>Three-Question Readiness Check</strong></h3><ol> <li> <p>Do you need 24×7 coverage in the next quarter based on ticket volume and where your users sit?</p> </li> <li> <p>Can you meet incident service-level agreements (SLAs) in-house given your current FCR, MTTR, and backlog?</p> </li> <li> <p>Do you have identity controls like an identity provider (IdP) with single sign-on (SSO) and phishing-resistant <a href="https://mojoauth.com/blog/best-multi-factor-authentication-solutions">multi-factor authentication</a> (MFA) ready for vendor onboarding?</p> </li> </ol><h2><strong>Define Scope Precisely So Everyone Knows What Stays In-House</strong></h2><p><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.pseo.one/67b62b766899109fe72fb789/687e6cccf6fe799d28851ea0/topics/696dd575dafe653c480482b2/89e9efad-b879-4ed8-8dfb-3e8bac3834bb.webp" width="100%" align="left" style="width: 100%; display: block;"></p><p>Modern external help spans level 0 (L0) and level 1 (L1) service desk, desktop support, network operations center (NOC) work, security monitoring via a managed security service provider (MSSP), field services, and co-managed models. Use these tiers to write a precise request for proposal (RFP) and avoid scope creep. List systems, queues, and locations in scope, and state what stays with your team. Where on-site coverage is required, work with <a href="https://www.kinettix.com/blog/onsite-it-servic"></a><a href="https://www.kinettix.com/blog/onsite-it-services"><u>onsite IT services</u></a> rather than building local teams from scratch.</p><h3><strong>Support Tiers and Escalation</strong></h3><p>Escalate from level 1 (L1) to level 2 (L2) when playbook steps are exhausted or privileged access is required. Move to level 3 (L3) when vendor-level bug fixes or architecture changes are involved.</p><h2><strong>Use Data-Backed Benefits To Justify External Help To Stakeholders</strong></h2><p>Follow-the-sun staffing gives you true 24×7 coverage and surge capacity during launches. Aim for First Contact Resolution between 70 and 79 percent, since only about 5 percent of centers exceed 80 percent. Freshworks 2024 data shows generative AI self-service can handle about 53 percent of tickets before they ever hit an agent.</p><p>IBM's 2024 report puts the global average breach cost at 4.88 million dollars. Extensive use of security <a href="https://mojoauth.com/blog/ai-in-automated-testing-how-machine-learning-reduces-flaky-tests-and-maintenance-costs">AI and automation</a> lowered breach costs by about 2.2 million. Microsoft reports that enabling MFA blocks more than 99.9 percent of account compromise attempts.</p><h2><strong>Treat Vendor Access As A Risk Surface And Design Controls In</strong></h2><p>Security exposure is real when you bring in external operators. Avoid shared accounts and standing admin access. Require SSO to your IdP, scoped roles, and session logging for every vendor interaction.</p><h3><strong>Controls To Bake In</strong></h3><ul> <li> <p>Quarterly access recertifications with Just-In-Time elevation for admin roles</p> </li> <li> <p>SOC 2 reporting against the Trust Services Criteria</p> </li> <li> <p>General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Article 28 data processing agreement (DPA) clauses, including Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) when applicable</p> </li> <li> <p>Knowledge transfer obligations are documented in statements of work (SOWs)</p> </li> </ul><p>IBM's 2024 report notes that stolen credentials were the most common initial attack vector at 16 percent. Prioritize phishing-resistant authentication, and train vendors on your playbooks and data handling rules before they ever touch production systems.</p><h2><strong>Rely On Remote Fixes First Then Call In Onsite Help When Needed</strong></h2><p>Plan to resolve about 90 percent of tickets remotely, and create on-site playbooks for hardware swaps, branch openings, and compliance audits. Specify dispatch lead times, travel radius, and proof-of-work requirements in every ticket.</p><h3><strong>Publishing Clear On-Site Runbooks</strong></h3><p>Standardize technician prerequisites such as building access, escort requirements, and device encryption checks. Set acceptance criteria so devices boot to login, get asset tagged, enroll in <a href="https://mojoauth.com/blog/mobile-auth-future">mobile device management</a> (MDM), and have baseline policies applied.</p><p>If your rollout spans multiple cities or you need same-day hardware swaps, coordinate dispatch through an on-site field partner so vetted engineers arrive with standardized runbooks and SLAs. Compare this approach to regional staffing based on lead times, vetting standards, and SLA enforcement.</p><h2><strong>Apply Zero Trust Principles To Every Session A Partner Starts</strong></h2><p>No vendor gets standing admin access. Require SSO to your identity provider, phishing-resistant authentication, and step-up MFA for privileged actions. Implement Just-In-Time elevation with session recording bound to ticket numbers.</p><p>NIST SP 800-207 defines Zero Trust as protecting resources with continuous verification rather than network location. NIST SP 800-63B clarifies that phishing-resistant authentication requires cryptographic methods like WebAuthn and FIDO2.</p><h2><strong>Clarify Who Does What So Partners Handle The Right Work</strong></h2><p>Your partner ecosystem typically includes managed service providers (MSPs) for end-user support, <a href="https://mojoauth.com/cybersecurity-glossary/managed-security-service-provider-mssp/">MSSPs</a> for security monitoring, and field service networks for hands-and-feet work. Your MSP handles end-user support and endpoint management by following your runbooks. Your MSSP monitors endpoint detection and response (EDR), security information and event management (SIEM) alerts, and vulnerability queues with clear handoffs to your incident response plan.</p><h2><strong>How Virtual Assistants Amplify Your IT Support Strategy</strong></h2><p><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.pseo.one/67b62b766899109fe72fb789/687e6cccf6fe799d28851ea0/topics/696dd575dafe653c480482b2/2eaa0b53-7e46-443a-be09-d78e90b08545.webp" width="100%" align="left" style="width: 100%; display: block;"></p><p>While MSPs and MSSPs handle technical work, a significant portion of IT operations involves administrative coordination that drains engineer productivity. This is where <a href="https://wingassistant.com/virtual-assistant-services/"><u>virtual assistant services</u></a> create a measurable impact, especially when delivered by a specialized provider like Wing Assistant.</p><h3><strong>What Virtual Assistants Handle in IT Operations</strong></h3><p>Virtual assistants are trained remote professionals who take ownership of repeatable administrative tasks. In an IT support context, they typically manage scheduling coordination for site visits across multiple time zones, purchase order creation and follow-ups with vendors, documentation cleanup and knowledge base maintenance, ticket hygiene including tagging, routing, and status updates, license renewal tracking and vendor contract administration, and asset inventory reconciliation and reporting.</p><h3><strong>Why Virtual Assistants Matter for Scaling Teams</strong></h3><p>Engineering time is expensive. When L2 and L3 engineers spend hours chasing approvals, updating spreadsheets, or coordinating dispatch logistics, you pay senior rates for junior work. Virtual assistants cost a fraction of engineering labor and specialize in exactly the administrative throughput that bogs down technical teams.</p><p>Consider a typical hardware refresh project. Your engineers should focus on imaging standards, security configurations, and deployment validation. The coordination work—scheduling pickups, confirming shipping addresses, tracking serial numbers, updating asset management systems, and closing out tickets—belongs with a virtual assistant who can execute against a checklist without pulling engineers off technical tasks.</p><h3><strong>Integrating Virtual Assistants Into Your Partner Ecosystem</strong></h3><p>Position virtual assistants as the connective tissue between your MSP, MSSP, field service partners, and internal teams. They handle the handoff documentation, chase down missing information, and ensure nothing falls through the cracks during escalations.</p><p>For global operations spanning multiple regions, business units, and markets, virtual assistants provide consistent administrative coverage without requiring you to staff coordinators in every geography. They work asynchronously, following your SOPs to maintain momentum on projects that span time zones.</p><h3><strong>What To Look For In A Virtual Assistant Provider</strong></h3><p>Prioritize providers that offer dedicated assistants rather than rotating pools, so your assistant learns your systems, vendors, and processes over time. Verify they can work within your ticketing system, communication tools, and documentation platforms. Establish clear escalation paths so your assistant knows when to flag issues rather than proceed independently.</p><p>Set measurable outcomes just as you would with any other partner: ticket documentation accuracy, scheduling lead time, PO processing speed, and handoff completeness. Review performance monthly and adjust task allocation based on where you see the highest return.</p><h2><strong>Follow A Simple 90-Day Plan To Roll Out External Help Safely</strong></h2><p><strong>Days 0 to 7:</strong> Baseline your key performance indicators (KPIs), define which tasks stay in-house, and document your access model.</p><p><strong>Days 8 to 30:</strong> Issue a requirements-driven RFP with security addenda, shortlist vendors, and run reference checks.</p><p><strong>Days 31 to 60:</strong> Pilot with staged access and success metrics like FCR and MTTR. Run a severity one (Sev1) drill.</p><p><strong>Days 61 to 90:</strong> Move to production rollout with change freeze windows and weekly cutover standups.</p><h2><strong>Set Clear KPI Targets So You Can Measure Real Impact</strong></h2><p>Aim for FCR between 70 and 79 percent at L1, MTTR under 8 hours for standard incidents, and reopen rate under 5 percent monthly. Target CSAT of at least 4.5 out of 5 and keep backlog under 10 percent of weekly volume. Require 100 <a href="https://mojoauth.com/glossary/single-sign-on/">percent vendor SSO</a>, zero shared accounts, and quarterly access reviews.</p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/outsourcing-it-support-benefits-risks-and-smart-next-steps/" data-a2a-title="Outsourcing IT Support: Benefits, Risks, and Smart Next Steps"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Foutsourcing-it-support-benefits-risks-and-smart-next-steps%2F&amp;linkname=Outsourcing%20IT%20Support%3A%20Benefits%2C%20Risks%2C%20and%20Smart%20Next%20Steps" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Foutsourcing-it-support-benefits-risks-and-smart-next-steps%2F&amp;linkname=Outsourcing%20IT%20Support%3A%20Benefits%2C%20Risks%2C%20and%20Smart%20Next%20Steps" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Foutsourcing-it-support-benefits-risks-and-smart-next-steps%2F&amp;linkname=Outsourcing%20IT%20Support%3A%20Benefits%2C%20Risks%2C%20and%20Smart%20Next%20Steps" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Foutsourcing-it-support-benefits-risks-and-smart-next-steps%2F&amp;linkname=Outsourcing%20IT%20Support%3A%20Benefits%2C%20Risks%2C%20and%20Smart%20Next%20Steps" title="Reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Foutsourcing-it-support-benefits-risks-and-smart-next-steps%2F&amp;linkname=Outsourcing%20IT%20Support%3A%20Benefits%2C%20Risks%2C%20and%20Smart%20Next%20Steps" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div><p class="syndicated-attribution">*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from <a href="https://mojoauth.com/blog">MojoAuth - Advanced Authentication &amp;amp; Identity Solutions</a> authored by <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/author/0/" title="Read other posts by MojoAuth - Advanced Authentication &amp; Identity Solutions">MojoAuth - Advanced Authentication &amp; Identity Solutions</a>. Read the original post at: <a href="https://mojoauth.com/blog/outsourcing-it-support-benefits-risks-and-smart-next-steps">https://mojoauth.com/blog/outsourcing-it-support-benefits-risks-and-smart-next-steps</a> </p>

<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Two similar terms — completely different outcomes</strong></h2><p>Security teams often hear “entity resolution” and “identity verification” used as if they mean the same thing.</p><p>They don’t — and that confusion can lead teams to invest in tools that solve the wrong problem.</p><p>A simple way to separate them:</p><ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Identity verification answers:</strong> <em>Is this person real and who they claim to be?</em></li> <li><strong>Entity resolution answers:</strong> <em>Do these identity fragments belong to the same person/entity?</em></li> </ul><p>Verification is a checkpoint.<br>Entity resolution is a connective layer.</p><p>And in modern identity-first breach paths, security teams need the connective layer more often than they think.</p><p>Constella’s perspective aligns with this: <a href="https://constella.ai/identity-intelligence-the-front-line-of-cyber-defense/">identity intelligence</a> is about correlating exposure signals into actionable risk insight — not just verifying identities at the moment of transaction.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What identity verification is designed to do</strong></h2><p>Identity verification is built for transactional trust.</p><p>It typically includes:</p><ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>document verification</li> <li>biometrics/selfie checks</li> <li>KYC workflows</li> <li>proof of address</li> <li>real-time onboarding validation</li> </ul><p>It’s highly useful when:<br>• the user is present<br>• the moment matters (account opening, transaction)<br>• the goal is “prove this identity is real”</p><p>But it’s not designed to answer a different class of questions security teams face daily.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What identity verification does <em>not</em> solve for security</strong></h2><p>Verification does not tell you:</p><ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>whether credentials tied to this identity are exposed</li> <li>whether the identity appears repeatedly across breach assets</li> <li>whether the identity is linked to a risk cluster</li> <li>whether the identity is being traded or reused</li> <li>whether exposure signals suggest imminent account takeover risk</li> </ul><p>Identity verification can confirm legitimacy in the moment — but it can’t reveal the broader identity risk landscape.</p><p>Constella’s <a href="https://constella.ai/2025-identity-breach-report/">2025 Identity Breach Report</a> shows how exposure and credential theft continue scaling — which makes risk correlation and prioritization increasingly important for enterprises.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What entity resolution is — and why security relies on it</strong></h2><p>Entity resolution is about stitching identity fragments into one entity profile.</p><p>It connects:</p><ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>emails</li> <li>usernames</li> <li>phones</li> <li>name variants</li> <li>addresses</li> <li>social handles</li> <li>breach artifacts</li> <li>OSINT identifiers</li> </ul><p>Entity resolution answers questions like:</p><ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Are these accounts linked to the same identity?</li> <li>Is this breach exposure tied to the same user across multiple services?</li> <li>Do these fragments form a coherent identity graph?</li> <li>Are we looking at one actor or multiple personas?</li> </ul><p>This is foundational for:<br>• investigations<br>• breach intelligence enrichment<br>• exposure monitoring<br>• identity risk scoring<br>• reducing false positives in identity-based alerts</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Why security teams often need entity resolution more than verification</strong></h2><p>Most security risks aren’t “is this person real?”<br>They’re “how risky is this identity based on exposure, reuse, and linkage?”</p><p>This is why <a href="https://constella.ai/identity-risk-is-now-the-front-door-to-enterprise-breaches/">identity risk</a> is now the front door to breaches: attackers increasingly rely on exposed credentials and identity fragments rather than technical exploits.</p><p>Entity resolution helps teams:</p><ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>unify identity fragments into higher-confidence profiles</li> <li>detect clusters tied to suspicious reuse</li> <li>triage exposure signals by credibility and relevance</li> <li>accelerate investigations and response actions</li> </ul><h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The missing layer: Identity Risk Intelligence</strong></h2><p>Entity resolution becomes even more valuable when paired with identity exposure intelligence — creating what Constella defines as <strong>identity risk intelligence</strong>.</p><p>Identity risk intelligence means:</p><ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>collecting exposure signals</li> <li>validating identity artifacts</li> <li>resolving identity fragments across sources</li> <li>scoring risk based on reuse + recency + linkage</li> <li>prioritizing action</li> </ul><p>It’s not just “who is this.”<br>It’s “what risk does this identity represent right now?”</p><p>For teams using OSINT and <a href="https://constella.ai/deep-osint-investigations/">investigations workflows</a>, this is where monitoring and investigative tooling converge.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>A practical way to decide which you need</strong></h2><p>Ask one question:</p><p><strong>Are we trying to prove identity — or understand identity risk?</strong></p><p><strong>Choose identity verification when you need:</strong></p><ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>onboarding trust</li> <li>transaction legitimacy</li> <li>fraud prevention at the point of entry</li> </ul><p><strong>Choose entity resolution + identity risk intelligence when you need:</strong></p><ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>exposure monitoring</li> <li>credential reuse prioritization</li> <li>identity-based investigations</li> <li>threat actor profiling</li> <li>alert triage and risk scoring</li> </ul><h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Takeaway</strong></h2><p>Identity verification is a moment.<br>Entity resolution is a system.</p><p>Security teams dealing with exposure, credential reuse, investigations, and identity-based threat paths need entity resolution as the foundation — especially as identity risk becomes the primary breach path.</p><p>For more on how identity intelligence works operationally, Constella’s <a href="https://constella.ai/hunter-osint-investigation/">investigation tooling</a> provides a clear example of resolution + linkage in action.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>FAQs</strong></h2><p><strong>1) Why do security teams confuse entity resolution with identity verification?</strong></p><p>Because both deal with identity — but verification confirms legitimacy at a moment in time, while entity resolution connects identity fragments across datasets.</p><p><strong>2) When does entity resolution matter most in security operations?</strong></p><p>When teams need to understand exposure, link incidents through identity overlap, triage alerts, or investigate actors using alias and credential reuse.</p><p><strong>3) How does entity resolution help reduce investigation time?</strong></p><p>It enables faster pivots across identity attributes and highlights high-confidence linkages, reducing manual searching and false leads.</p><p><strong>4) What kinds of data make entity resolution more reliable?</strong></p><p>Data with recurring identifiers and validated exposure signals — such as verified breach identity assets, infostealer logs, and consistent OSINT identifier reuse.</p><p><strong>5) What should security teams do after resolving identity fragments?</strong></p><p>Score risk, prioritize response, improve monitoring, and use identity clusters to enrich future investigations and incident correlation.</p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div 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href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fentity-resolution-vs-identity-verification-what-security-teams-actually-need%2F&amp;linkname=Entity%20Resolution%20vs.%20Identity%20Verification%3A%20What%20Security%20Teams%20Actually%20Need" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div><p class="syndicated-attribution">*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from <a href="https://constella.ai">Constella Intelligence</a> authored by <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/author/0/" title="Read other posts by Jason Wagner">Jason Wagner</a>. Read the original post at: <a href="https://constella.ai/entity-resolution-vs-identity-verification/">https://constella.ai/entity-resolution-vs-identity-verification/</a> </p>

At 9 AM I fall in love with Amy. Were in my friends old Corolla, following an Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicle in our neighborhood. We only know Amy through the Signal voice call were on t… [+13858 chars]

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents continue to pitch fits over protesters filming and tracking their moves in the communities they’re swarming is tinged with irony, since ICE itself appears to be aggressively doing the same using a social media and phone surveillance system to track citizens’ devices and monitor neighborhoods.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The system developed by PenLink, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">a subsidiary of Cobwebs Technologies,</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gathers data through data brokers on “hundreds of millions” of devices, tracks their movement and that of their owners, among other actions, according to a r</span><a href="https://www.404media.co/inside-ices-tool-to-monitor-phones-in-entire-neighborhoods/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">eport by 404 Media</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which viewed internal ICE documents explaining how the system works.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Those actions, to say the least likely tread and trample U.S. privacy laws and run afoul of Fourth Amendment protection, since ICE can apparently tap the data in the system without a warrant.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“As technology and communications companies have grown, they’ve accumulated tons of data knowing that people won’t read the terms of service,” says John Bambenek, president of Bambenek Consulting. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mobile devices, in particular, he says, “are a gateway into deep details into our everyday lives, which is why stalker ware is prolific on mobile devices.” </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That sure is underscored by ICE’s tracking activities using readily available tech. In an </span><a href="https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2026/01/12/how-ice-uses-phone-and-internet-data-to-identify-and-track-people" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">interview</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> with MPR News, 404 Media journalist Joseph Cox explained that ICE has recently acquired social media monitoring tool Tangles, which scrapes social media sites and makes the information accessible. That’s not uncommon.</span></p><p><b>“</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">What’s different here is that Tangles is in combination with the tool called Webloc,” another tool that ICE has invested in, “gives an all-in-one solution for following people online,” Cox told MPRNews. “When it comes to their social media activity, ICE officials can add them to a watch list so they will be alerted whenever this person posts.”</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And then they can use AI “to build some sort of sentiment analysis about what they’re posting as well,” he explained. “The idea is that whenever somebody posts something online that ICE is interested in, the officials are going to see it.”</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Coupled with Webloc, which also gathers location data and then provides it via a map interface for phones, the system offers a more complete picture of who protesters are and what they are doing, their habits and perhaps even their associations. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You log into the interface, you draw a circle or rectangle around a place of interest, maybe an ICE facility, maybe somewhere where a protest is happening,” Cox said. “It then shows all of the location data and phones it has for that location, and the user is able to then track the phones to other places.” </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That so much data is available for these tools to gather is concerning. “What’s probably shocking to folks is the volume of useful data that data brokers have collected on them,” says Trey Ford, chief strategy and trust officer at Bugcrowd.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The data they’ve (willfully, or unknowingly) entrusted their applications and software service providers with is considerably harder to get for law enforcement through intelligence channels – is commercially available for anyone to purchase,” he says.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And, says Bambenek, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">“the problem is that we can’t imagine all the bad ways some data can be used, and until it actually happens, there’s never any protest.”</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although concern about government and law enforcement access is understandable, Ford says, “I’m not sure why we’d be comfortable with anyone else collecting and selling this information.”</span></p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/whos-stalking-whom-ice-uses-social-media-and-phone-surveillance-system-to-track-protesters/" data-a2a-title="Who’s Stalking Whom? 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<h2>The Quantum Threat to AI Contextual Integrity</h2><p>Ever wonder if your AI agents are actually talking to who they think they are, or if a quantum computer is already planning to wreck your day? It’s a bit of a mess out there, honestly.</p><p>The <strong>Model Context Protocol (mcp)</strong> is great for connecting ai to data, but it’s basically a sitting duck for future threats. Bad actors are already doing the "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" thing—stealing your encrypted healthcare or finance data today and just waiting for a quantum machine to unlock it in a few years.</p><ul> <li><strong>Shor's algorithm</strong> makes current rsa and ecc keys totally useless once stable quantum hits.</li> <li><strong>Long-lived contexts</strong> in industries like retail or medicine need protection that lasts decades, not just until the next api update.</li> <li><strong>Software-only keys</strong> just don't cut it when ai agents are swapping massive amounts of sensitive data without any humans watching.</li> </ul><p><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.pseo.one/685d00d4cb08ab5f5934b924/690c83ae1ca595b8c6f91e0f/hardware-security-module-integration-quantum-safe-model-contexts/mermaid-diagram-1.svg" alt="Diagram 1: A visualization showing how intercepted MCP data is stored today for future quantum decryption."></p><p>According to <a href="http://www.gopher.security/blog/quantum-durable-integrity-verification-machine-to-machine-model-contexts">Gopher Security</a>, context integrity is actually more important than privacy for autonomous tools because a tiny tweak can turn a model into a weapon.</p><p>We really need to bridge this mcp security gap before things get weirder. Next, let's look at how hardware actually fixes this and why those big keys are such a headache.</p><h2>Architecting the Quantum-Safe Root of Trust and the Bandwidth Tax</h2><p>So, we’ve established that software keys are basically sitting ducks for a quantum-capable attacker. If you’re serious about protecting your mcp server, you gotta move that sensitive math into hardware that actually understands the "new rules" of physics.</p><p>Think of a standard HSM as a vault, but most of the ones sitting in racks today only speak rsa or ecc. To keep up with the <strong>model context protocol</strong>, you need something like the <a href="https://crypto4a.com/products/blade-modules/qx-hsm">QxHSM™</a> from Crypto4A, which is a quantum-safe hardware module designed to handle the heavy lifting.</p><ul> <li><strong>NIST Standard Support</strong>: These modules implement ML-KEM and ML-DSA directly in the hardware, so your ai isn’t wasting cpu cycles on lattice math.</li> <li><strong>The Bandwidth Tax</strong>: Post-quantum keys are way bigger than what we’re used to—sometimes 10x or more. This "tax" means your network packets get fatter, and your handshake times might climb. These hardware blades are built to manage that bloat without choking your network to death.</li> <li><strong>Root of Trust</strong>: By signing your context headers inside a fips-validated module, you ensure that even if the host os is compromised, the keys stay untouchable.</li> </ul><p><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.pseo.one/685d00d4cb08ab5f5934b924/690c83ae1ca595b8c6f91e0f/hardware-security-module-integration-quantum-safe-model-contexts/mermaid-diagram-2.svg" alt="Diagram 2: Architectural flow of an MCP server offloading PQC signing to a hardware security module."></p><p>Nobody is going to ditch their entire legacy stack overnight—that’s just asking for a production outage. The smart move is a <strong>hybrid strategy</strong> where you wrap your current rsa signatures in a fresh layer of post-quantum protection. </p><p>Using a modular blade setup lets you rotate these chunky lattice keys without breaking your existing pipelines in finance or healthcare. It gives you a safety net; if a quantum machine cracks the old stuff, that outer pqc layer is still holding the line.</p><h2>Deploying Gopher Security for Quantum-Resistant MCP</h2><p>So, you've got your fancy hardware vault, but how do you actually make it talk to your ai agents without everything falling apart? It's one thing to have a secure blade, it's another to manage the mess of p2p connectivity in a world where quantum computers are lurking.</p><p>That's where gopher security comes in, providing what they call a <strong>4D framework</strong>:</p><ul> <li><strong>Identity</strong>: Ensuring every agent has a cryptographically proven, hardware-backed ID.</li> <li><strong>Integrity</strong>: Using ML-DSA to prove that the context hasn't been messed with in transit.</li> <li><strong>Intelligence</strong>: Using AI-driven threat detection to spot anomalies in how agents are requesting data, even if the signatures look okay.</li> <li><strong>Integration</strong>: Making sure this all plugs into your existing devops workflows without a million manual steps.</li> </ul><p>One of the biggest headaches is key rotation. Post-quantum keys are massive, and if you're manually swapping them in a retail or healthcare environment, you're gonna break something. The platform automates this, ensuring your <strong>ml-dsa</strong> signatures stay fresh without killing your uptime.</p><p><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.pseo.one/685d00d4cb08ab5f5934b924/690c83ae1ca595b8c6f91e0f/hardware-security-module-integration-quantum-safe-model-contexts/mermaid-diagram-3.svg" alt="Diagram 3: The 4D framework showing the interaction between Identity, Integrity, Intelligence, and Integration layers."></p><p>As mentioned earlier by <a href="https://gopher.security/">Gopher Security</a>, we have to stop "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" by using perfect forward secrecy. If you don't secure the lifecycle now, you're just leaving a time bomb for your future self to deal with.</p><h2>Operationalizing HSM with Model Context Protocol</h2><p>So you've got the hardware and the software, but how do you actually make them shake hands without the whole thing lagging like a 90s dial-up connection? Honestly, it's one thing to have a secure vault, it's another to wire it into your ai workflows so it doesn't just sit there looking pretty.</p><p>To get your mcp server talking to a hardware module, you're usually looking at <strong>pkcs#11</strong>. It’s an old-school standard, but it’s how we tell the hsm to do the heavy lifting—like signing a context packet with <strong>ml-dsa</strong>—without the private key ever touching the main server's memory.</p><p><em>Note: The following code is illustrative and depends on your specific pkcs#11 provider support for PQC constants.</em></p><pre><code class="language-python">import pkcs11 from pkcs11 import Mechanism # Example using a placeholder for ML-DSA-87 (FIPS 204) # Actual constants vary by provider (e.g., python-pkcs11 with Crypto4A) def sign_mcp_request(hsm_session, context_payload): # we find our quantum-safe key in the HSM slot key = hsm_session.get_key(label='mcp-pqc-identity') # sign the context using ML-DSA # Mechanism.ML_DSA_87 is a placeholder for the specific provider constant signature = key.sign(context_payload, mechanism=Mechanism.ML_DSA_87) return { "method": "context/push", "params": {"data": context_payload}, "meta": { "sig": signature.hex(), "hsm_id": "qx-blade-04" } } </code></pre><p>But wait, there's more. You can actually store your access policies right on the blade. That way, if a retail bot suddenly tries to access healthcare records, the hsm itself can refuse to sign the request. It’s a great way to stop "puppet attacks" where someone hijacks a low-level agent to get to the good stuff.</p><ul> <li><strong>Immutable Logs</strong>: Every time the hsm signs something, it creates an audit trail that even a rogue admin can't delete. Great for <strong>soc 2</strong> or <strong>gdpr</strong> when the auditors come knocking.</li> <li><strong>Identity Verification</strong>: Since the keys are locked in hardware, you know for a fact that the "finance-bot" is actually the finance-bot.</li> </ul><p><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.pseo.one/685d00d4cb08ab5f5934b924/690c83ae1ca595b8c6f91e0f/hardware-security-module-integration-quantum-safe-model-contexts/mermaid-diagram-4.svg" alt="Diagram 4: Sequence diagram showing an MCP request being signed by an HSM using PKCS#11."></p><p>Anyway, it's a bit of a learning curve, but once it's running, you sleep a lot better.</p><h2>Future-Proofing the AI Infrastructure</h2><p>Look, Q-Day isn't some distant "maybe" anymore—it’s the deadline for whether your ai agents stay yours or become someone else’s tool. If you're still relying on old-school rsa for your mcp servers, you're basically leaving the vault door wide open for future quantum decrypts.</p><p>Transitioning doesn't have to be a total nightmare if you start small. Here is the move:</p><ul> <li><strong>Inventory your contexts</strong>: Figure out which ai data flows are high-stakes—like healthcare records or finance trades—and prioritize those for <strong>ml-dsa</strong> signing.</li> <li><strong>Phase the hardware</strong>: You don't need to rip out everything; just start plugging in those quantum-safe hsm blades, as we discussed earlier, to handle the heavy lattice math.</li> <li><strong>Train the humans</strong>: Make sure your soc analysts actually know how to read HSM audit logs and recognize PQC-specific anomalies, so they aren't flying blind when the network starts acting up.</li> </ul><p><img decoding="async" src="https://cdn.pseo.one/685d00d4cb08ab5f5934b924/690c83ae1ca595b8c6f91e0f/hardware-security-module-integration-quantum-safe-model-contexts/mermaid-diagram-5.svg" alt="Diagram 5: Roadmap for transitioning from classical to hybrid to full quantum-safe AI infrastructure."></p><p>Honestly, the "bandwidth tax" from bigger keys is a pain, but it's better than a total breach. As noted earlier by gopher security, the goal is total identity and integrity before the first stable quantum machine goes online. Stay safe.</p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/hardware-security-module-integration-for-quantum-safe-model-contexts/" data-a2a-title="Hardware Security Module Integration for Quantum-Safe Model Contexts"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhardware-security-module-integration-for-quantum-safe-model-contexts%2F&amp;linkname=Hardware%20Security%20Module%20Integration%20for%20Quantum-Safe%20Model%20Contexts" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhardware-security-module-integration-for-quantum-safe-model-contexts%2F&amp;linkname=Hardware%20Security%20Module%20Integration%20for%20Quantum-Safe%20Model%20Contexts" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhardware-security-module-integration-for-quantum-safe-model-contexts%2F&amp;linkname=Hardware%20Security%20Module%20Integration%20for%20Quantum-Safe%20Model%20Contexts" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhardware-security-module-integration-for-quantum-safe-model-contexts%2F&amp;linkname=Hardware%20Security%20Module%20Integration%20for%20Quantum-Safe%20Model%20Contexts" title="Reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhardware-security-module-integration-for-quantum-safe-model-contexts%2F&amp;linkname=Hardware%20Security%20Module%20Integration%20for%20Quantum-Safe%20Model%20Contexts" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div><p class="syndicated-attribution">*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from <a href="https://www.gopher.security/blog">Read the Gopher Security&amp;#039;s Quantum Safety Blog</a> authored by <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/author/0/" title="Read other posts by Read the Gopher Security's Quantum Safety Blog">Read the Gopher Security's Quantum Safety Blog</a>. Read the original post at: <a href="https://www.gopher.security/blog/hardware-security-module-integration-quantum-safe-model-contexts">https://www.gopher.security/blog/hardware-security-module-integration-quantum-safe-model-contexts</a> </p>

<p><main id="readArticle" class="Page-main" data-module="" data-padding="none" morss_own_score="4.4774774774774775" morss_score="12.243935157728263"></main></p><p><a href="https://www.govtech.com/blogs/lohrmann-on-cybersecurity">Lohrmann on Cybersecurity</a></p><h1>Will 2026 See a ‘ChatGPT Moment’ for Microchip Implants?</h1><h2>As Hollywood imagines our future, are brain and human microchip implants nearing a “ChatGPT moment” in 2026? Medical progress collides with privacy fears and state bans.</h2><div>January 18, 2026 • </div><p><a href="https://www.govtech.com/authors/dan-lohrmann.html"><span>Dan Lohrmann</span></a></p><figure> <p><img decoding="async" src="https://erepublic.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b24262a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7621x3974+0+40/resize/840x438!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ferepublic-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F8d%2F88%2F6ab107cb4858815d5a618b28b0c3%2Fadobestock-492524911.jpeg"></p> </figure><div class="Page-articleBody RichTextBody" morss_own_score="4.66127728375101" morss_score="108.66127728375102"> <p> My wife and I have been enjoying the new Peacock TV series “The Copenhagen Test” over the past few weeks. IMDb <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31314791/">describes the show this way</a>: “A first-generation analyst realizes his brain’s hacked, allowing access to his senses. Stuck between the agency and hackers, he acts normal to reveal the culprits.”</p></div><div>While we haven’t learned (yet) when (or even if) a chip was placed in the analyst’s head, the first episode reveals that wireless signals are coming out of his brain and that someone can see and hear everything that he does. <h3>SCIENCE FICTION OR REAL LIFE IN 2026?</h3> </div><div>I find that Hollywood fiction, though over-sensationalized, often brings to life what is coming next regarding how technology will impact life. Put simply, people often understand these movies and TV shows better than what is actually happening in the real world. From <i>WarGames</i> in the early ’80s to <i>Mr. Robot</i> in 2015 to <i>The Copenhagen Test</i> today, the people and process implications of new technology can become more real for viewers in these dramas.</div><div>Meanwhile, headlines continue to progress regarding implanting chips in humans for various reasons. Consider these stories already published in 2026: <p><b><i>The Debrief</i>: </b><a href="https://thedebrief.org/neuralink-set-to-launch-high-volume-brain-implant-production-as-competitors-weigh-in/">Neuralink Set to Launch ‘High-Volume’ Brain Implant Production as Competitors Weigh In</a> — “Elon Musk’s company Neuralink has announced plans to expand its brain-computer interface (BCI) chip, The Link, to ‘high-volume’ production this year.</p></div><div>“‘Neuralink will start high-volume production of brain-computer interface devices and move to a streamlined, almost entirely automated surgical procedure in 2026’ Musk wrote in a December 31, 2025, <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2006513491105165411?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2006513491105165411%7Ctwgr%5Eed854917997d32927ec73e88eb5f66a493d4df4a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fhealth%2Felon-musk-shares-plan-mass-produce-brain-implants-paralysis-neurological-disease">posting</a> on X. ‘Device threads will go through the dura without the need to remove it. …’</div><div>“‘At this stage, we interpret ‘high-volume’ realistically as hundreds moving toward low thousands of implants per year,’ Carolina Aguilar, CEO and co-founder of INBRAIN Neuroelectronics, one of Neuralink’s competitors, told <i>The Debrief, </i>although Aguilar added that the company expects that number to eventually reach ‘tens of thousands’ on account of a range of factors.” <p><b><i>Detroit News</i></b>: <a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2026/01/15/altmans-merge-raises-252-million-to-link-brains-and-computers/88197066007/">Altman’s Merge raises $252 million to link brains and computers</a> — “Merge Labs, a company co-founded by AI billionaire Sam Altman that is building devices to connect human brains to computers, raised $252 million.</p></div><div>“The company is being formed as entrepreneurs and investors across Silicon Valley anticipate a future where artificial intelligence is so advanced that humans will be willing — and perhaps compelled — to augment their brains to take advantage of it. Just as smartphones provide access to the digital world, experimental brain technology is being designed to streamline the experience.</div><div>“Merge’s goal is to seamlessly connect people and artificial intelligence to ‘maximize human ability, agency and experience,’ according to a post on its website Thursday. It did not disclose the valuation of the company. It plans to first develop products for medical use, then later for the general public.”</div><div>And this story from <b><i>FOX News</i></b> back in April 2025: <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/health/paralyzed-man-als-third-receive-neuralink-implant-can-type-brain">Paralyzed man with ALS is third to receive NeuraLink implant, can type with brain</a> — “Brad Smith, an Arizona husband and father with ALS, has become the third person to receive Neuralink, the brain implant made by <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/person/elon-musk">Elon Musk’s</a> company.</div><div>“He is also the first ALS patient and the first non-verbal person to receive the implant, he shared in a post on X on Sunday.</div><div>“‘I am typing this with my brain. It is my primary communication,’ Smith, who was diagnosed in 2020, wrote in the post, which was also shared by Musk. He went on to thank Musk.”</div><div>Finally, <a href="https://www.krungsri.com/en/research/research-intelligence/microchip-implants-2025">this article on microchip implants</a> from Krungsri explains many more details (with great global references at the end) on all of the advances in different technologies related to implanting chips in humans for medical and brain enhancement reasons. <h3>MORE STATES SEEK TO PROTECT AGAINST CHIP IMPLANTS</h3> </div><div>Earlier this month,<i> GeekWire</i> released <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/microchipped-at-work-washington-state-bill-aims-to-ban-employers-from-using-dehumanizing-tech/">an article describing Washington state’s efforts to ban employers from using “dehumanizing” tech</a>: “A bill introduced in the Washington state Legislature would ban employers from requiring or pressuring workers to be microchipped, a practice lawmakers want to prohibit before it ever becomes an issue. <p><a href="https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2025-26/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/2303.pdf?q=20260108141552">“House Bill 2303</a> was prefiled this week by Reps. <a href="https://leg.wa.gov/legislators/member/15410">Brianna Thomas</a> (D-34) and <a href="https://leg.wa.gov/legislators/member/35415">Lisa Parshley</a> (D-22).</p></div><div>“The bill would prohibit employers from requiring, requesting or coercing employees to have microchips implanted in their bodies as a condition of employment, and would bar the use of subcutaneous tracking or identification technology for workplace management or surveillance.”</div><div>As <a href="https://www.govtech.com/blogs/lohrmann-on-cybersecurity/should-states-ban-mandatory-human-microchip-implants">reported last year in this blog,</a> this action expands efforts by at least 13 other states to ban mandatory microchip implants.</div><div>In addition to that January 2025 post, I have reported on the advancement of implanting chips in humans for various reasons going back to 2017. Here are those blogs that dive deeper into various aspects of this topic: <ul> <li>Back in 2017, I asked: <a href="https://www.govtech.com/blogs/lohrmann-on-cybersecurity/where-next-for-microchip-implants.html">Where Next for Microchip Implants?</a></li> <li>In 2018, I predicted that <a href="https://www.govtech.com/blogs/lohrmann-on-cybersecurity/chip-implants-the-next-big-privacy-debate.html">chip implants could become the next big privacy debate</a>.</li> <li>Fast forward to January 2022, when we covered <a href="https://www.govtech.com/blogs/lohrmann-on-cybersecurity/chip-implants-opportunities-concerns-and-what-could-be-next">Chip Implants: Opportunities, Concerns and What Could Be Next</a></li> <li>In February 2023, this blog addressed: <a href="https://www.govtech.com/blogs/lohrmann-on-cybersecurity/from-progress-to-bans-how-close-are-human-microchip-implants">From Progress to Bans: How Close Are Human Microchip Implants?</a></li> <li>In June 2023, we got more personal in this blog, <a href="https://www.govtech.com/blogs/lohrmann-on-cybersecurity/fingernail-chip-implants-west-virginias-ciso-sees-value">Fingernail Chip Implants? West Virginia’s CISO Sees Value</a></li> <li>March 2024: <a href="https://www.govtech.com/blogs/lohrmann-on-cybersecurity/human-brain-chip-implants-helpful-safe-ethical">Human Brain Chip Implants: Helpful? Safe? Ethical?</a> — Major developments regarding implanting chips in human brains have been announced in 2024. Will this procedure become widespread? Are precautions — or even regulations — needed?</li> </ul> <h3>FINAL THOUGHTS</h3> </div><div>Societal opinions are still all over the map on this topic of implanting microchips in humans. There is widespread support of the use of implanting chips in humans for medical reasons and curing diseases, less support for just enhancing brain functioning to compete with (or enable hybrid) AI, and strong reservations (and even bans) being issued by state governments for the mandatory declarations from companies who could try to require implanting chips in staff.</div><div>One new area that caught my attention was a European report that discusses implanting chips for convenience in sending and receiving payments in a post-2030 world. <a href="https://asset.marqeta.com/m/e8bad821248bdc70/original/report-european-payments-landscape.pdf">You can read that report here</a>.</div><div>Here is a brief excerpt: “For instance, more than half (51%) of survey respondents say they would consider using a microchip implanted in their hand to pay, provided it hit certain criteria. If we break that down: 8% said they would be comfortable using it if its privacy measures were water-tight, 23% if it was proven to be medically safe, and a fifth (20%) simply said that yes, they would be comfortable using this payment method. The vast majority (83%) think a microchip implant would make them ‘feel like they are in a sci-fi movie,Æ and nearly half (48%) feel the chip would be useful if they were caught without cash or card. However, invasiveness and security issues remain major concerns.”</div><div>This report is alarming to me for several reasons, and it raises many of the religious and other privacy issues I have highlighted in previous articles about implanting microchips in humans for convenience. (By way of quick summary, what often starts in society as optional or “opt-in” will later become “default with an opt-out” and eventually become mandatory for all.)</div><div>I leave you with this question to ponder: Are chip-enabled credit cards (where we simply tap to pay), leading to a world where we ditch the credit card and implant the chip?</div><div>I certainly hope not, for myriad reasons.</div><p><a href="https://www.govtech.com/tag/emerging-tech">Emerging Tech</a></p><p><a href="https://www.govtech.com/authors/dan-lohrmann.html"></a></p><p><img decoding="async" src="https://erepublic.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7be6234/2147483647/strip/true/crop/343x343+77+0/resize/100x100!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ferepublic-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Faa%2Fbe%2F66bbbc539526800857dd96f3c9d5%2Flohrman.jpg"></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.govtech.com/authors/dan-lohrmann.html">Dan Lohrmann</a></p><div> Daniel J. Lohrmann is an internationally recognized cybersecurity leader, technologist, keynote speaker and author. </div><p><a href="https://www.govtech.com/authors/dan-lohrmann.html">See More Stories by Dan Lohrmann</a></p><p></p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/will-2026-see-a-chatgpt-moment-for-microchip-implants/" data-a2a-title="Will 2026 See a ‘ChatGPT Moment’ for Microchip Implants?"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fwill-2026-see-a-chatgpt-moment-for-microchip-implants%2F&amp;linkname=Will%202026%20See%20a%20%E2%80%98ChatGPT%20Moment%E2%80%99%20for%20Microchip%20Implants%3F" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fwill-2026-see-a-chatgpt-moment-for-microchip-implants%2F&amp;linkname=Will%202026%20See%20a%20%E2%80%98ChatGPT%20Moment%E2%80%99%20for%20Microchip%20Implants%3F" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fwill-2026-see-a-chatgpt-moment-for-microchip-implants%2F&amp;linkname=Will%202026%20See%20a%20%E2%80%98ChatGPT%20Moment%E2%80%99%20for%20Microchip%20Implants%3F" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fwill-2026-see-a-chatgpt-moment-for-microchip-implants%2F&amp;linkname=Will%202026%20See%20a%20%E2%80%98ChatGPT%20Moment%E2%80%99%20for%20Microchip%20Implants%3F" title="Reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fwill-2026-see-a-chatgpt-moment-for-microchip-implants%2F&amp;linkname=Will%202026%20See%20a%20%E2%80%98ChatGPT%20Moment%E2%80%99%20for%20Microchip%20Implants%3F" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div><p class="syndicated-attribution">*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from <a href="">Lohrmann on Cybersecurity</a> authored by <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/author/0/" title="Read other posts by Lohrmann on Cybersecurity">Lohrmann on Cybersecurity</a>. Read the original post at: <a href="https://www.govtech.com/blogs/lohrmann-on-cybersecurity/will-2026-see-a-chatgpt-moment-for-microchip-implants">https://www.govtech.com/blogs/lohrmann-on-cybersecurity/will-2026-see-a-chatgpt-moment-for-microchip-implants</a> </p>

There are a lot of software options for your webcam security system, so it's worth taking the time to ensure what you pick is the best for your needs. Since using webcams can represent some hardware … [+1313 chars]

<h2>The Role of AI in Enhancing Dynamic Secrets Management</h2><p>Have you ever wondered how artificial intelligence is transforming cybersecurity, particularly in the management of Non-Human Identities (NHI) and secrets security? The role of AI in fortifying security frameworks cannot be underestimated. As a tool, AI is paving the way for more dynamic and efficient secrets management, enabling organizations across various sectors to better navigate the intricacies of cybersecurity.</p><h3>Understanding Non-Human Identities and Secrets</h3><p>Non-Human Identities, or NHIs, are integral to modern cybersecurity architecture. These machine identities are unique because they comprise a “Secret,” such as an encrypted password, token, or key, along with the permissions granted by a destination server. Much like a tourist requires a passport and a visa, NHIs utilize these components to gain and manage access within digital systems. Effective management and oversight are crucial to prevent security breaches and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.</p><p>AI-supported secrets management leverages machine learning and data analytics to enhance the visibility and control over these NHIs. This proactive approach mitigates risks associated with unauthorized access and potential data leaks. By continuously monitoring and analyzing the patterns and behaviors of NHIs, AI can identify anomalies that could signify security vulnerabilities.</p><h3>Bridging the Gap Between Security and R&amp;D Teams</h3><p>One of the significant challenges in cybersecurity is the disconnect that often exists between security teams and research and development departments. This disconnect can lead to security gaps, as R&amp;D teams may prioritize innovation and speed over security protocols. AI security solutions help bridge this gap by providing real-time insights and automated security checks, ensuring that security measures are embedded into the development process from the outset.</p><p>A secure cloud environment is essential for organizations to thrive. By creating a seamless interface between these teams, AI-supported dynamic secrets management ensures that security measures are no longer an afterthought but an integral part of the development lifecycle. This methodological shift is particularly beneficial for industries like financial services, healthcare, and DevOps, where sensitive data and rapid development cycles call for robust security protocols.</p><h3>The Benefits of AI in Secrets Security Management</h3><p>AI’s integration into secrets management offers a plethora of advantages. Some of these include:</p><ul> <li><strong>Reduced Risk:</strong> Proactively identifying and mitigating risks helps lower the chances of cybersecurity breaches and data leaks.</li> <li><strong>Improved Compliance:</strong> AI facilitates adherence to regulatory requirements through enforced policies and comprehensive audit trails.</li> <li><strong>Increased Efficiency:</strong> Automation of NHI and secrets management allows security teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than routine tasks.</li> <li><strong>Enhanced Visibility and Control:</strong> Provides a centralized view for managing access and maintaining governance.</li> <li><strong>Cost Savings:</strong> Automation reduces operational expenses by streamlining secrets rotation and NHIs decommissioning processes.</li> </ul><p>These benefits highlight the strategic importance of integrating AI into cybersecurity frameworks. With AI, organizations can ensure that their secrets management is not only efficient but also adaptive to evolving security challenges.</p><h3>Frameworks and Best Practices</h3><p>To maximize the benefits of AI-supported secrets management, organizations should adopt best practices and frameworks that emphasize a comprehensive approach to security. This includes:</p><ul> <li><a href="https://docs.bland.ai/tutorials/secrets" rel="noopener">Secrets Security Frameworks</a>: Learn how to prioritize risks and vulnerabilities.</li> <li><a href="https://docs.run.ai/v2.19/Researcher/best-practices/secrets-as-env-var-in-cli/" rel="noopener">Best Practices for Configuring Secrets</a>: Explore guidelines for optimizing configuration and implementation.</li> <li><a href="https://entro.security/blog/secrets-security-and-soc2-compliance/">SOC2 Compliance</a>: Understand how AI aligns with compliance demands.</li> </ul><p>These resources provide valuable insights into how organizations can implement AI-driven solutions to enhance their security posture effectively.</p><h3>Industry Applications of AI in Dynamic Secrets Management</h3><p>While AI’s role in security is universally applicable, certain industries benefit significantly from dynamic secrets management. Financial services, for instance, deal with vast amounts of sensitive data that require stringent security measures. Similarly, the healthcare sector relies on secure data exchange and storage to protect patient information.</p><p>Where speed and agility are paramount, AI supports dynamic secrets management by automating security tasks and ensuring continuous security checks during development cycles. Moreover, Security Operations Centers (SOC) can leverage AI to streamline incident response processes, facilitating quicker detection and rectification of potential threats.</p><h3>Embracing AI for Future Security Needs</h3><p>Where organizations continue to expand their digital footprints, the need for sophisticated security solutions will become more pressing. AI-supported dynamic secrets management offers a forward-thinking approach to tackling these challenges. By integrating AI into their cybersecurity strategies, organizations can not only protect their digital assets more effectively but also drive innovation and growth without compromising security.</p><p>For those interested in exploring further, <a href="https://mxcp.dev/docs/guides/configuration/" rel="noopener">this guide</a> offers additional insights into configuring systems. Bridging the gap between technological advancement and security, AI continues to revolutionize the management of Non-Human Identities and secrets, presenting new opportunities for safeguarding digital environments.</p><p>Dynamic cybersecurity calls for continuous learning and adaptation. With AI as a strategic ally, organizations can navigate challenges more adeptly, maintaining a robust defense against evolving threats.</p><h3>Why Prioritize Non-Human Identities in Your Cybersecurity Strategy?</h3><p>Can organizations afford to overlook the significance of Non-Human Identities (NHIs) in their cybersecurity strategies? With machine identities proliferate, the need to manage them with as much diligence as human identities has never been more crucial. The automation and digitization driving modern business processes depend heavily on these NHIs, which serve as the backbone of secure, seamless operations.</p><p>In many industries, such as financial services and healthcare, the volume of data and transactions managed by NHIs is extraordinary. These identities perform critical functions ranging from data encryption to authorizing transactions, making their security paramount. A breach within these systems could lead to severe regulatory and financial repercussions. Therefore, non-human identity management should not be perceived as a niche topic but a central element.</p><h3>Mitigating Security Gaps Through Comprehensive NHI Management</h3><p>To address the security gaps that emerge often because of silos between security teams and product development, a comprehensive approach to NHI management is essential. AI can act as a mediator, offering transparent, real-time insights into the activity and access levels of machine identities across the organization.</p><p>For companies grappling with complex environments, especially in cloud-based architectures, managing secrets effectively is even more challenging. Here, AI can support dynamic secrets management, enabling organizations to adapt quickly to changing requirements and threats without the manual burden of constant intervention. This tactic is essential for teams that require agility yet can’t compromise on security compliance, such as those in <a href="https://entro.security/blog/third-party-security-risks-and-remediation/">third-party risk management</a> and DevOps environments.</p><h3>Leveraging AI for Real-Time Threat Detection</h3><p>Effective NHI management isn’t just about maintaining a database of machine identities and secrets; it’s about leveraging AI to ensure proactive threat detection and response. By analyzing patterns, AI systems can identify anomalies in real time, flagging potential breaches before they escalate into significant issues.</p><p>This approach to real-time threat detection plays a significant role in environments where the velocity and volume of data changes are high. Financial services, for instance, are characterized by 24/7 operations with vast amounts of sensitive data flowing through their systems. Similarly, in healthcare, the protection of patient data is critical. Real-time AI threat detection ensures that any deviations from the norm are quickly rectified, keeping your data secure and your systems functioning optimally.</p><h3>A Case for Continuous Improvement and Learning</h3><p>Non-Human Identity management is evolving. Organizations must continuously adapt to new security challenges, incorporating lessons learned from past experiences and emerging trends. By adopting frameworks that support continuous improvement, organizations can strengthen their security systems incrementally over time.</p><p>For example, the implementation of best practices for secrets management, such as those outlined in <a href="https://entro.security/blog/challenges-and-best-practices-in-iac-secrets-security/">challenges and best practices in IaC secrets security</a>, can provide a structured methodology for maintaining robust security. Automated secrets management platforms, enhanced by AI, offer dynamic adaptability, ensuring that security protocols keep pace with the growth and change within the organization.</p><h3>Industry Insights: Why Non-Human Identities Matter</h3><p>While every industry can benefit from sophisticated NHI management, some sectors experience unique challenges and reasons for prioritization over others. For example:</p><ul> <li><strong>Financial Services:</strong> The sector manages sensitive transactions and data, requiring stringent protocols to safeguard assets and comply with regulations.</li> <li><strong>Healthcare:</strong> Patient data confidentiality and regulatory compliance (e.g., HIPAA) necessitate robust NHI and secrets management frameworks.</li> <li><strong>DevOps:</strong> Speed and innovation are paramount, but not at the cost of security. AI supports rapid deployment cycles by embedding security checks seamlessly.</li> <li><strong>Security Operations:</strong> SOCs benefit from the streamlined incident response and threat detection capabilities offered by AI-enhanced dynamic secrets management.</li> </ul><p>Wherever your organization stands, the heightened focus on efficient NHI management ensures alignment with both operational needs and compliance requirements. The evolving nature of technology requires that we approach security as an integral, dynamic component of organizational strategy.</p><h3>AI’s Evolution in Non-Human Identity Security</h3><p>The journey of AI in transforming security strategies for non-human identities is just beginning. With technology advances, organizations must remain vigilant, seeking ways to integrate these tools into their infrastructure effectively. By doing so, they position themselves to be at the forefront of innovation while maintaining tight security controls.</p><p>Consider the potential of self-correcting systems where AI not only detects and identifies threats but also takes corrective measures automatically. Real-time recommendations and solutions will become the new standard, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in cybersecurity management. To explore more on connecting AI’s capabilities to real-world actions and enterprise needs, check out this <a href="https://sema4.ai/blog/connecting-ai-agents-actions-to-enterprise/" rel="noopener">blog post</a> offering strategic insights.</p><p>Where the industry adapts to new challenges brought on by technological changes, the future of Non-Human Identity management will require a proactive and innovative approach integrating AI as a central player in cybersecurity strategies. This ongoing evolution promises a future where security solutions are not just reactive but anticipatory, setting the stage for enhanced protection capabilities.</p><p>The balance between technological advancement and security continues to be pivotal. Organizations that recognize the strategic role of NHIs and secrets security will navigate this terrain more effectively, maintaining the integrity and trust essential for success.</p><p>The post <a href="https://entro.security/how-does-ai-support-dynamic-secrets-management/">How does AI support dynamic secrets management</a> appeared first on <a href="https://entro.security/">Entro</a>.</p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/how-does-ai-support-dynamic-secrets-management/" data-a2a-title="How does AI support dynamic secrets management"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-does-ai-support-dynamic-secrets-management%2F&amp;linkname=How%20does%20AI%20support%20dynamic%20secrets%20management" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-does-ai-support-dynamic-secrets-management%2F&amp;linkname=How%20does%20AI%20support%20dynamic%20secrets%20management" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-does-ai-support-dynamic-secrets-management%2F&amp;linkname=How%20does%20AI%20support%20dynamic%20secrets%20management" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-does-ai-support-dynamic-secrets-management%2F&amp;linkname=How%20does%20AI%20support%20dynamic%20secrets%20management" title="Reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-does-ai-support-dynamic-secrets-management%2F&amp;linkname=How%20does%20AI%20support%20dynamic%20secrets%20management" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div><p class="syndicated-attribution">*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from <a href="https://entro.security/">Entro</a> authored by <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/author/0/" title="Read other posts by Alison Mack">Alison Mack</a>. Read the original post at: <a href="https://entro.security/how-does-ai-support-dynamic-secrets-management/">https://entro.security/how-does-ai-support-dynamic-secrets-management/</a> </p>

<h2>What Are Non-Human Identities and Secrets Security Management?</h2><p>How does one navigate the intricate web of cybersecurity if non-human identities are participating in networks as much as humans? The proliferation of these machine identities, known as Non-Human Identities (NHIs), has added layers of complexity to cybersecurity management, especially in cloud environments where the stakes are incredibly high. Understanding and managing these non-human participants’ identities and their secrets is vital for robust cloud compliance and security.</p><h3>Breaking Down Non-Human Identities</h3><p>Non-Human Identities, or NHIs, represent machine identities used in cybersecurity protocols. They consist of a “Secret,” which might be an encrypted password, token, or key, serving as a unique identifier akin to a passport. The permissions associated with the Secret are like a visa, which grants specific access rights based on the identifier. Together, these elements create a digital entity that performs tasks, accesses data, and interacts with other systems, all without human intervention.</p><p>The challenge lies in managing these NHIs effectively. Unlike human identities, these digital personas can multiply rapidly and may not be tracked diligently, leading to potential security gaps and vulnerabilities. To address these concerns, organizations need to deploy a strategic approach to managing NHIs, one that spans all lifecycle stages—from discovery and classification to continuous threat detection and remediation.</p><h3>Filling Security Gaps: A Holistic Approach</h3><p>A comprehensive strategy for NHI management is essential for creating a secure cloud environment that seamlessly integrates with various departments such as financial services, healthcare, DevOps, and SOC teams. This holistic approach contrasts with the limited capabilities of point solutions like secret scanners, which only offer fragmented protection. NHI management platforms provide invaluable insights, including details on ownership, permissions, usage patterns, and potential vulnerabilities, creating a context-aware security framework.</p><p>Effective management of NHIs delivers several benefits:</p><ul> <li><strong>Reduced Risk:</strong> By proactively identifying and mitigating security risks, comprehensive NHI management significantly reduces the likelihood of breaches and data leaks.</li> <li><strong>Improved Compliance:</strong> Organizations can meet stringent regulatory requirements through better policy enforcement and comprehensive audit trails.</li> <li><strong>Increased Efficiency:</strong> With automated management of NHIs and secrets, security teams can focus more on strategic initiatives.</li> <li><strong>Enhanced Visibility and Control:</strong> A centralized view enhances access management and governance, offering unparalleled control.</li> <li><strong>Cost Savings:</strong> Automation of secrets rotation and NHIs decommissioning leads to reduced operational costs.</li> </ul><h3>The Importance of Context</h3><p>Why is contextual awareness so critical in NHI management? Context-aware security is about understanding not just the identities and their access credentials but also their behavior within the system. It’s akin to monitoring the activities of a tourist in a foreign country: while you may have granted them a visa, their actions while in the country are still subject to scrutiny. This continual monitoring ensures that any anomaly is detected and addressed promptly, mitigating potential security threats.</p><p>In managing NHIs, this context comes from insights into how these identities interact. Through sophisticated algorithms, security professionals can develop a comprehensive understanding of the digital environment’s dynamics. For example, by analyzing usage patterns and permissions, businesses can identify unusual activities that may signify a compromised identity or leaked secret.</p><h3>Industry Use Cases</h3><p>Let’s explore how managing NHIs effectively serves different industries:</p><p>– <strong>Financial Services</strong>: In financial institutions, where regulatory requirements are stringent, managing NHIs is crucial for maintaining compliance. It allows for real-time tracking of machine activities, ensuring that no unauthorized transactions occur.</p><p>– <strong>Healthcare</strong>: With sensitive patient data at stake, healthcare organizations employ NHI management to safeguard data against breaches, thereby maintaining patient privacy and trust.</p><p>– <strong>DevOps</strong>: By automating the management of secrets and NHIs, DevOps teams can achieve quicker deployment cycles, freeing them to focus on innovation and improving product offerings.</p><p>For more insights into implementing these strategies, organizations can explore detailed narratives such as the one on <a href="https://entro.security/blog/how-elastic-scaled-secrets-nhi-security-elastics-playbook-from-visibility-to-automation/">elastic scaling and automation in NHI management</a>.</p><h3>Harnessing AI for Cloud Compliance</h3><p>How do artificial intelligence and smart systems contribute to managing cloud compliance more effectively? AI introduces predictive capabilities and automation that significantly reduce the scope of human error. Through AI-driven insights, organizations can not only achieve compliance but also streamline operations and optimize resource allocation. For instance, <a href="https://actusdigital.com/actus-digital-introduces-ai-driven-compliance-logging-remote-monitoring-including-monitoring-as-a-service-at-ibc2025/" rel="noopener">AI-driven compliance logging and monitoring</a> create a seamless compliance environment that operates continuously and autonomously.</p><p>Harnessing these AI capabilities allows for more nuanced management of NHIs, enabling real-time anomaly detection and automated responses to security incidents. Where cloud environments evolve, the smart integration of AI into NHI management platforms becomes indispensable.</p><p>Non-Human Identity management is no longer a peripheral concern but a core element of modern cybersecurity strategies. By leveraging AI and adopting a holistic approach, organizations can achieve smarter, more efficient cloud compliance strategies. When businesses continue to migrate to cloud environments, the strategic importance of managing NHIs will only increase, unlocking security, efficiency, and reliability across industries globally.</p><p>How can the integration of advanced technologies like AI reshape how we manage Non-Human Identities (NHIs) and Secrets Security Management in complex cloud environments? Organizations across the spectrum from healthcare to financial services are increasingly realizing the strategic value of effective NHI management. The surge in machine identities necessitates a robust approach, particularly when entities expand their digital footprints and embrace cloud technology. Understanding the existing dynamics and potential solutions of NHI management is critical to maintaining security, privacy, and efficiency within diverse industry.</p><h3>AI and Machine Learning: The New Vanguard</h3><p>How can AI and machine learning deepen the effectiveness of NHI management? These advanced technologies can identify and analyze patterns in large datasets that human analysts might overlook. By leveraging machine learning algorithms, organizations can more accurately identify anomalies in NHI behavior, making it easier to preemptively address potential security threats. In addition to anomaly detection, AI can automate tedious and repetitive tasks, such as secrets rotation and compliance checks, thus freeing up human resources for more strategic activities.</p><p>This capability is not purely speculative. For example, companies that adopt <a href="https://www.sprinterra.com/ai-powered-solutions-for-construction-industry-using-acumatica/" rel="noopener">AI-powered solutions</a> often find a marked improvement in operational efficiency, highlighting AI’s transformative potential across sectors. By applying these insights to cybersecurity, organizations can implement more responsive and adaptive security protocols, making AI a key component in the comprehensive management of NHIs.</p><h3>From Silos to Synergy: Bridging Gaps</h3><p>How can effective NHI management create synergy between otherwise disparate teams? Traditionally, security and R&amp;D departments have operated somewhat independently, leading to communication breakdowns that complicate the nurturing of a secure digital environment. However, through a consistent and centralized NHI management strategy, organizations can establish a collaborative framework that brings these teams together.</p><p>By unifying the approach to managing machine identities, companies not only fortify their security postures but also bolster their compliance with industry regulations. This streamlined operation enhances visibility and audits, ensuring both efficiency and accountability. When all stakeholders—from security personnel to developers—are on the same page, it eliminates redundancies and gaps that could otherwise lead to vulnerabilities.</p><h3>Implementing Agile Security Frameworks</h3><p>How can an agile security framework offer a dynamic response to evolving threats? The concept of agility, borrowed from software development methodologies, can be applied to NHI management. This approach involves regularly updating security measures to adapt to new threats while they emerge. An agile framework allows for quick pivots and continuous improvements, keeping security measures aligned with current best practices and technologies.</p><p>The importance of agility can further extend to disaster recovery and incident response protocols, which must adapt swiftly to cybersecurity threats that emerge unpredictably. By implementing agile security frameworks, organizations can not only protect NHIs more effectively but also maintain the continuity and integrity of their operations.</p><h3>Understanding the Economic Implications</h3><p>What economic benefits do robust NHI management systems offer? Cost savings are a well-cited advantage, but the implications go much further. Organizations reduce direct costs by automating processes, such as secrets management and access control, which traditionally required substantial human oversight. Furthermore, indirect savings accrue from mitigated risk of breaches, which often result in significant financial and reputational damage.</p><p>It’s crucial to recognize that effective NHI management can provide a competitive edge by fostering customer trust and confidence, particularly in industries like financial services where security and privacy are key market differentiators. Reduced risk of regulatory fines by improving compliance also feeds into the bottom line, ensuring that businesses not only survive but thrive amid complex regulatory.</p><h3>Lessons from Real-World Applications</h3><p>Can lessons from empirical settings inspire better practices in NHI management? There is much to learn from applied use cases. For instance, in healthcare, strong NHI management ensures compliance with patient privacy laws while maintaining data integrity and accessibility. Meanwhile, <a href="https://entro.security/blog/entro-joins-the-silverfort-isa/">DevOps teams</a> benefit from automating secret management, allowing them to accelerate product development timelines without compromising security.</p><p>In another example, the adoption of <a href="https://entro.security/blog/entro-wiz-integration/">innovative integrations</a> has shown capacity for refined security measures in reaction to evolving organizational needs. Such initiatives not only underline the proficiency of contemporary technology but also the need for an adaptable, forward-thinking mindset in cybersecurity.</p><p>Where do the opportunities for innovation lie in NHI and Secrets Security Management? Organizations must evolve their strategies by constantly reevaluating context and risk—especially in the face of emerging technologies like quantum computing, which poses new challenges to cryptographic security. Collaboration with AI and machine learning not only fortifies current defenses but also sets the stage for advancements in predictive analytics and automated adaptive security measures.</p><p>Continual progress in this domain ultimately empowers businesses to preempt threats and manage identities and secrets with precision, redefining what it means to secure digital fields. By accounting for both current shifts and future potentials, organizations invest not just in immediate gains but in lasting resilience and innovation.</p><p>Such explorations prompt broader industry discussions that will inevitably shape foundations of future cybersecurity. Engaging actively with these considerations will be crucial for sustained success.</p><p>By taking a proactive, technology-forward approach, organizations can better navigate the intricacies of Non-Human Identities and Secrets Security Management, ensuring not only compliance and continuity but also robust innovation.</p><p>The post <a href="https://entro.security/how-smart-are-ai-systems-in-managing-cloud-compliance/">How smart are AI systems in managing cloud compliance</a> appeared first on <a href="https://entro.security/">Entro</a>.</p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/how-smart-are-ai-systems-in-managing-cloud-compliance/" data-a2a-title="How smart are AI systems in managing cloud compliance"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-smart-are-ai-systems-in-managing-cloud-compliance%2F&amp;linkname=How%20smart%20are%20AI%20systems%20in%20managing%20cloud%20compliance" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-smart-are-ai-systems-in-managing-cloud-compliance%2F&amp;linkname=How%20smart%20are%20AI%20systems%20in%20managing%20cloud%20compliance" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-smart-are-ai-systems-in-managing-cloud-compliance%2F&amp;linkname=How%20smart%20are%20AI%20systems%20in%20managing%20cloud%20compliance" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-smart-are-ai-systems-in-managing-cloud-compliance%2F&amp;linkname=How%20smart%20are%20AI%20systems%20in%20managing%20cloud%20compliance" title="Reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-smart-are-ai-systems-in-managing-cloud-compliance%2F&amp;linkname=How%20smart%20are%20AI%20systems%20in%20managing%20cloud%20compliance" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div><p class="syndicated-attribution">*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from <a href="https://entro.security/">Entro</a> authored by <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/author/0/" title="Read other posts by Alison Mack">Alison Mack</a>. Read the original post at: <a href="https://entro.security/how-smart-are-ai-systems-in-managing-cloud-compliance/">https://entro.security/how-smart-are-ai-systems-in-managing-cloud-compliance/</a> </p>

<p>Financial applications, ranging from mobile banking apps to payment gateways, are among the most targeted systems worldwide. In 2025 alone, the <strong>Indusface State of Application Security Report</strong> revealed that banks and financial institutions endured <strong>1.2 billion attacks</strong>, with each financial app experiencing <strong>double the attack frequency compared to other industries</strong>. This surge highlights the urgent need for <strong><a href="https://kratikal.com/vapt-services"><mark class="has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color">Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing </mark></a>(VAPT)</strong>. VAPT services combine automated vulnerability scanning with manual penetration testing to identify, validate, and remediate exploitable weaknesses. When paired with <strong>mobile application testing</strong>, it provides a comprehensive defense against attackers exploiting APIs, mobile ecosystems, and business logic flaws.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading">How Attackers Target Financial Applications?</h2><p>Financial applications remain one of the most lucrative targets for hackers due to the direct access they provide to money, sensitive customer data, and critical business systems. Modern attacks are no longer opportunistic; they are calculated, automated, and designed to exploit both technical and operational gaps.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Exploiting Known Vulnerabilities</strong></h3><p>Attackers actively scan financial applications for unpatched Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs). In 2025, exploitation of known vulnerabilities surged by <strong>74%</strong>, driven largely by automated attack frameworks. Outdated third-party libraries, legacy payment gateway components, and weak SSL/TLS configurations are frequent entry points. Once exploited, these vulnerabilities allow attackers to gain unauthorized access, execute remote code, or escalate privileges within critical financial systems.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>API Abuse in Open Banking Ecosystems</strong></h3><p>APIs form the backbone of fintech platforms, enabling integrations across payment processors, banks, and third-party services. However, poorly secured APIs are a prime target. Attackers exploit weak authentication mechanisms, excessive API permissions, broken object-level authorization (BOLA), and unvalidated inputs to manipulate transactions. </p><h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Business Logic Exploitation</strong></h3><p>Unlike technical vulnerabilities, business logic flaws abuse the intended functionality of financial applications. Attackers reverse-engineer workflows to bypass transaction limits, reuse or stack promotional discounts, manipulate fee calculations, or exploit weaknesses in loan approval and refund processes. These attacks are particularly risky because they mimic legitimate user behavior and frequently evade traditional security controls.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Misconfigurations and Shadow Assets</strong></h3><p>Financial institutions often maintain multiple environments, including staging servers, customer support portals, legacy admin panels, and third-party integrations. These “shadow assets” are frequently misconfigured or insufficiently monitored. Attackers target exposed databases, weak access controls, and unsecured cloud storage to gain an initial foothold, then pivot laterally into core banking or payment systems.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading">How VAPT Prevents Attacks on Financial Applications?</h3><div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1024" height="498" src="https://kratikal.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Financial-Applications-and-VAPT_info-1024x498.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-14520" srcset="https://kratikal.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Financial-Applications-and-VAPT_info-1024x498.jpg 1024w, https://kratikal.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Financial-Applications-and-VAPT_info-300x146.jpg 300w, https://kratikal.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Financial-Applications-and-VAPT_info-150x73.jpg 150w, https://kratikal.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Financial-Applications-and-VAPT_info-768x374.jpg 768w, https://kratikal.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Financial-Applications-and-VAPT_info.jpg 1099w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></figure> </div><h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Proactive Threat Prevention and Continuous Protection:</strong></h4><p>Instead of reacting to cyber incidents after they occur, VAPT allows banks and fintech organizations to proactively strengthen their security posture. Through structured vulnerability assessments, security gaps are identified and remediated before attackers can exploit them. Penetration testing then replicates real-world attack scenarios to reveal how multiple weaknesses could be chained together to cause a major breach. When conducted annually or after significant system changes, this proactive strategy ensures continuous protection against an evolving threat landscape—significantly reducing the risk of costly downtime and financial losses.</p><h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Strengthening Customer Confidence and Data Protection</strong></h4><p>In the financial sector, customer trust is paramount, and VAPT plays a critical role in reinforcing it. By demonstrating a strong commitment to protecting sensitive financial and personal data through rigorous security assessments, organizations instill greater confidence in their customers. Preventing major data breaches not only safeguards the institution’s reputation but also protects clients’ financial interests, creating a powerful and lasting competitive advantage.  </p><h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Meeting Compliance Requirements</strong> </h4><p>The financial services industry is among the most heavily regulated sectors, governed by stringent cybersecurity mandates from bodies such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and global standards like PCI DSS. Regular VAPT is often a mandatory requirement for compliance. By providing detailed, actionable reports, VAPT enables financial institutions to demonstrate proactive risk identification and remediation, helping them avoid regulatory penalties, reduce legal exposure, and maintain a strong, audit-ready security posture.</p><h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Securing Real-Time Payment System</strong></h4><p>VAPT delivers comprehensive vulnerability discovery by identifying security gaps across multiple layers, including network configurations, exposed API endpoints, and misconfigured payment gateways. Simulating real-world attack scenarios, it allows organizations to assess the resilience of their payment systems against common threats such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). VAPT also validates transaction integrity by emulating man-in-the-middle attacks to confirm proper end-to-end encryption and secure data transmission. In addition, detailed API security testing ensures strong authentication, effective data handling, and appropriate access controls, significantly reducing the risk of exploitation and safeguarding the core infrastructure behind real-time financial transactions.</p><p><br> <br> </p><br><meta charset="UTF-8"><br><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"><br><title>Cyber Security Squad – Newsletter Signup</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="https://kratikal.com/blog/how-attackers-target-financial-applications-and-vapt-stops-them/styles.css"><link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/"><link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.gstatic.com/" crossorigin><link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Roboto:wght@400;500;700&amp;display=swap" rel="stylesheet"><style type="text/css"> /* Reset and base styles */</p> <p>.newsletterwrap .containerWrap { width: 100%; max-width: 800px; margin: 25px auto; }</p> <p>/* Card styles */ .newsletterwrap .signup-card { background-color: white; 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}</p> <p>/* Responsive styles */ @media (max-width: 768px) { .newsletterwrap .content { flex-direction: column; text-align: center; }</p> <p> .newsletterwrap .text-content { margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: 20px; }</p> <p> .newsletterwrap .rightlogo { margin-top: 20px; } }</p> <p>@media (max-width: 480px) { .newsletterwrap .signup-form { flex-direction: column; }</p> <p> .newsletterwrap input[type="email"] { border-radius: 4px; margin-bottom: 10px; }</p> <p> .newsletterwrap .submitBtn { border-radius: 4px; width: 100%; } } </style><p><br> </p><script defer src="https://static.cloudflareinsights.com/beacon.min.js/vcd15cbe7772f49c399c6a5babf22c1241717689176015" integrity="sha512-ZpsOmlRQV6y907TI0dKBHq9Md29nnaEIPlkf84rnaERnq6zvWvPUqr2ft8M1aS28oN72PdrCzSjY4U6VaAw1EQ==" data-cf-beacon='{"version":"2024.11.0","token":"33edbdb5f462496f85e52978979b687b","server_timing":{"name":{"cfCacheStatus":true,"cfEdge":true,"cfExtPri":true,"cfL4":true,"cfOrigin":true,"cfSpeedBrain":true},"location_startswith":null}}' crossorigin="anonymous"></script><script>(function(){function c(){var b=a.contentDocument||a.contentWindow.document;if(b){var d=b.createElement('script');d.innerHTML="window.__CF$cv$params={r:'9bfb2f633ab6aae6',t:'MTc2ODcwODgyMw=='};var a=document.createElement('script');a.src='/cdn-cgi/challenge-platform/scripts/jsd/main.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(a);";b.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(d)}}if(document.body){var a=document.createElement('iframe');a.height=1;a.width=1;a.style.position='absolute';a.style.top=0;a.style.left=0;a.style.border='none';a.style.visibility='hidden';document.body.appendChild(a);if('loading'!==document.readyState)c();else if(window.addEventListener)document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',c);else{var e=document.onreadystatechange||function(){};document.onreadystatechange=function(b){e(b);'loading'!==document.readyState&&(document.onreadystatechange=e,c())}}}})();</script><div class="containerWrap"> <div class="signup-card"> <div class="content"> <div class="text-content"> <h1 class="main-heading">Get in!</h1> <p class="para">Join our weekly <span style="color: #e75d10;">newsletter</span> and stay updated</p> </div> <div class="rightlogo"> <div class="logo-icon"> <div class="c-outer"></div> <div class="c-middle"></div> <div class="c-inner"></div> </div> <div class="logo-text">CYBER SECURITY SQUAD</div> </div> </div> <form class="signup-form" action="https://kratikal.com/thanks/thankyou-newsletter" method="get"> <input type="email" name="email" value="" placeholder="Email" required><br> <input type="submit" name="submit" value="I am interested!" class="submitBtn"><br> </form> </div> </div><p><br> </p><h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Technical Benefits of VAPT</strong></h3><figure class="wp-block-table"> <table class="has-fixed-layout"> <tbody> <tr> <td><strong>Attack Vectors </strong></td> <td><strong>How VAPT Counters It?</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td>Known CVEs</td> <td>Security testers manually verify whether reported CVEs are exploitable in the specific environment, attempt proof‑of‑concept exploits, and confirm impact instead of relying solely on automated flags.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>API Abuse </td> <td>Pen testers craft custom payloads, bypass weak authentication, manipulate rate limits, and fuzz API endpoints to uncover logic flaws and privilege escalation opportunities.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Malicious Apps</td> <td>Through <strong>mobile application testing</strong>, testers reverse engineer APKs/IPA files, analyze code for hardcoded secrets, simulate runtime attacks, and manually validate encryption/storage mechanisms.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Misconfigurations</td> <td>Manual reviews of server configs, SSL/TLS setups, and exposed services are performed; testers attempt direct exploitation to validate the risk. </td> </tr> <tr> <td>Credential Stuffing</td> <td>Testers replicate brute force and credential stuffing attacks with controlled datasets, evaluate lockout/MFA bypass mechanisms, and confirm whether protections withstand sustained manual attack attempts.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </figure><div class="containers"> <!-- Left Section --> <div class="left-section"> <h1>Book Your Free Cybersecurity Consultation Today!</h1> <p> <img decoding="async" src="https://awareness.threatcop.ai/marketing/new_asset_blog_form.svg" alt="People working on cybersecurity" class="consultation-image"> </p></div> <p> <!-- Right Section --></p> <div class="right-section"> <div class="form-containers"> <form action="https://kratikal.com/thanks/thankyou-blog" method="get" onsubmit="return validateForm(this)"> <div class="form-group"> <label for="fullName">Full Name</label><br> <input type="text" required name="FullName" placeholder="Enter full name"> </div> <div class="form-group"> <label for="email">Email ID</label><br> <input type="email" required name="email" placeholder="your name @ example.com"> </div> <div class="form-group"> <label for="company">Company Name</label><br> <input type="text" required name="CompanyName" placeholder="Enter company name"> </div> <div class="form-group"> <label for="phone">Phone Number</label><br> <input type="number" required name="Phone" placeholder="Enter phone number"> </div> <p> <input type="hidden" name="BlogForm" value="BlogForm"><br> <button type="submit" class="submit-btnns" name="submit" value="I am interested!">I am interested!</button><br> </p></form> </div> </div> </div><p><!-- CSS Styles --></p><style> .containers{ display: flex; width: 100%; max-width: 800px; height: 500px; box-shadow: 0 0 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-radius: 4px; overflow: hidden; margin: 25px auto; } .left-section { width: 50%; background-color: #000; color: white; padding: 30px; display: flex; flex-direction: column; position: relative; overflow: hidden; } .left-section h1 { font-size: 26px; line-height: 40px; margin-bottom: 30px; z-index: 2; position: relative; color: white; } .consultation-image { position: absolute; bottom: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 70%; object-fit: cover; object-position: center; } .right-section { width: 50%; background-color: white; padding: 30px; display: flex; flex-direction: column; justify-content: center; } .form-containers { width: 100%; } .form-group { margin-bottom: 20px; } label { display: block; color: #666; margin-bottom: 5px; font-size: 14px; } .right-section input { width: 88%; padding: 12px 15px; border: 1px solid #e0e0e0; border-radius: 8px; font-size: 16px; } .submit-btnns { width: 100%; padding: 15px; background: linear-gradient(to right, #e67e22, #d35400); border: none; border-radius: 8px; color: white; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; cursor: pointer; margin-top: 10px; } /* Responsive */ @media (max-width: 768px) { .containers { flex-direction: column; height: auto; } .left-section, .right-section { width: 100%; } .left-section { height: 400px; } .consultation-image { height: 60%; } } @media (max-width: 480px) { .left-section { padding: 20px; height: 350px; } .left-section h1 { font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; } .right-section { padding: 20px; } .right-section input, .submit-btnns { padding: 10px; } } </style><p><!-- JS Validation --><br> <script> function validateForm(form) { const inputs = form.querySelectorAll("input[type=text], input[type=email], input[type=number]"); for (let i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++) { if (/[<>]/.test(inputs[i].value)) { alert("Tags and attributes are not allowed in form fields!"); return false; // prevent submission } } return true; // allow submission } </script></p><h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>How Kratikal Can Help You With VAPT Services?</strong></h3><p><a href="https://kratikal.com/"><mark class="has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color">Kratikal</mark></a> helps financial institutions stay ahead of evolving cyber threats through comprehensive VAPT services designed specifically for banking and fintech environments. By identifying vulnerabilities across applications, APIs, networks, and payment systems, Kratikal uncovers security gaps before attackers can exploit them. Our expert-led penetration testing simulates real-world attack scenarios to reveal how weaknesses could be chained into serious breaches, while detailed, actionable reports support faster remediation and regulatory compliance. With Kratikal’s <mark class="has-inline-color has-black-color">VAPT services,</mark> organizations can strengthen their security posture, protect sensitive financial data, and build lasting trust with customers in an increasingly hostile threat landscape.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading">FAQs</h3><div class="schema-how-to wp-block-yoast-how-to-block"> <p class="schema-how-to-description"> </p><ol class="schema-how-to-steps"> <li class="schema-how-to-step" id="how-to-step-1768553548602"><strong class="schema-how-to-step-name"><strong>How does </strong>VAPT help<strong> secure financial applications?</strong><br></strong> <p class="schema-how-to-step-text">VAPT helps financial institutions detect exploitable vulnerabilities early, understand real-world attack paths, and remediate risks before they can be exploited by attackers.</p> </li> <li class="schema-how-to-step" id="how-to-step-1768553566640"><strong class="schema-how-to-step-name"><strong>How does VAPT protect APIs used in banking and fintech platforms?</strong></strong> <p class="schema-how-to-step-text"> VAPT evaluates API security by testing authentication mechanisms, access controls, rate limits, and input validation. Pen testers attempt to exploit broken object-level authorization (BOLA), excessive permissions, and logic flaws to ensure APIs cannot be abused for unauthorized transactions or data exfiltration.</p> </li> </ol> </div><p>The post <a href="https://kratikal.com/blog/how-attackers-target-financial-applications-and-vapt-stops-them/">How Attackers Target Financial Applications and VAPT Stops Them?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://kratikal.com/blog">Kratikal Blogs</a>.</p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/how-attackers-target-financial-applications-and-vapt-stops-them/" data-a2a-title="How Attackers Target Financial Applications and VAPT Stops Them?"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-attackers-target-financial-applications-and-vapt-stops-them%2F&amp;linkname=How%20Attackers%20Target%20Financial%20Applications%20and%20VAPT%20Stops%20Them%3F" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-attackers-target-financial-applications-and-vapt-stops-them%2F&amp;linkname=How%20Attackers%20Target%20Financial%20Applications%20and%20VAPT%20Stops%20Them%3F" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-attackers-target-financial-applications-and-vapt-stops-them%2F&amp;linkname=How%20Attackers%20Target%20Financial%20Applications%20and%20VAPT%20Stops%20Them%3F" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-attackers-target-financial-applications-and-vapt-stops-them%2F&amp;linkname=How%20Attackers%20Target%20Financial%20Applications%20and%20VAPT%20Stops%20Them%3F" title="Reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-attackers-target-financial-applications-and-vapt-stops-them%2F&amp;linkname=How%20Attackers%20Target%20Financial%20Applications%20and%20VAPT%20Stops%20Them%3F" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div><p class="syndicated-attribution">*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from <a href="https://kratikal.com/blog/">Kratikal Blogs</a> authored by <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/author/0/" title="Read other posts by Shikha Dhingra">Shikha Dhingra</a>. Read the original post at: <a href="https://kratikal.com/blog/how-attackers-target-financial-applications-and-vapt-stops-them/">https://kratikal.com/blog/how-attackers-target-financial-applications-and-vapt-stops-them/</a> </p>

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<p>Given the threat-dominating space we cannot escape, we need a game-changer that becomes the ultimate tool for protecting our Android app. Now, imagine your organisation’s application is used by hundreds and thousands of Android users, given that your flagship Android app is always running on it. <strong>How sure are you that your app security is keeping up?</strong> It’s widely acknowledged that Android dominates the mobile world, and with that popularity comes a surge in cyber threats. In fact, Android’s huge market share makes it a prime target for the bad actors, and the past year saw a <strong>45% </strong>jump in new Android vulnerabilities.</p><p>You should not read this as a mere statistic, but a number that you need to jot down in our priority notebook. As you read further, we have addressed an important question on why organizations urgently need an <strong>Android App Vulnerability Scanner</strong>, what to look for in such a tool, and how modern AI-driven solutions are redefining mobile app security. We’ll take you on a conversational journey, no boring lists of features, but just the facts and insights you need to secure your Android ecosystem.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Businesses Need The Best Android App Vulnerability Scanner and Can’t Afford to Ignore Android App Security</h2><p>Android has become the workhorse of modern enterprises. From employee phones and tablets to custom apps, Android is everywhere. By the end of 2024, there were <strong>2.87 million </strong>apps on Google Play and <strong>66% </strong>of American employees using personal smartphones for work, with 70% of companies embracing BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policies. </p><p>If we talk in practical terms, this implies that most corporations now extend to mobile devices that IT doesn’t fully control, apart from the regular users. We stand on a no-option double-edged sword: productivity rises, but so does risk. The average employee’s phone carries dozens of apps, out of which many are unrelated to work, and each is a potential doorway for threats. Your app being in it also makes your application highlight on the red zone.</p><p>The result? A fragmented, under-secured landscape where Android devices can become weak links. Mobile apps account for<strong> 70% </strong>of digital interactions, and vulnerabilities in those apps contributed to about<strong> 40% </strong>of data breaches involving personal data in 2023, where the possibility of data leak from your app is also high if it is not secured from your end.</p><p><strong>Picture the impact:</strong>  An unpatched flaw in your Android app on an employee’s phone could leak customer data or provide a foothold into your network. </p><p>This is why organizations urgently need to <strong>proactively </strong>scan for vulnerabilities in their Android app ecosystem, before a series of unfortunate events starts surfacing.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading">Android App Vulnerability Scanner – What Makes It Best?</h2><p>Knowing the challenges, how do you choose the best vulnerability scanner for your Android app? Whether you’re evaluating solutions for your business or just curious, consider these:</p><figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="966" height="764" src="https://kratikal.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Network-Scanner-Tool_info.jpg" alt="Vulnerabilities Detected by an Android App Vulnerability Scanner" class="wp-image-14506" style="width:743px;height:auto" srcset="https://kratikal.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Network-Scanner-Tool_info.jpg 966w, https://kratikal.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Network-Scanner-Tool_info-300x237.jpg 300w, https://kratikal.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Network-Scanner-Tool_info-150x119.jpg 150w, https://kratikal.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Network-Scanner-Tool_info-768x607.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 966px) 100vw, 966px"></figure><p>The best Android App Vulnerability Scanner for an organization covers the real ways apps get breached, not just what looks good in your security report. It must go far beyond surface-level checks and deeply analyze how the app stores data, communicates over networks, and protects sensitive secrets. </p><p>Furthermore, a strong scanner identifies insecure local storage, hardcoded credentials, and weak cryptography that attackers routinely exploit after reverse engineering an APK. It inspects network behavior to catch insecure TLS configurations and missing certificate validation that enable man-in-the-middle attacks. </p><p>Adding to the above capabilities, it also evaluates application logic by flagging broken authentication flows, over-privileged permissions, and misconfigured exported components that allow unauthorized access. Equally important, it tests WebView usage, logging practices, and debuggable settings that make exploitation easier in real-world conditions. </p><p>In short, the best scanner combines static and dynamic analysis to expose vulnerabilities that attackers can actually weaponize, helping organizations reduce true breach risk, not just pass security checklists.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading">Traditional Tools vs. Modern AI: A Quick Reality Check</h3><p>In a nutshell, the gap between the old and new is like <strong>night and day</strong>. Legacy scanners are like night guards with flashlights; they patrol and can catch known bad guys, but might miss someone sneaking in a new way. AI-powered Android App Vulnerability Scanners are more like smart security cameras: always on, learning intruder tactics as they evolve, and distinguishing between harmless shadows and real threats. Now, let’s meet one of these modern solutions up close.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading">Meet AutoSecT: The Best Android App Vulnerability Scanner</h2><p><a href="https://kratikal.com/autosect"><strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color">AutoSecT</mark></strong></a> is an <strong>AI-driven VMDR and pentest tool</strong> that covers your entire technology stack in one platform. For an organization with Android apps, this means one tool can assess your Android app code, test its backend APIs, scan your infrastructure for weaknesses, and even check your cloud configs, all together. </p><h3 class="wp-block-heading">Why is it Special for Android Apps? </h3><h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Blazing Fast Updates</strong></h4><p>AutoSecT’s AI engine can literally write new scanning code on its own within 2 hours of a new vulnerability disclosure. Picture a new Android app exploit being announced, perhaps a critical flaw in Android’s Wi-Fi stack. AutoSecT’s AI scours the details, whips up a check or even a safe exploit test, and adds it to the scanner almost immediately. Traditional tools might leave you waiting for the next vendor update. This speed gives you minimal exposure to emerging threats.</p><h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Zero-Day Detection and Verification</strong></h4><p>We talked about zero-days – those unknown, unpatched bugs. AutoSecT combines real-time threat intelligence feeds with AI reasoning to spot suspicious patterns even if it’s not a known CVE. More importantly, it doesn’t just alert you with a scary “possible 0-day” note. Its AI-agent actually tries to verify the threat in a controlled way, so you get confirmation if it’s exploitable. </p><h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Deep Android App Penetration Testing</strong></h4><p>For companies with Android apps, AutoSecT shines by automating what a human pentester would do. You can upload your Android APK, and it will decompile and analyze the code, check every component against OWASP Mobile Top 10 risks, test all the network calls, and even fuzz the APIs your app talks to. It maps out issues like insecure data storage on the device, weak authentication flows, or vulnerable third-party libraries. All of this is done much faster than a manual review, and it can be part of your CI/CD – meaning every time your devs make changes, AutoSecT can run a scan and catch security bugs before release.</p><h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Near Zero False Positives</strong></h4><p>AutoSecT effectively thinks like an expert analyst. When it finds a vulnerability, say insecure data storage or broken authentication on an Android app, it doesn’t stop there. It attempts to exploit or thoroughly analyze it using AI. Only if it confirms the issue will it bother you with it. That’s why it delivers “AI-verified” results you can trust, with almost no false positives. Security teams who use AutoSecT often mention how quiet the dashboard is; not because it’s missing things, but because it’s focusing you on the real problems, not hypothetical ones. This improves productivity and morale.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading">Wrapping Up: Securing the Android App Frontier with Confidence</h3><p>Android’s role in business is only growing, and so are the threats targeting it. We’ve gone from a world where mobile app security was an afterthought to one where it’s at the forefront of enterprise risk management. When <strong>nearly half of new vulnerabilities</strong> are mobile-app related, and mobile apps drive the majority of user interactions, it’s obvious that organizations need to invest in the best defenses for their Android app ecosystem. The best <a href="https://kratikal.com/autosect/mobile-app-pentest"><strong><mark class="has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color">Android App Vulnerability Scanner</mark></strong></a>, AutoSecT, is like having a tireless security analyst who never sleeps and reads every hacker forum patrolling your Android app territory. It brings automation and intelligence together, aligning perfectly with what busy B2B security teams need today.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading">FAQs</h3><div class="schema-how-to wp-block-yoast-how-to-block"> <p class="schema-how-to-description"> </p><ol class="schema-how-to-steps"> <li class="schema-how-to-step" id="how-to-step-1768546757306"><strong class="schema-how-to-step-name">Why does every enterprise Android app need a vulnerability scanner in 2026?</strong> <p class="schema-how-to-step-text">Android apps are a prime attack surface due to massive adoption, BYOD usage, and frequent new vulnerabilities. A dedicated Android App Vulnerability Scanner helps organizations proactively detect exploitable flaws before attackers weaponize them.</p> </li> <li class="schema-how-to-step" id="how-to-step-1768546857420"><strong class="schema-how-to-step-name">What features define the best Android App Vulnerability Scanner?</strong> <p class="schema-how-to-step-text">The best Android App Vulnerability Scanner combines static and dynamic analysis, detects insecure storage, weak authentication, misconfigured components, and insecure network communication, and validates findings to reduce false positives and real breach risk.</p> </li> <li class="schema-how-to-step" id="how-to-step-1768546884953"><strong class="schema-how-to-step-name">How are AI-powered Android App Vulnerability Scanners better than traditional tools?</strong> <p class="schema-how-to-step-text">AI-powered scanners adapt faster to new threats, detect zero-day patterns, verify exploitability, and minimize noise.</p> </li> </ol> </div><p>The post <a href="https://kratikal.com/blog/best-android-app-vulnerability-scanner-in-2026/">Your Android App Needs Scanning – Best Android App Vulnerability Scanner in 2026</a> appeared first on <a href="https://kratikal.com/blog">Kratikal Blogs</a>.</p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/your-android-app-needs-scanning-best-android-app-vulnerability-scanner-in-2026/" data-a2a-title="Your Android App Needs Scanning – Best Android App Vulnerability Scanner in 2026"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fyour-android-app-needs-scanning-best-android-app-vulnerability-scanner-in-2026%2F&amp;linkname=Your%20Android%20App%20Needs%20Scanning%20%E2%80%93%20Best%20Android%20App%20Vulnerability%20Scanner%20in%202026" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fyour-android-app-needs-scanning-best-android-app-vulnerability-scanner-in-2026%2F&amp;linkname=Your%20Android%20App%20Needs%20Scanning%20%E2%80%93%20Best%20Android%20App%20Vulnerability%20Scanner%20in%202026" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fyour-android-app-needs-scanning-best-android-app-vulnerability-scanner-in-2026%2F&amp;linkname=Your%20Android%20App%20Needs%20Scanning%20%E2%80%93%20Best%20Android%20App%20Vulnerability%20Scanner%20in%202026" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fyour-android-app-needs-scanning-best-android-app-vulnerability-scanner-in-2026%2F&amp;linkname=Your%20Android%20App%20Needs%20Scanning%20%E2%80%93%20Best%20Android%20App%20Vulnerability%20Scanner%20in%202026" title="Reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fyour-android-app-needs-scanning-best-android-app-vulnerability-scanner-in-2026%2F&amp;linkname=Your%20Android%20App%20Needs%20Scanning%20%E2%80%93%20Best%20Android%20App%20Vulnerability%20Scanner%20in%202026" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div><p class="syndicated-attribution">*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from <a href="https://kratikal.com/blog/">Kratikal Blogs</a> authored by <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/author/0/" title="Read other posts by Puja Saikia">Puja Saikia</a>. Read the original post at: <a href="https://kratikal.com/blog/best-android-app-vulnerability-scanner-in-2026/">https://kratikal.com/blog/best-android-app-vulnerability-scanner-in-2026/</a> </p>

<figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic "> <p> <a class=" sqs-block-image-link " href="https://xkcd.com/3183/"></a></p> <p> <img data-stretch="false" data-image="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5355d604e4b03c3e9896e131/cf3f6c6e-3214-48b7-8f0c-564bbf103d20/pole_vault_pole.png" data-image-dimensions="550x464" data-image-focal-point="0.5,0.5" alt="" data-load="false" elementtiming="system-image-block" src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5355d604e4b03c3e9896e131/cf3f6c6e-3214-48b7-8f0c-564bbf103d20/pole_vault_pole.png?format=1000w" width="550" height="464" sizes="auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, (max-width: 767px) 100vw, 100vw" onload='this.classList.add("loaded")' srcset="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5355d604e4b03c3e9896e131/cf3f6c6e-3214-48b7-8f0c-564bbf103d20/pole_vault_pole.png?format=100w 100w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5355d604e4b03c3e9896e131/cf3f6c6e-3214-48b7-8f0c-564bbf103d20/pole_vault_pole.png?format=300w 300w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5355d604e4b03c3e9896e131/cf3f6c6e-3214-48b7-8f0c-564bbf103d20/pole_vault_pole.png?format=500w 500w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5355d604e4b03c3e9896e131/cf3f6c6e-3214-48b7-8f0c-564bbf103d20/pole_vault_pole.png?format=750w 750w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5355d604e4b03c3e9896e131/cf3f6c6e-3214-48b7-8f0c-564bbf103d20/pole_vault_pole.png?format=1000w 1000w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5355d604e4b03c3e9896e131/cf3f6c6e-3214-48b7-8f0c-564bbf103d20/pole_vault_pole.png?format=1500w 1500w, https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5355d604e4b03c3e9896e131/cf3f6c6e-3214-48b7-8f0c-564bbf103d20/pole_vault_pole.png?format=2500w 2500w" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-loader="sqs"></p> <p> <figcaption class="image-caption-wrapper"> <p class="">via the comic artistry and dry wit of Randall Munroe, creator of XKCD</p> </figcaption></p></figure><p><a href="https://www.infosecurity.us/blog/2026/1/16/randall-munroes-xkcd-pole-vault-pole">Permalink</a></p><p> </p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/randall-munroes-xkcd-pole-vault-pole/" data-a2a-title="Randall Munroe’s XKCD ‘Pole Vault Pole’"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Frandall-munroes-xkcd-pole-vault-pole%2F&amp;linkname=Randall%20Munroe%E2%80%99s%20XKCD%20%E2%80%98Pole%20Vault%20Pole%E2%80%99" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Frandall-munroes-xkcd-pole-vault-pole%2F&amp;linkname=Randall%20Munroe%E2%80%99s%20XKCD%20%E2%80%98Pole%20Vault%20Pole%E2%80%99" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Frandall-munroes-xkcd-pole-vault-pole%2F&amp;linkname=Randall%20Munroe%E2%80%99s%20XKCD%20%E2%80%98Pole%20Vault%20Pole%E2%80%99" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Frandall-munroes-xkcd-pole-vault-pole%2F&amp;linkname=Randall%20Munroe%E2%80%99s%20XKCD%20%E2%80%98Pole%20Vault%20Pole%E2%80%99" title="Reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Frandall-munroes-xkcd-pole-vault-pole%2F&amp;linkname=Randall%20Munroe%E2%80%99s%20XKCD%20%E2%80%98Pole%20Vault%20Pole%E2%80%99" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div><p class="syndicated-attribution">*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from <a href="https://www.infosecurity.us/">Infosecurity.US</a> authored by <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/author/0/" title="Read other posts by Marc Handelman">Marc Handelman</a>. Read the original post at: <a href="https://xkcd.com/3183/">https://xkcd.com/3183/</a> </p>

<div data-elementor-type="wp-post" data-elementor-id="53789" class="elementor elementor-53789" data-elementor-post-type="post"> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-024fa2f ccustom_blogdetail_topsec e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent" data-id="024fa2f" data-element_type="container" data-settings='{"background_background":"classic"}'> <div class="e-con-inner"> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-988554d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="988554d" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <p>Enterprise security teams are beginning to encounter a category of access failure that feels unfamiliar only because its consequences arrive faster than expected. </p> <p>Systems that once required multiple steps, approvals, or manual intervention are now able to act continuously, across tools, and with little friction. In that environment, long-tolerated identity shortcuts, such as shared credentials or over-privileged tokens, become immediately problematic once execution begins.</p> <p>That risk was underscored by the recent disclosure <a href="https://www.darkreading.com/remote-workforce/ai-vulnerability-servicenow" rel="noopener">of a critical impersonation vulnerability in ServiceNow</a>, the cloud-based workflow automation platform widely deployed by enterprises. Since patched, the flaw could have allowed an unauthenticated attacker to impersonate arbitrary users, including administrators. The issue originated in ServiceNow’s Virtual Agent integration, which exposes an API for third-party chat and automation tools. A platform-wide credential trusted by that API, combined with email-based account linking, bypassed standard authentication controls.</p> <p>ServiceNow relied on a chain of assumptions that were already unsound: A shared credential was trusted across integrations. User identity could be asserted with little more than an email address. Once those assumptions were combined with agentic workflows capable of creating records and provisioning access, impersonation turned into persistence.</p> <p>This outcome should not surprise anyone responsible for securing non-human access. Agentic systems <a href="https://aembit.io/blog/agentic-ai-cybersecurity-risks-security-guide/" rel="noopener">remove much of the separation</a> between authorization and execution. What made this vulnerability consequential was the <a href="https://aembit.io/blog/the-emerging-identity-imperatives-of-agentic-ai/" rel="noopener">absence of meaningful limits</a> on who an agent could act as, what it was allowed to do, and how quickly that authority could be withdrawn once something went wrong.</p> <h2>What Enterprises Should Require Before Allowing Agentic Access</h2> <p>The ServiceNow incident fits a pattern already visible across SaaS platforms and internal tooling. Software actors inherit access patterns designed for people, and those patterns were never built to withstand continuous execution, delegation, or chaining across systems.</p> <p>Enterprises deploying agentic workflows <a href="https://aembit.io/blog/dynamic-authorization-vs-static-secrets-rethinking-cloud-access-controls" rel="noopener">should insist on</a> a small number of structural controls before granting access to sensitive resources.</p> <ul> <li aria-level="1"><strong>First, agents must have distinct identities that exist independently of the humans who invoke them.</strong> When agent activity is recorded under user credentials, attribution collapses and accountability becomes speculative. Where human context is relevant, it should be bound explicitly and narrowly to the agent’s execution context rather than assumed implicitly.</li> <li aria-level="1"><strong>Second, authorization must be enforced at runtime, not embedded in credentials handed to the agent.</strong> Agents should not receive long-lived keys, reusable tokens, or broad permissions that persist beyond the immediate task. Access should be evaluated at the moment of use and materialized as a short-lived credential that expires quickly and cannot be reused elsewhere.</li> <li aria-level="1"><strong>Third, enterprises need a reliable way to interrupt agent (mis)behavior.</strong> Revoking access by rotating credentials or disabling accounts is too slow once an agent is operating autonomously. Security teams need policy-driven controls that allow them to halt access immediately without dismantling infrastructure.</li> <li aria-level="1"><strong>Finally, audit records must reflect what actually happened.</strong> Each action should be traceable to a specific agent identity, the context under which it operated, and the resource it accessed. Without that clarity, incident response becomes guesswork and compliance reporting becomes defensive paperwork rather than evidence.</li> </ul> <p>Agentic AI will continue to spread because it delivers real operational leverage. The question enterprises must answer is whether their identity architecture is <a href="https://aembit.io/blog/agentic-ai-guardrails-for-safe-scaling/" rel="noopener">designed with appropriate guardrails</a> to handle software that acts continuously, independently, and at scale.</p> <p>The ServiceNow vulnerability suggests that, in many environments, that answer remains uncomfortable and uncertain.</p> <p>Platforms such as <a href="https://aembit.io/product-overview/" rel="noopener">Aembit Workload IAM</a> help apply the above principles by treating agents as non-human workloads, enforcing access through centralized policy, issuing ephemeral credentials at runtime, and preserving attribution across systems. </p> <p>For more information or to talk to an engineer, visit <a href="http://aembit.io/">aembit.io</a>.<span style="font-weight: 400;"><br></span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-40f988bb e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child" data-id="40f988bb" data-element_type="container"> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-6f30385b e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child" data-id="6f30385b" data-element_type="container" data-settings='{"background_background":"classic"}'> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-50d5b88e e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child" data-id="50d5b88e" data-element_type="container" data-settings='{"background_background":"classic"}'> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-1077370c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading" data-id="1077370c" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="heading.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <h3 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">Ready to Try Aembit?</h3> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-10ddf1 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor" data-id="10ddf1" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="text-editor.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <p>Get started in minutes, with no sales calls required. Our free- forever tier is just a click away.</p> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-4d446bf9 elementor-align-left elementor-mobile-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-button" data-id="4d446bf9" data-element_type="widget" data-widget_type="button.default"> <div class="elementor-widget-container"> <div class="elementor-button-wrapper"> <a class="elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm" href="https://useast2.aembit.io/signup" id="requestdemobutton_home_bottomcta"><br> <span class="elementor-button-content-wrapper"><br> <span class="elementor-button-icon"><br> <i aria-hidden="true" class="far fa-arrow-right"></i> </span><br> <span class="elementor-button-text">TRY AEMBIT TODAY</span><br> </span><br> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-637247bd e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child" data-id="637247bd" data-element_type="container"> <div class="elementor-element elementor-element-cd9b345 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child" data-id="cd9b345" data-element_type="container" data-settings='{"background_background":"classic","position":"absolute"}'> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div><p>The post <a href="https://aembit.io/blog/agents-arent-people-what-the-servicenow-vulnerability-reveals-about-agentic-ai-access-control/">Agents Aren’t People: What the ServiceNow Vulnerability Reveals About Agentic AI Access Control</a> appeared first on <a href="https://aembit.io/">Aembit</a>.</p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/agents-arent-people-what-the-servicenow-vulnerability-reveals-about-agentic-ai-access-control/" data-a2a-title="Agents Aren’t People: What the ServiceNow Vulnerability Reveals About Agentic AI Access Control"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fagents-arent-people-what-the-servicenow-vulnerability-reveals-about-agentic-ai-access-control%2F&amp;linkname=Agents%20Aren%E2%80%99t%20People%3A%20What%20the%20ServiceNow%20Vulnerability%20Reveals%20About%20Agentic%20AI%20Access%20Control" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fagents-arent-people-what-the-servicenow-vulnerability-reveals-about-agentic-ai-access-control%2F&amp;linkname=Agents%20Aren%E2%80%99t%20People%3A%20What%20the%20ServiceNow%20Vulnerability%20Reveals%20About%20Agentic%20AI%20Access%20Control" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fagents-arent-people-what-the-servicenow-vulnerability-reveals-about-agentic-ai-access-control%2F&amp;linkname=Agents%20Aren%E2%80%99t%20People%3A%20What%20the%20ServiceNow%20Vulnerability%20Reveals%20About%20Agentic%20AI%20Access%20Control" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fagents-arent-people-what-the-servicenow-vulnerability-reveals-about-agentic-ai-access-control%2F&amp;linkname=Agents%20Aren%E2%80%99t%20People%3A%20What%20the%20ServiceNow%20Vulnerability%20Reveals%20About%20Agentic%20AI%20Access%20Control" title="Reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fagents-arent-people-what-the-servicenow-vulnerability-reveals-about-agentic-ai-access-control%2F&amp;linkname=Agents%20Aren%E2%80%99t%20People%3A%20What%20the%20ServiceNow%20Vulnerability%20Reveals%20About%20Agentic%20AI%20Access%20Control" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div><p class="syndicated-attribution">*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from <a href="https://aembit.io/">Aembit</a> authored by <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/author/0/" title="Read other posts by Dan Kaplan">Dan Kaplan</a>. Read the original post at: <a href="https://aembit.io/blog/agents-arent-people-what-the-servicenow-vulnerability-reveals-about-agentic-ai-access-control/">https://aembit.io/blog/agents-arent-people-what-the-servicenow-vulnerability-reveals-about-agentic-ai-access-control/</a> </p>

<p>Cyber fraud has overtaken <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/2025/11/security-experts-charged-with-launching-blackcat-ransomware-attacks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ransomware</a> to become the top cybersecurity concern of business leaders around the world, reflecting a global threat landscape that is being molded by such forces as AI, geopolitics, and complex supply chains that are increasingly coming under attack, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF).</p><p>In its <a href="https://reports.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Global_Cybersecurity_Outlook_2026.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026</a> report compiled with global consultancy Accenture and released a week before the organization’s annual Davos meeting, 73% of global CEOs and CISOs surveyed said that they or someone in their professional or personal network had been impacted by cyber-enabled fraud during the last year. The concern about cyber fraud was top of mind for CEOs; CISOs said their number-one worry was still ransomware.</p><p>“As cyber risks become more interconnected and consequential, cyber-enabled fraud has emerged as one of the most disruptive forces in the digital economy, undermining trust, distorting markets and directly affecting people’s lives,” WEF Managing Director Jeremy Jurgens <a href="https://www.weforum.org/press/2026/01/cyber-enabled-fraud-is-now-one-of-the-most-pervasive-global-threats-says-new-report-45dc3f679b/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a statement</a>. “The challenge for leaders is no longer just understanding the threat but acting collectively to stay ahead of it.”</p><p>It will take a coordinated team approach for organizations to build cyber resilience spanning governments, businesses, and technology providers, Jurgens said.</p><p>Other areas of focus include the accelerating risks that AI presents, from data leaks and its use by threat actors, and attacks driven by geopolitics, with 91% of larger enterprises adjusting their cybersecurity initiatives to address the threat.</p><h3>Phishing, Insider Threats, and Payment Fraud</h3><p>There is a range of attacks that fall under the cyber fraud umbrella, such as phishing and insider threats. Within those categories, the 62% of business leaders surveyed said they or others were affected by <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/2025/12/surge-of-oauth-device-code-phishing-attacks-targets-m365-accounts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">phishing</a>, smishing, and vishing attacks, with 37% pointing to invoice or payment fraud.</p><p>Others included <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/identity-under-siege-what-the-salt-typhoon-campaign-reveals-about-trusted-access-risks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">identity</a> theft (32%) and insider threat or employee fraud (20%), with both <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/service-providers-help-pig-butcher-scammers-scale-operations-infoblox/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">romance</a> and impersonation scams and investment or cryptocurrency fraud both coming in at 17%.</p><p>The survey also looked at AI and how it’s shaping both the evolution of cyber threats and the defenses against them. Almost all – 94% of respondents – said the technology will be the most significant driver of change in cybersecurity this year.</p><p>“This growing recognition is translating into concrete action across organizations,” the authors wrote. “The percentage of respondents assessing the security of AI tools has nearly doubled from the previous year, from 37% in 2025 to 64% in 2026.”</p><p>The significant jump in one year highlights the speed of AI’s impact on cyber defenses and cyber threats and the technology’s expanding dual role in cybersecurity, as both a weapon and protection. While organizations are ramping up processes to secure their AI operations, AI vulnerabilities are accelerating at a hurtling pace, with 87% of respondents pointing to AI-related vulnerabilities as the fastest-growing cyber risk last year.</p><p>Cyber-enabled fraud and phishing were the second fastest, with 77% of business leaders saying the risk had ramped in 2025.</p><h3>A Transformative Technology</h3><p>“Artificial intelligence … is transforming cyber on both sides of the fight – strengthening defense while enabling more sophisticated attacks,” the authors wrote. “Organizations are striving to balance innovation with security – embracing AI and automation at scale, even as governance frameworks and human expertise struggle to keep pace. The result is a fast-paced, metamorphic landscape where disruptions move swiftly across borders, even as technology offers new potential for resilience.”</p><p>The change in focus among business leaders was sharp, according to Giulia Moschetta and Ellie Winslow with the WEF.</p><p>“As generative AI (GenAI) scales across organizations, leaders’ concerns are shifting from offensive use to unintended data exposure,” Moschetta and Winslow <a href="https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/01/geopolitics-ai-fraud-global-cyber-cybersecurity-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">wrote</a>. “In 2026, data leaks linked to GenAI (34%) now outweigh fears about adversarial AI capabilities (29%). This marks a striking reversal from previous years – in 2025, advancement of adversarial capabilities topped the list at 47% compared to only 22% for data leaks associated with GenAI.”</p><h3>Mitigation Focuses on Geopolitics</h3><p>Geopolitics is driving organizations’ risk mitigation strategies, with 64% accounting for attacks like espionage or the disruption of critical infrastructure that have become features of nation-state campaigns by <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/2025/12/google-finds-five-china-nexus-groups-exploiting-react2shell-flaw/">China</a>, <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/russias-crackdown-on-probiv-data-leaks-may-have-fed-the-beast-instead/">Russia</a>, and others, according to the report.</p><p>The topic outpaced others as strategic concerns, including disinformation at 49% and the convergence of operational technology, the Internet of Things, and robotics (42%). In addition, 91% of the largest companies in the survey – those with more than 100,000 employees – have adapted their strategies based on the changing geopolitical landscape.</p><p>“On the geopolitical front, fragmentation and sovereignty concerns are reshaping cooperation and trust among nations,” the report’s authors wrote. “Hybrid threats and escalating cyberattacks reflect the increasing volatility of the global environment.”</p><p>In addition, fewer business users are looking to their governments for help.</p><p>“In the context of geopolitical volatility, confidence in national cyber preparedness continues to erode, with 31% of survey respondents reporting low confidence in their nation’s ability to respond to major cyber incidents, up from 26% last year,” they wrote.</p><p>The numbers vary sharply depending on location, with 84% of organizations in the Middle East and North Africa being confident in their countries’ preparedness. Only 38% of companies in North America felt the same, with those in Latin America and the Caribbean region hitting bottom, with 13% expressing confidence.</p><h3>A Coordinated Defense Needed</h3><p>The WEF’s Moschetta and Winslow wrote that, given the global nature of cyber threats and the interconnectedness of the economy, resilience can’t be done in isolation but needs to be coordinated across business sectors, borders and value chains.</p><p>“Cybersecurity is not merely an IT function – it is a strategic business imperative and a cornerstone of national economic resilience,” they wrote. “Beyond mitigating risk and preventing losses, it also serves as a driver of economic growth, fueling innovation, job creation and competitiveness across industries.”</p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/cyber-fraud-not-ransomware-is-now-businesses-top-security-concern/" data-a2a-title="Cyber Fraud, Not Ransomware, is Now Businesses’ Top Security Concern"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fcyber-fraud-not-ransomware-is-now-businesses-top-security-concern%2F&amp;linkname=Cyber%20Fraud%2C%20Not%20Ransomware%2C%20is%20Now%20Businesses%E2%80%99%20Top%20Security%20Concern" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fcyber-fraud-not-ransomware-is-now-businesses-top-security-concern%2F&amp;linkname=Cyber%20Fraud%2C%20Not%20Ransomware%2C%20is%20Now%20Businesses%E2%80%99%20Top%20Security%20Concern" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fcyber-fraud-not-ransomware-is-now-businesses-top-security-concern%2F&amp;linkname=Cyber%20Fraud%2C%20Not%20Ransomware%2C%20is%20Now%20Businesses%E2%80%99%20Top%20Security%20Concern" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fcyber-fraud-not-ransomware-is-now-businesses-top-security-concern%2F&amp;linkname=Cyber%20Fraud%2C%20Not%20Ransomware%2C%20is%20Now%20Businesses%E2%80%99%20Top%20Security%20Concern" title="Reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fcyber-fraud-not-ransomware-is-now-businesses-top-security-concern%2F&amp;linkname=Cyber%20Fraud%2C%20Not%20Ransomware%2C%20is%20Now%20Businesses%E2%80%99%20Top%20Security%20Concern" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div>

<h2>What Are Non-Human Identities, and Why Are They Crucial for Cloud Security?</h2><p>One might ask, what role do non-human identities (NHIs) play in safeguarding cloud environments? NHIs are machine identities created to bridge the gaps between security and R&amp;D teams, ensuring a secure and seamless cloud experience. These NHIs consist of “Secrets,” such as encrypted passwords, tokens, or keys, which are akin to digital passports. These elements, when combined with permissions from destination servers, form a comprehensive security measure much like visas for humans.</p><p>Professionals across various industries, including financial services, healthcare, and travel, are increasingly acknowledging the strategic importance of effective NHI management. Where organizations increasingly operate within cloud environments, the need to address security gaps is paramount. <a href="https://entro.security/blog/non-human-identities-security-in-healthcare/">Non-human identities security in healthcare</a> illustrates the necessity of robust protection for NHIs in sensitive sectors.</p><h3>The Imperative of a Holistic Approach to NHI Management</h3><p>Effective NHI management requires a holistic approach, addressing all stages of the lifecycle from discovery and classification to threat detection and remediation. This is in stark contrast to point solutions like secret scanners, which offer only limited protection. A comprehensive NHI management platform provides insights into ownership, permissions, usage patterns, and potential vulnerabilities, enabling context-aware security.</p><p>Instead of relying on fragmented solutions, organizations are focusing on cohesive strategies that address every aspect of NHIs and their secrets. This approach not only reduces the risk of breaches but also improves compliance by enforcing policies and creating audit trails. By automating the management of NHIs and secrets, security teams can prioritize strategic initiatives.</p><p>To understand more about how organizations can effectively scale NHI security, consider exploring <a href="https://entro.security/blog/how-elastic-scaled-secrets-nhi-security-elastics-playbook-from-visibility-to-automation/">Elastic’s playbook</a>, which provides insights from visibility to automation.</p><h3>The Benefits of Implementing Robust NHI Management Systems</h3><p>Implementing an effective NHI management strategy offers numerous advantages:</p><ul> <li><strong>Reduced Risk:</strong> By proactively identifying and mitigating security risks, organizations can significantly reduce the likelihood of data breaches and leaks.</li> <li><strong>Improved Compliance:</strong> Ensures that organizations meet regulatory requirements through stringent policy enforcement and comprehensive audit trails.</li> <li><strong>Increased Efficiency:</strong> By automating NHI and secrets management, security teams can allocate more resources to strategic initiatives, enhancing operational efficiency.</li> <li><strong>Enhanced Visibility and Control:</strong> Offers a centralized view for access management and governance, promoting greater transparency and control over operations.</li> <li><strong>Cost Savings:</strong> Reduces operational costs by automating secrets rotation and decommissioning NHIs, thereby optimizing resource allocation.</li> </ul><h3>Exploring the Context of AI in Cloud Security</h3><p>Can artificial intelligence be trusted to secure cloud data effectively? With the rise of AI-driven solutions, the question arises whether AI technology can reliably ensure data security. AI’s ability to analyze massive datasets and identify unusual patterns makes it a vital tool in modern cybersecurity arsenals. By leveraging AI, organizations can enhance their <a href="https://entro.security/blog/keeping-security-in-stride-why-we-built-entros-third-pillar-for-agentic-ai/">security strategies</a> and remain proactive in addressing potential vulnerabilities.</p><p>However, while AI offers considerable advantages, it is not without its challenges. Ensuring the reliability and security of AI technologies within cloud environments necessitates meticulous management and oversight. The emphasis lies in balancing automation with strategic human oversight, ensuring that AI contributes effectively to cloud security without introducing new vulnerabilities.</p><p>Advanced AI mechanisms enable continuous monitoring and quick adaptation to emerging threats, ensuring organizations can maintain a robust security posture in dynamic cloud environments. For further insights, consider exploring <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/shirin-khosravi-jam_i-am-a-data-scientist-and-i-built-ai-agents-activity-7377624771594911744-CBvz" rel="noopener">AI automation in data science</a> where AI’s potential in optimizing and securing cloud data is further discussed.</p><p>By focusing on the intersection of AI and NHIs, organizations can harness cutting-edge technology to secure their cloud environments effectively, ensuring both reliability and security in their operations.</p><h2>Securing Cloud Security Through Comprehensive NHI Management</h2><p>What are some real-world examples where non-human identities (NHIs) have made a significant impact in enhancing organizational security? The growing adoption of cloud-based environments across diverse industries is undeniable, and with it comes the increased complexity of managing machine identities. NHIs, made up of “Secrets” such as encrypted passwords, tokens, and keys, play a critical role in creating a secure infrastructure by embodying these machine identities. But the journey of managing these identities is complex, necessitating a structured approach from discovery to remediation.</p><h3>Why Traditional Solutions Might Fall Short</h3><p>Traditional security measures, often operating in silos, might seem sufficient but they’re lacking in the comprehensive oversight needed. A common pitfall is relying on point solutions like secret scanners. While secret scanners can detect exposed secrets, they provide limited protection. They fall short in managing the lifecycle of NHIs and do not address underlying security vulnerabilities or changes in access patterns.</p><p>Instead, organizations should aim for an integrated approach to NHI management. This means deploying solutions that cover the entire lifecycle of an NHI, from initial creation and classification to continuous monitoring and eventual decommissioning. By opting for a robust NHI management system, organizations aren’t just preventing potential breaches; they’re laying a foundation for reliable, secure, and compliant cloud operations. To delve further into the challenges of maintaining secure identities in dynamic cloud environments, consider reviewing resources that explore the intersection of AI and cloud security such as <a href="https://investors.confluent.io/news-releases/news-release-details/confluent-launches-confluent-intelligence-solve-ai-context-gap" rel="noopener">Confluent Intelligence in AI</a>.</p><h3>Investing in Proactive Security Practices</h3><p>Strategically managing NHIs involves investing in vigilant and proactive practices. Here’s how organizations can benefit:</p><ul> <li><strong>Continuous Monitoring:</strong> Employ real-time monitoring to identify anomalies promptly, managing risks before they escalate.</li> <li><strong>Adaptive Security Measures:</strong> Foster an environment where security measures evolve with emerging threats, ensuring NHIs remain protected against novel tactics.</li> <li><strong>Comprehensive Access Control:</strong> By having a consolidated view of NHIs, firms can enforce granular access policies, minimizing potential entry points for unauthorized personnel.</li> <li><strong>Regular Auditing and Training:</strong> Implement structured auditing processes and facilitate training sessions to keep teams updated on best practices in both security and compliance.</li> </ul><p>Investing in these strategies not only fortifies organizational security but also showcases a commitment to upholding the highest standards of data privacy and integrity. Reviewing the role of advanced AI applications can provide insights into leveraging AI for more adaptive NHI security.</p><h3>Machine Identities Beyond Borders: The Global Perspective</h3><p>How do NHIs transcend geographical barriers, creating a cohesive global security network? NHIs can be leveraged to create a seamless. Machine identities ensure that organizational data and communication channels remain secure across different countries and continents. This global perspective is vital, especially for multinational organizations where ensuring consistent security protocols across various jurisdictions is paramount.</p><p>The emphasis here is on creating secure communication channels, reliable data exchange, and ensuring that all global operations align with international regulatory standards. Through NHI management and leveraging AI’s capabilities, organizations can truly harmonize their global security strategies, leading to a secure and compliant cloud environment. For further reading, explore effective <a href="https://entro.security/blog/agentic-ai-owasp-research/" rel="noopener">agentic AI strategies</a> that integrate seamlessly with modern cloud infrastructures.</p><h3>Integrating AI with NHI Management for Enhanced Security</h3><p>Could an AI-driven approach transform traditional NHI management practices? The integration of AI into NHI management holds transformative potential, offering enhanced analysis and predictive capabilities. By automating routine security checks, AI empowers security teams to focus on more complex challenges, ensuring they remain a step ahead of potential threats.</p><p>AI-driven platforms can analyze vast datasets more efficiently than traditional methods, identifying patterns and risks that might otherwise go unnoticed. This level of analysis provides actionable insights, enabling quick decision-making and response strategies in dynamic security situations. Furthermore, embedding AI into security frameworks allows for adaptive learning, enhancing the system’s ability to counteract evolving threats automatically.</p><p>However, while AI offers substantial leverage, maintaining a balance between machine and human oversight ensures the reliability and efficacy of implemented strategies. With AI continues to evolve, its role in supporting flexible and responsive security frameworks becomes increasingly significant. To see how AI can enhance cloud operations, visit <a href="https://www.globus.org/enabling-ai-and-ml" rel="noopener">Globous AI and ML applications</a>.</p><p>Integrating these advanced practices with a focus on NHIs ensures that organizations can secure their cloud environments effectively, safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining operational integrity. By keeping abreast of innovations and evolving strategies, organizations paint a clear pathway toward a more secure digital future.</p><p>The post <a href="https://entro.security/can-we-be-certain-ai-keeps-cloud-data-secure/">Can we be certain AI keeps cloud data secure</a> appeared first on <a href="https://entro.security/">Entro</a>.</p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/can-we-be-certain-ai-keeps-cloud-data-secure/" data-a2a-title="Can we be certain AI keeps cloud data secure"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fcan-we-be-certain-ai-keeps-cloud-data-secure%2F&amp;linkname=Can%20we%20be%20certain%20AI%20keeps%20cloud%20data%20secure" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fcan-we-be-certain-ai-keeps-cloud-data-secure%2F&amp;linkname=Can%20we%20be%20certain%20AI%20keeps%20cloud%20data%20secure" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fcan-we-be-certain-ai-keeps-cloud-data-secure%2F&amp;linkname=Can%20we%20be%20certain%20AI%20keeps%20cloud%20data%20secure" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fcan-we-be-certain-ai-keeps-cloud-data-secure%2F&amp;linkname=Can%20we%20be%20certain%20AI%20keeps%20cloud%20data%20secure" title="Reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fcan-we-be-certain-ai-keeps-cloud-data-secure%2F&amp;linkname=Can%20we%20be%20certain%20AI%20keeps%20cloud%20data%20secure" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div><p class="syndicated-attribution">*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from <a href="https://entro.security/">Entro</a> authored by <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/author/0/" title="Read other posts by Alison Mack">Alison Mack</a>. Read the original post at: <a href="https://entro.security/can-we-be-certain-ai-keeps-cloud-data-secure/">https://entro.security/can-we-be-certain-ai-keeps-cloud-data-secure/</a> </p>

<p>Pharmaceutical and biotech organizations are rapidly adopting SaaS platforms to support drug discovery, clinical development, manufacturing, quality management, and commercialization. Cloud-based tools enable faster innovation, real-time collaboration, and global scalability—but they also introduce significant identity and access management (IAM) challenges. With sensitive intellectual property, regulated data, and a wide ecosystem of internal and external users, identity management has become a critical foundation of digital trust.</p><p>In this environment, fragmented or outdated IAM approaches can lead to compliance gaps, security incidents, and operational inefficiencies. To fully realize the benefits of SaaS while minimizing risk, life sciences organizations must rethink how identity is managed across modern platforms.</p><h2>The Strategic Role of Identity in Life Sciences SaaS</h2><p>Identity management today goes far beyond controlling logins. SaaS platforms now underpin mission-critical processes such as AI-driven drug discovery, decentralized clinical trials, pharmacovigilance, and global manufacturing operations. Each workflow depends on precise access control, traceability, and accountability.</p><p>As pharma companies modernize operations using <a href="https://dxc.com/industries/life-sciences-solutions"><u>https://dxc.com/industries/life-sciences-solutions</u></a>, identity and access management becomes a critical security layer that ensures the right users have the right access at the right time—without compromising compliance or productivity. When identity is treated as a strategic capability, it enables collaboration at scale while reducing risk across the digital ecosystem.</p><h2>Market Landscape: Where Things Stand in 2024–2025</h2><p>The urgency around identity management is closely tied to the pace of evolution in the life sciences software landscape. The global life sciences software market reached <a href="https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/life-science-software-market-109261"><u>$16.1 billion in 2024</u></a> and continues to grow at <strong>11–13% annually</strong>, with most investment flowing into AI-driven drug discovery, precision medicine platforms, and real-world evidence systems.</p><p>Generative AI has moved rapidly from theory to production. Insilico Medicine’s Chemistry42 platform designed a novel inhibitor in just 46 days—work that previously took years—while Exscientia advanced four AI-designed molecules into clinical trials. AlphaFold fundamentally reshaped structural biology, and AlphaFold3 now predicts protein–ligand interactions with approximately 76% accuracy. Each of these platforms relies on shared datasets, collaborative models, and controlled access to proprietary algorithms.</p><p>Quantum computing is also transitioning from research into early enterprise use. Roche is already applying quantum algorithms to optimize molecular dynamics simulations. While fully production-ready quantum systems for drug discovery are still expected around 2027–2030, hybrid classical–quantum approaches on IBM Quantum and D-Wave platforms are already in use today, adding yet another layer of highly sensitive computational environments that require strict identity controls.</p><p>Cloud-native platforms have become the default faster than anticipated. Benchling raised $625 million for its cloud R&amp;D platform, now used by companies like Ginkgo Bioworks and Zymergen. AWS introduced specialized genomic analysis instances with built-in HIPAA and GxP controls, while Google Cloud’s Health API integrates FHIR data directly with electronic health records. Real-world deployments further illustrate the shift: AstraZeneca is testing patient digital twins, Novartis has launched decentralized clinical trials using wearables, and Pfizer’s MediLedger tracks vaccines end-to-end using blockchain and smart contracts.</p><p>This rapid innovation dramatically expands the number of users, systems, and data flows—making scalable, auditable identity management non-negotiable.</p><h2>Managing Complex and Diverse User Populations</h2><p>One of the most persistent challenges in pharma and biotech SaaS platforms is managing a highly diverse and constantly changing user base. Employees represent only part of the picture. External researchers, CROs, CMOs, clinical investigators, auditors, and regulators all require access, often limited by study, geography, or time period.</p><p>Static role-based access models struggle to keep pace with this complexity, often leading to overprivileged accounts or delayed onboarding.</p><p><strong>How to solve it:</strong> Attribute-based access control (ABAC) allows permissions to adapt dynamically based on contextual factors such as trial phase, project affiliation, or contractual role, significantly reducing risk and administrative burden.</p><h2>Regulatory Compliance and Audit Readiness</h2><p>Life sciences organizations operate under intense regulatory scrutiny, including GxP, FDA 21 CFR Part 11, HIPAA, and GDPR. Identity management is central to demonstrating that only authorized individuals can access, modify, or approve regulated data.</p><p>In SaaS-heavy environments, identity data is often fragmented, complicating audit preparation and increasing reliance on manual processes.</p><p><strong>How to solve it:</strong> Centralized identity governance with automated access reviews, continuous logging, and standardized reporting enables organizations to maintain audit readiness and respond confidently to inspections.</p><h2>Balancing Security with User Experience</h2><p>Researchers and clinicians depend on uninterrupted access to digital tools. Overly complex authentication workflows can slow productivity and encourage unsafe behaviors such as password reuse.</p><p><strong>How to solve it:</strong> Single sign-on combined with adaptive, risk-based authentication strengthens security while delivering a seamless user experience across SaaS platforms.</p><h2>Protecting Intellectual Property and Sensitive Data</h2><p>Pharma and biotech SaaS platforms often host highly valuable intellectual property, including proprietary research data, clinical outcomes, and manufacturing processes. Not every user—even within the same organization—should have visibility into all datasets. Weak access segmentation can result in accidental exposure or intentional misuse of sensitive information.</p><p>This challenge becomes more pronounced during partnerships, co-development agreements, and mergers, where multiple organizations interact within shared digital environments.</p><p><strong>How to solve it:</strong> Fine-grained authorization and strong data segmentation are critical. By enforcing precise access boundaries at the identity level, organizations can protect intellectual property while still enabling secure collaboration.</p><h2>Scaling Identity in a Rapidly Changing Environment</h2><p>The life sciences industry is in constant motion. New trials launch, acquisitions add users and applications, and digital health partnerships emerge quickly. Legacy IAM solutions often lack the flexibility and scalability to keep pace with this rate of change, leading to fragmented identity silos and inconsistent access controls.</p><p>These gaps increase operational complexity and create security blind spots.</p><p><strong>How to solve it:</strong> Cloud-native, API-driven identity platforms enable organizations to scale identity management as they grow. A centralized identity architecture enables rapid user and application onboarding while maintaining consistent policies and visibility.</p><h2>Conclusion: Turning Identity into a Competitive Advantage</h2><p>Identity management has evolved into a strategic enabler for pharma and biotech SaaS platforms. By addressing challenges related to user complexity, regulatory compliance, usability, data protection, and scalability, organizations can transform IAM from a constraint into a source of competitive advantage.</p><p>A mature identity strategy strengthens regulatory confidence, safeguards valuable data, and empowers teams to collaborate securely. In an industry where trust, speed, and precision are essential, effective identity management is a key driver of long-term success.</p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/identity-management-challenges-in-pharma-biotech-saas-platforms-and-how-to-solve-them/" data-a2a-title="Identity Management Challenges in Pharma &amp; Biotech SaaS Platforms (And How to Solve Them)"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fidentity-management-challenges-in-pharma-biotech-saas-platforms-and-how-to-solve-them%2F&amp;linkname=Identity%20Management%20Challenges%20in%20Pharma%20%26%20Biotech%20SaaS%20Platforms%20%28And%20How%20to%20Solve%20Them%29" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fidentity-management-challenges-in-pharma-biotech-saas-platforms-and-how-to-solve-them%2F&amp;linkname=Identity%20Management%20Challenges%20in%20Pharma%20%26%20Biotech%20SaaS%20Platforms%20%28And%20How%20to%20Solve%20Them%29" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fidentity-management-challenges-in-pharma-biotech-saas-platforms-and-how-to-solve-them%2F&amp;linkname=Identity%20Management%20Challenges%20in%20Pharma%20%26%20Biotech%20SaaS%20Platforms%20%28And%20How%20to%20Solve%20Them%29" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fidentity-management-challenges-in-pharma-biotech-saas-platforms-and-how-to-solve-them%2F&amp;linkname=Identity%20Management%20Challenges%20in%20Pharma%20%26%20Biotech%20SaaS%20Platforms%20%28And%20How%20to%20Solve%20Them%29" title="Reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fidentity-management-challenges-in-pharma-biotech-saas-platforms-and-how-to-solve-them%2F&amp;linkname=Identity%20Management%20Challenges%20in%20Pharma%20%26%20Biotech%20SaaS%20Platforms%20%28And%20How%20to%20Solve%20Them%29" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div><p class="syndicated-attribution">*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from <a href="https://ssojet.com/blog">SSOJet - Enterprise SSO &amp;amp; Identity Solutions</a> authored by <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/author/0/" title="Read other posts by SSOJet - Enterprise SSO &amp; Identity Solutions">SSOJet - Enterprise SSO &amp; Identity Solutions</a>. Read the original post at: <a href="https://ssojet.com/blog/identity-management-pharma-biotech-saas">https://ssojet.com/blog/identity-management-pharma-biotech-saas</a> </p>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://raffy.ch/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ChatGPT-Image-Jan-16-2026-03_08_11-PM.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="800" height="533" src="https://raffy.ch/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ChatGPT-Image-Jan-16-2026-03_08_11-PM.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1581" srcset="https://raffy.ch/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ChatGPT-Image-Jan-16-2026-03_08_11-PM.jpg 800w, https://raffy.ch/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ChatGPT-Image-Jan-16-2026-03_08_11-PM-300x200.jpg 300w, https://raffy.ch/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ChatGPT-Image-Jan-16-2026-03_08_11-PM-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"></a></figure><p>Security has always moved in waves. Not because we suddenly get smarter, but because we learn from past mistakes, identify gaps, hit limits, need to protect new technologies, and then go and do our best to solve those new security challenges with the technologies at hand.</p><p>The era of AI (let’s be clear, we have had AI for a long time; what I mean specifically is the advent of Large Language Models) has shifted many industries, but specifically security in a particularly revealing way. AI did not just give us new tools to solve security problems. It invited innovators and entrepreneurs to revisit pretty much every security technology to see if LLMs could be useful to address some of the existing challenges. But that’s not where things stopped. More interestingly, some teams used this moment to question whether the underlying approaches themselves still made sense at all. Not just whether LLMs could help, but whether modern data architectures, different telemetry choices, and different enforcement models could fundamentally change outcomes.</p><p>That is what has triggered a real wave of new companies in cyber, including across markets that many considered mature, or even stagnant, like SIEM.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Five Phases We Just Lived Through</h2><p>Let’s take a non-scientific look at how major security approaches evolved over the past 25 years. This is not exhaustive, but it helps explain where we are today.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading">1. Network-Centric Prevention</h3><p>Back, many moons ago, we started with firewalls, IDS, and later IPS. The model was simple. Look at packets. Stop bad things. It worked until attackers learned to look normal.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading">2. More Data, Centralized, Higher-Level Insights</h3><p>When network telemetry created too many false positives, we added vulnerability data and authentication events and fed them into a SIEM to correlate. The results were “mixed”. Fortunately for the SIEM market, compliance and audit requirements emerged, mandating long-term log retention. This gave SIEM a durable justification, even when its security value was debated. SIEM became indispensable for visibility and forensics, but increasingly disconnected from real-time decision making.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading">3. Back to Prevention and Response</h3><p>As SIEM alert volumes exploded and analysts could not keep up, the industry pivoted. EDR. NDR. SOAR. We all know how that played out. NDR never truly broke out. EDR became a major category. SOAR largely collapsed back into SIEM. And eventually, most large EDR vendors added a SIEM to their portfolio.</p><p>This was not convergence by design. It was convergence driven by operational gravity.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading">4. AI Triggers a Reality Check</h3><p>LLMs made many believe they could simply layer AI on top of broken architectures. Some startups did exactly that. They will likely not be the long-term winners.</p><p>The more interesting group of companies used AI as a forcing function to re-examine first principles. What data actually matters? What can realistically be prevented at the edge? What must still be correlated centrally? What is structurally broken in SOC workflows? Where have we been compensating for bad architecture with human labor? Crucially, many of these answers have little to do with LLMs themselves, and much more to do with data fidelity, placement of control, and modern system design.<br> This is where the real innovation is happening.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading">5. The Convergence</h3><p>We are now in a phase where prevention is moving back to the edge, while analytics and orchestration remain central. Endpoints are smarter. Browsers are instrumented. Networks are being re-observed. Context is finally treated as a first-class input.</p><p>But there is still a SOC. There is still a central nervous system that correlates, reconstructs, explains, orchestrates, and proves what happened. Call it SIEM, security analytics, XDR, or AI SOC. The name is irrelevant. The function is not. </p><p>In parallel, we are realizing that we can push enforcement / prevention back to the edge. Wherever we have enough information, execute at the edge. Where we don’t, call out to your central nervous system. To your brain. The brain (your SIEM) that understands at any moment in time, what the risk and function is of every entity in your network. And use that information for decision making.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why AI SOC Will Collapse Back Into SIEM</h2><p>Many startups brand themselves as “AI SOC”. What do they actually do?</p><p>They primarily ingest alerts from EDR, NDR, SIEMs, and cloud platforms, then attempt to determine which ones matter. They add context, apply behavioral analysis, and suppress false positives.</p><p>In other words, they attempt to do what SIEM, UEBA, and SOAR were always supposed to do, just with better math and more compute. However, there is one problem. Many of the AI SOC contenders operate on alert streams. That means they start from already lossy, opinionated data. Real behavioral analysis does not on top of alert streams. It lives in raw telemetry. Email flows. Network sessions. Browser actions. Endpoint system behavior.</p><p>Once an AI SOC platform decides to ingest that raw data directly, it immediately recreates the ingestion, normalization, storage, and correlation problems that SIEM already exists to solve. At that point, the separation no longer makes sense. This is exactly why UEBA and SOAR collapsed back into SIEM. And it is why AI SOC will do the same.</p><p>There will be one place where data is reconciled, correlated, and turned into decisions. That place will increasingly run on federated, near-real-time architectures rather than twenty-year-old indexing engines. But their function remains the same. Call it whatever you want. It needs to be one system, not many and it doesn’t care what you call it.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Shift Is Not Just Technical. It Is Organizational.</h2><p>What is interesting to note about these new entrants in the SIEM or security analytics space is not just their security architecture. It is the company architecture. Modern security startups are being built on AI-native operating systems: Sales calls are captured and analyzed, not just by sales, but product teams mine them for competitive signals, marketing uses them to refine messaging, engineering uses them to prioritize roadmaps. This is not a tooling upgrade. It is a fundamentally different operating model.</p><p>Imagine a system where the vision, mission, strategy, and priorities are centrally maintained, updated and codified. Every function consumes that shared intelligence to drive decisions, messaging, and execution. This does not just improve alignment. It dramatically compresses learning cycles and execution speed. And that, more than any individual feature, may be the hardest thing for incumbents to replicate.</p><p>The post <a href="https://raffy.ch/blog/2026/01/16/how-ai-impacts-the-cyber-market-and-the-future-of-siem/">How AI Impacts the Cyber Market and The Future of SIEM</a> first appeared on <a href="https://raffy.ch/blog">Future of Tech and Security: Strategy &amp; Innovation with Raffy</a>.</p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/how-ai-impacts-the-cyber-market-and-the-future-of-siem/" data-a2a-title="How AI Impacts the Cyber Market and The Future of SIEM"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-ai-impacts-the-cyber-market-and-the-future-of-siem%2F&amp;linkname=How%20AI%20Impacts%20the%20Cyber%20Market%20and%20The%20Future%20of%20SIEM" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-ai-impacts-the-cyber-market-and-the-future-of-siem%2F&amp;linkname=How%20AI%20Impacts%20the%20Cyber%20Market%20and%20The%20Future%20of%20SIEM" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-ai-impacts-the-cyber-market-and-the-future-of-siem%2F&amp;linkname=How%20AI%20Impacts%20the%20Cyber%20Market%20and%20The%20Future%20of%20SIEM" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-ai-impacts-the-cyber-market-and-the-future-of-siem%2F&amp;linkname=How%20AI%20Impacts%20the%20Cyber%20Market%20and%20The%20Future%20of%20SIEM" title="Reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fhow-ai-impacts-the-cyber-market-and-the-future-of-siem%2F&amp;linkname=How%20AI%20Impacts%20the%20Cyber%20Market%20and%20The%20Future%20of%20SIEM" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div><p class="syndicated-attribution">*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from <a href="https://raffy.ch/blog">Future of Tech and Security: Strategy &amp;amp; Innovation with Raffy</a> authored by <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/author/0/" title="Read other posts by Raffael Marty">Raffael Marty</a>. Read the original post at: <a href="https://raffy.ch/blog/2026/01/16/how-ai-impacts-the-cyber-market-and-the-future-of-siem/">https://raffy.ch/blog/2026/01/16/how-ai-impacts-the-cyber-market-and-the-future-of-siem/</a> </p>

<div class="hs-featured-image-wrapper"> <a href="https://www.sonatype.com/blog/sonatype-named-devops-dozen-winner-for-best-devsecops-solution" title="" class="hs-featured-image-link"> <img decoding="async" src="https://www.sonatype.com/hubfs/blog_devops_dozen.png" alt="Image of a text card of Sonatype's win of a DevOps Dozen award for AI software composition analysis" class="hs-featured-image" style="width:auto !important; max-width:50%; float:left; margin:0 15px 15px 0;"> </a> </div><p>The DevOps landscape is changing faster than ever. As organizations race to deliver software at speed, they’re also inheriting a new class of risk — one driven by open source sprawl, AI-generated code, and increasingly complex software supply chains.</p><p><img decoding="async" src="https://track.hubspot.com/__ptq.gif?a=1958393&amp;k=14&amp;r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sonatype.com%2Fblog%2Fsonatype-named-devops-dozen-winner-for-best-devsecops-solution&amp;bu=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.sonatype.com%252Fblog&amp;bvt=rss" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="min-height:1px!important;width:1px!important;border-width:0!important;margin-top:0!important;margin-bottom:0!important;margin-right:0!important;margin-left:0!important;padding-top:0!important;padding-bottom:0!important;padding-right:0!important;padding-left:0!important; "></p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/sonatype-named-devops-dozen-winner-for-best-devsecops-solution/" data-a2a-title="Sonatype Named DevOps Dozen Winner for Best DevSecOps Solution"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fsonatype-named-devops-dozen-winner-for-best-devsecops-solution%2F&amp;linkname=Sonatype%20Named%20DevOps%20Dozen%20Winner%20for%20Best%20DevSecOps%20Solution" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fsonatype-named-devops-dozen-winner-for-best-devsecops-solution%2F&amp;linkname=Sonatype%20Named%20DevOps%20Dozen%20Winner%20for%20Best%20DevSecOps%20Solution" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fsonatype-named-devops-dozen-winner-for-best-devsecops-solution%2F&amp;linkname=Sonatype%20Named%20DevOps%20Dozen%20Winner%20for%20Best%20DevSecOps%20Solution" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fsonatype-named-devops-dozen-winner-for-best-devsecops-solution%2F&amp;linkname=Sonatype%20Named%20DevOps%20Dozen%20Winner%20for%20Best%20DevSecOps%20Solution" title="Reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fsonatype-named-devops-dozen-winner-for-best-devsecops-solution%2F&amp;linkname=Sonatype%20Named%20DevOps%20Dozen%20Winner%20for%20Best%20DevSecOps%20Solution" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div><p class="syndicated-attribution">*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from <a href="https://www.sonatype.com/blog">2024 Sonatype Blog</a> authored by <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/author/0/" title="Read other posts by Sonatype">Sonatype</a>. Read the original post at: <a href="https://www.sonatype.com/blog/sonatype-named-devops-dozen-winner-for-best-devsecops-solution">https://www.sonatype.com/blog/sonatype-named-devops-dozen-winner-for-best-devsecops-solution</a> </p>

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">RSAC announced a bold move today, appointing Jen Easterly as its new CEO. In an industry that talks endlessly about leadership but too often settles for caretakers, this one lands with weight. Real weight.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Let’s start with the résumé, because in this case it actually matters. Easterly’s career arc is the kind you don’t manufacture in a branding workshop. She is a West Point graduate. She served more than two decades in the U.S. Army, including combat deployments and senior leadership roles. She worked at the intersection of intelligence, operations, and policy long before “cyber” became a boardroom buzzword. And she ultimately led the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, arguably the most consequential cybersecurity organization in the country, during a period when the stakes could not have been higher.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That combination of operational credibility, strategic thinking, and public service is rare. In cybersecurity, it is rarer still.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Easterly is also instantly recognizable in this industry. She is widely respected, often admired, and yes, occasionally controversial. That comes with the territory when you tell hard truths in public. During and after her tenure at CISA, she spoke candidly about the real-world risks posed by underinvestment, politicization, and short-term thinking in national cybersecurity. Those comments, offered in good faith and grounded in experience, did not sit well with everyone, particularly elements of the current U.S. administration.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The political fallout was not subtle. Her appointment to a chair position at West Point was later rescinded, reportedly for political reasons. That episode said far more about the moment we are in than about Easterly herself. Through it all, she remained measured, professional, and focused on the mission. No scorched-earth rhetoric. No retreat either.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And here is the part that matters most to this community: She never stopped leading.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even after leaving government, Easterly maintained a visible, vigorous presence across the cybersecurity ecosystem. She showed up. On stages. In conversations. Online. Advising. Challenging. Encouraging. Her recent work and public engagement reflect someone who understands that leadership does not end when the title goes away. It evolves.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Which brings us to RSAC.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For decades, RSAC has been the place where the cybersecurity industry gathers. Not just for the conference in San Francisco, but for the shared moments that shape how this community thinks about itself. Deals get whispered. Narratives get tested. New ideas get their first real exposure. For much of the mainstream media, RSAC remains their closest and most concentrated look at cybersecurity as an industry.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At the same time, RSAC has been undergoing a transformation. Since Hugh Thompson and the Crosspoint Capital team spun the organization out as an independent entity, the vision has become clearer and more ambitious. The goal is no longer just to run the biggest conference. It is to build a year-round, global cybersecurity community platform. Expanded international reach. Ongoing engagement. A place where practitioners, leaders, researchers, and policymakers intersect, not just once a year, but continuously.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That is not a small ambition. And it requires more than operational excellence. It requires trust. Credibility. Gravitas.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is where Easterly fits, almost uncomfortably well.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Her stature immediately elevates the conversation. She brings a level of leadership credibility that signals RSAC’s intent to play at a higher altitude. Not louder. Higher. In an industry often distracted by vendor noise and hype cycles, that distinction matters.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Of course, it would be naïve to pretend there are no political considerations here. Appointing a former CISA director who has spoken openly about policy decisions and their consequences is not a neutral act. I do not doubt that Thompson, Linda Gray, Britta Glade, and the rest of the RSAC leadership team considered those dynamics carefully before making this announcement.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">And then they made it anyway.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That, in itself, is a statement. Not a partisan one, but a values-based one. RSAC is signaling that leadership, competence, and integrity matter more than avoiding uncomfortable optics. In cybersecurity, where the consequences of silence are often borne by others, that is a position worth applauding.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">My own relationship with RSAC goes back roughly 25 years. I have seen the conference evolve, stumble, recalibrate, and reinvent itself more than once. I have also heard the criticisms. That RSAC is too much of an insiders’ event. That it reflects the industry talking to itself. Sometimes those critiques are not entirely wrong.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But they miss something essential.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">RSAC is also where the rest of the world comes to understand cybersecurity. Journalists. Policymakers. Business leaders who do not live and breathe this space. For better or worse, RSAC is the industry’s front porch. What happens there shapes perception far beyond the walls of the Moscone Center.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Putting Jen Easterly in the CEO seat strengthens that front porch. It brings someone who understands not only the technical and operational dimensions of cybersecurity, but also the human and societal ones. Someone who can speak fluently to practitioners and policymakers alike. Someone who knows when to listen and when to lead.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This year’s <a href="https://www.rsaconference.com/usa/passes-and-rates/group-passes?utm_paid_source=googleads&amp;utm_paid_campaign=EMEA%20-%20Brand%20-%20EMEA&amp;utm_paid_content=brand&amp;utm_paid_term=rsac%202026&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=20707509490&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAD11OnhxlEuvvNmG-oRWoGxaNHsi3&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiA4KfLBhB0EiwAUY7GAe3yLGerINulX7CgfsYvFYiwGnJa5ZvUu0sBzMuTDiqXtf03au_4NxoCI5kQAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RSAC takes place March 23–26 in San Francisco</a>. Like many of you, I will be there. And like many of you, I am genuinely curious to see how this next chapter begins to take shape. I am also hoping to land a video interview with Easterly on Broadcast Alley, if not before. Conversations with leaders who have actually been in the arena tend to be the most interesting ones.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">RSAC has made a series of bold moves over the past few years, each pointing toward a clearer sense of purpose. This appointment may be the most consequential yet. Not because it avoids controversy, but because it embraces leadership.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Congratulations to the RSAC team for having the conviction to make this call. And congratulations to Jen Easterly on stepping into a role that matters not just to an organization, but to an entire community.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If RSAC’s ambition is to truly build and lead the global cybersecurity community, then this is exactly what standing tall looks like.</span></p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2026/01/rsac-stands-tall-appointing-a-true-leader-jen-easterly-as-ceo/" data-a2a-title="RSAC Stands Tall Appointing a True Leader, Jen Easterly as CEO"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Frsac-stands-tall-appointing-a-true-leader-jen-easterly-as-ceo%2F&amp;linkname=RSAC%20Stands%20Tall%20Appointing%20a%20True%20Leader%2C%20Jen%20Easterly%20as%20CEO" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Frsac-stands-tall-appointing-a-true-leader-jen-easterly-as-ceo%2F&amp;linkname=RSAC%20Stands%20Tall%20Appointing%20a%20True%20Leader%2C%20Jen%20Easterly%20as%20CEO" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Frsac-stands-tall-appointing-a-true-leader-jen-easterly-as-ceo%2F&amp;linkname=RSAC%20Stands%20Tall%20Appointing%20a%20True%20Leader%2C%20Jen%20Easterly%20as%20CEO" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Frsac-stands-tall-appointing-a-true-leader-jen-easterly-as-ceo%2F&amp;linkname=RSAC%20Stands%20Tall%20Appointing%20a%20True%20Leader%2C%20Jen%20Easterly%20as%20CEO" title="Reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2026%2F01%2Frsac-stands-tall-appointing-a-true-leader-jen-easterly-as-ceo%2F&amp;linkname=RSAC%20Stands%20Tall%20Appointing%20a%20True%20Leader%2C%20Jen%20Easterly%20as%20CEO" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div>