On the second day of the 18th edition of the Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit, an engaging panel discussion titled ‘Cybersecurity Under the Spotlight: Data Privacy and Regulation’ took place.
The list of esteemed panelists, who tackled the most pressing cybersecurity challenges, included Charbel Sarkis, Director of Systems Engineering for Telcos and MSSPs, Fortinet; Dr. Ibrahim Gedeon, Executive Director, GuardianSafetyNet; Ari Banerjee, Chief Strategy Officer, Netcracker Technology; Dr. Lidia Stępińska-Ustasiak, President and Co-Founder, Polistratos Institute; Issa Chini, COO, One37; and Chief Nishan Duraiappah, Chief of Peel Regional Police. Housni Zniber, Managing Director at PMP Strategy MEA, moderated the discussion.
Innovative Security
Pointing out the vulnerabilities of IoT devices, Sarkis stressed the importance of securing devices through innovative processes. “We see patched and on-path devices being hacked all the time,” noted Sarkis, highlighting the shared responsibility to not only protect IoT devices but also ensure the safety of users.
Dr. Gedeon added that firewalls alone are not enough in today’s threat landscape; with threats coming from all directions, collaboration between vendors and customers is essential. He emphasized that prioritizing and protecting “what matters the most” is essential in the cybersecurity realm.
Banerjee reaffirmed Sarkis’s sentiment by underscoring the importance of industry collaboration and strategic partnerships to combat cyber threats. He detailed the critical roles of networks, software, and data protection, referencing his company’s experiences working with Homeland Security initiatives.
“We’re in the early phase of AI engineering, and dealing with public LLMs comes with significant responsibility,” he said. He also touched upon the importance of managing end-to-end data security, securing data lakes, and the need for training solutions.
Evolving Elements
Bringing the human element to the forefront, Dr. Stępińska-Ustasiak advocated for empowering employees with practical cybersecurity skills. “Governments should lead the way in cybersecurity, and higher education must introduce new curricula to prepare for modern threats.” She also highlighted the power of mutual learning through shared knowledge platforms.
Chini pointed out that security challenges are constantly evolving, especially with the rise of large language models (LLMs). He emphasized the need to think beyond silos and address broader issues like supply chain security and the user journey in cybersecurity. “It’s not just about resilience but waking up to new responsibilities.” To illustrate this point, he posed the question, “How do we protect our kids at home?”
Chief Duraiappah discussed the “tsunami of data” his team deals with daily, emphasizing the value of vendors in helping communities. “Policing isn’t just about responding to emergencies; it’s about preventing them before they happen.” He also highlighted the need for solutions that incorporate health and service data, and not just crime statistics.
The panel showcased diverse perspectives, however, the central point evident throughout the discussion was that cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility, and collaboration across industries and sectors is vital.
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