What does Google-Wiz foreshadow for the security industry?
Alphabet’s recent $32 billion acquisition of WIZ opportunities screamed, and major issues regarding cloud security. With all that money being thrown away, the Sand Hill Road gang will be busy selling new deals in screaming Eagle and scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon. Meanwhile, the security industry and customers will consider the meaning of this deal. What will AWS do with Microsoft and Google providing on-premises cloud security features? Will the Orca security be shoveled up next? Expect to hear a lot about Google’s ability to integrate into Wiz, maintain culture and execute FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) – with CISOS’ cloud security strategy in the air. Great industry soap opera!
Is proxy AI more than reality?
According to AI itself, this year will be all about Agentic AI passion in 2024, which is defined as “an AI that enables software systems to automatically act, make decisions and act on the goal of minimal human intervention” (Source: Google Gemini). We will see a lot of software demonstrations and propositions, but I just want to hear what my CISO friends think about the hopes and reality of this emerging technology. After all, when Gartner announced the Intrusion Detection System (IDS) “DEAD”, I remember very much that it would definitely be replaced by Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) in 2003. But that didn’t happen because Paranoid Security Pros was reluctant to cut decisions onto the machine.
There is good reason why skepticism remains a major force in cybersecurity culture. But AI is growing rapidly and organizations need help from automation and analysis. In fact, many organizations have developed their own AI agents in various departments, and security is no exception. CISOs should view AI agents as excellent equalizers where they can customize the software to meet their specific security needs without waiting for suppliers to catch up.
