Opinion Article by Mark Sangster, VP, Chief of Strategy 

RSA Conference 2023 returned to its pre-pandemic pandemonium. Attendance seemed to have returned to around 50-60,000 attendees, streets were packed, and restaurants were all but sold out or booked for corporate functions. Walking the exhibit hall floor, the show seemed business as usual. Here are a few general observations from my time at the event.  

Post-Pandemic Return

Things that seemed unaffected by the pandemic hiatus. First, many vendors and attendees returned. Second, the market, which I am happy to report, seemed more inquisitive, informed, and ready to engage with vendors on a deeper level. In general, we appear to be moving from first-generation to next-gen buyers with the wisdom to better qualify potential vendors against their requirements. 

Cautious Optimism

I also had the chance to meet with numerous investors across venture and equity capital. With concerns about a commercial real estate collapse, the banks left holding most of downtown San Francisco buildings, and there was optimism. Like the Gen-2 attendees, the investors have evolved from a hedge in hyped companies to realistic investments based on proven growth, responsible spending, and experienced leadership. The money is there, as is the appetite. It’s about responsible investment rather than gambling. That’s not bad for an industrial full of fast (and not so fast) followers who desperately need consolidation across various security categories. 

Community Spirit

It was again my pleasure to work with Bob Darling, Lt.Col. Marine Corps (retired), during our packed learning lab, leveraging his experiences in the White House during the attacks on 9/11 and our collective work helping business executives lead through a crisis. As a two-hour scrum, our participants did most of the work. We covered crisis information gathering, providing the what and not the how, and lessons learned from cyber incidents. For two hours, groups focused on specific functions (leaders, legal advisors, technical experts, crisis communicators, etc.) through the various stages of a cyber incident.  

What came out was an enthusiasm to share and to collaborate. Participants shared their experiences, frustrations, and solutions to face nation-state attacks and ransomware outages. Everyone was enthusiastic and committed to finding solutions rather than faults. While the lessons were there to guide, the reality is that the participants were able leaders.  

It is always an honor to bring together experts to mix ideas and find new ways of approaching common problems. Bob and I hope to be back next year. Our post-event debrief (over a few cold beers) led to new ideas and ways to improve this session. 

Adlumin Debut

The RSA conference is a gateway through which all growing cybersecurity companies will pass. How long it takes to get there, how long they stay, and how far they grow varies. But a booth at RSA is a coming of age event. Adlumin joined these alumni in a glowing booth, playing on the theme of illumination in the dark. The marketing team knocked it out of the park for year one, jumping to a main floor location with robust foot traffic. It was a pleasure to meet new people, host investors and patterns alike, and feel proud about the company at which we all work. I look forward to RSA2024 and the next steps in the evolution of Adlumin. 

RSA Resource Recap

Cyber Tide Podcast: RSA Edition

Cyber Tide Episode 4:  

LIVE from RSAC 2023: Mark Sangster & Robert Darling Recap their Experiences in the Field  

The Cyber Tide series dives beneath the surface of infamous cybersecurity attacks, exploring the means and motives of cyber adversaries. In episode 4, Mark Sangster and Robert Darling discuss how their experiences in the field have helped shape their abilities to deal with cyber crises, the scope of the problem of cybercrime, and more. Listen now.  

Cyber Tide Episode 5:  

LIVE from RSAC 2023: Mark Sangster & Alex Jinivizian Recap their Experiences from the Event 

In this episode of Cyber Tide, Mark Sangster and Alex Jinivizian recap their experiences from RSAC 2023, sharing insight into changes in the security landscape, buyers’ experiences, and more. Tune in to hear their expert analysis of the state of the security industry. Listen now. 

In The News 

Adlumin Wins Global InfoSec Award at RSA Conference 2023 

For the eleventh year, Cyber Defense Magazine honors infosec innovators from around the globe and Adlumin has been listed as a 2023 winner for Managed Detection and Response. Winners are based on three major features: understanding tomorrow’s threats, today, providing a cost-effective solution and innovating in unexpecting ways. Read the full press release here. 

Adlumin Debuts its Security Operations Platform on Upcoming Episode of Inside the Blueprint 

Adlumin appeared on the award-winning television series Inside the Blueprint as independently produced branded content. Adlumin’s leadership team discussed how their services give unparalleled visibility into an organization’s security posture with access to real-time alerts, threat intelligence, and compliance reporting. Watch Adlumin’s segment here.  

Adlumin Enhances its Managed Detection and Response Platform Delivering Enterprise-Grade Security to Mid-Market Organizations and the Service Providers Protecting Them 

Adlumin powered up its platform with new enhancements. New capabilities, including honeypots, lateral movement alert upgrades, malicious scheduled task detection, and malicious script block add to a platform that is feature-rich enough for organizations to operate on their own, yet built specifically to amplify the skills and capabilities of managed service providers. Read the full press release here.  

Learn More

Learn more about how Adlumin’s Managed Detection and Response Services and Security Operations Platform can empower your team to illuminate threats, eliminate cyber risk, and command authority. Contact us today, schedule a demo, or sign-up for a free trial.