BlackHat 2024 - Viva Las Vegas!

The leadership team here at NXGN were fortunate enough to spend a week in Las Vegas diving into the future of cybersecurity at BlackHat 2024. There were some key themes, great products, and other news we wanted to share.

Key Themes have matured from 2023 to 2024, but there is still work to do.

The cybersecurity landscape has evolved significantly over the past year. At BlackHat 2024, it was evident that many of the key themes from 2023 have not only matured but also become more refined. Threat detection and response, zero trust architecture, and cloud security have seen substantial advancements.  Our key takeaways on these themes: 

AI and Machine Learning in Cybersecurity: The rise of AI-driven threats was a major focus, with discussions on how attackers are leveraging AI to conduct sophisticated attacks like deepfakes and automated intrusions. There were also concerns about the security risks associated with using Generative AI tools, especially in highly regulated industries.  

Zero Trust and Identity Management: The importance of Zero Trust frameworks, which emphasize "never trust, always verify," was underscored as a critical approach to defending against increasingly complex threats.   

Software Supply Chain Security: Securing the software supply chain was another significant theme, with discussions on extending security measures to encompass vendors and partners, given the increasing frequency of supply chain attacks.

Consolidation of Security Solutions: There was a notable shift towards integrated security platforms, driven by the need for greater visibility and efficiency in managing complex security environments.

Resilience and Business Continuity: Given recent incidents like the CrowdStrike outage, the focus on ensuring resilience in the face of not just cyberattacks but also other disruptive events, such as geopolitical unrest, was emphasized.  

Bottom Line: As the sophistication of cyber threats continues to grow, organizations must adapt quickly to stay ahead. Continuous collaboration and innovation are essential to address these ongoing challenges.

Product Spotlight - NXGN's partners are addressing critical security concerns.

We were thrilled to see some of our partners showcasing groundbreaking technologies and solutions at BlackHat 2024. From advanced threat intelligence platforms to innovative security automation tools, these companies are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in cybersecurity.

• Horizon3.ai:  building on the theme of AI, this team is doing great work in automated, AI driven continuous pen testing.   #NodeZeroPartner
• Wiz:  On the heels of turning down Google's offer the Wiz team is full steam ahead.  Their "beautiful" UI  (as described by a customer of ours) and focused team is helping secure the Cloud.  
• Torq:   Their "Security Hyperautomation" solution has made one of the biggest splashes for us lately, with multiple integrations, and ease of use.  
• Anetac:  Our friends at Anetac are hyperfocused on solving the Service Account problem within your IAM Program.  We have partnered with them to do assessments and beyond for our customers to solve this problem. 
  
  Our partners' are crucial to what we do here.  Their efforts are crucial in helping organizations worldwide defend against ever-evolving cyber threats.  The handful highlighted above are taking the fight to cyber criminals with next level innovation and execution.

AI: It's happening.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) was one of the most discussed subjects at BlackHat 2024, and for good reason.  AI is transforming the cybersecurity landscape by providing more effective ways to detect and respond to threats. Machine learning algorithms are now capable of identifying patterns and anomalies that our analysis have been overwhelmed with over the years.  

Despite its potential, the integration of AI into cybersecurity also brings new challenges. Ensuring the ethical use of AI and addressing potential biases in algorithms are critical considerations. Nonetheless, the consensus at BlackHat 2024 was clear: AI is not just a future possibility; it is already making a significant impact. 

the human side of things. 

This year we stayed at Vdara.  Of all the places I have stayed over my decade+ of going to BlackHat, Vdara seems to be the ticket, for me at least.  Without the presence of a casino, it makes it easy to get in and out of, the Starbucks line is manageable, and getting picked up to go around town is a breeze.  We had easy access to both Aria and Cosmopolitan, where we spent some time at various events.  This year we hosted an afternoon at the Cosmopolitan Pool to get away from the hustle and bustle of the floor, and that was a great time.  Finally, we spend a night over on Fremont Street.  If you haven't checked that out... add it to your list!