Latest news with #cybersecuritycommunity
Tahawul Tech
2 days ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
CISO 50 & Future Security Awards 2025
CISO 50 Forum & Awards 2025 In today's digital landscape, the role of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) has evolved dramatically. No longer confined to traditional security functions, the modern-day CISO must balance business and technology demands while navigating an ever-evolving threat landscape. Understanding the new responsibilities they must undertake and stepping up to ever-growing challenges are fundamental to their success. Typically, a CISO oversees four key security pillars: security architecture and engineering, operations, cyber resilience, and regulatory and IT compliance. However, their role has expanded to include responsibilities such as risk and governance, business continuity, identity and access management (IAM), fraud prevention, and more. This broadening of scope underscores the fact that being a CISO isn't just about security—it's about integrating security within the fabric of business operations and strategy. The CISO 50 Forum & Awards brings together top enterprise IT security leaders and decision makers to recognize and celebrate outstanding achievements in cybersecurity. The 2025 edition of this prestigious forum and awards ceremony will honour those who have not only demonstrated excellence in protecting their organizations but have also driven transformative security initiatives that shape the future of cybersecurity. This is not just an event—it's a celebration of the efforts and achievements of the cybersecurity community. Join us at the CISO 50 Forum & Awards 2025 and be part of the shift towards a more secure digital world. Future Security Awards 2025 Celebrating excellence and innovation in the security industry! The security industry has always been in a never-ending race against its adversaries, but in the last few years in particular, the rate of change has accelerated. While companies continue to invest in emerging technologies such as AI and Automation to support digital transformation, adversaries have been leveraging powerful, integrated tools and capabilities with these very same technologies to cause irrevocable loss of critical data and information. The scope of the threat is growing, and no organisation is immune from catastrophic outcomes. In fact, the unfortunate reality is that even today's most sophisticated cyber controls, no matter how effective, will soon be obsolete. The Future Security Awards have been introduced keeping in mind this dynamic threat-security scenario. These awards recognise individuals, businesses, vendors distributors and resellers that have risen above challenges and delivered ground-breaking business value through innovative application of security technologies. The 2025 edition is not just an awards ceremony; it is a celebration of the relentless pursuit of excellence in cybersecurity. As threats continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, it is crucial to recognize and support the innovators who are shaping the future of digital security. Join us in celebrating the achievements and advancements that are paving the way for a safer, more secure world.
Forbes
28-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Making Identity Governance Accessible
Clear, transparent pricing models can reshape how organizations adopt identity governance—making ... More critical security tools more accessible than ever. Identity is the frontline of today's cybersecurity battles. Whether it's stolen credentials, over-provisioned access, or dormant accounts, attackers have found that the easiest way in is often through the front door—by posing as someone who already belongs. And yet, for many organizations, the systems meant to manage identity and access are either too costly, too complex, or simply out of reach. This tension is pushing the Identity Governance and Administration market to evolve. Even small and mid-sized organizations need identity tools they can deploy quickly, manage easily, and afford without budgetary gymnastics. The cybersecurity community agrees: identity is the new perimeter. I talk to executives from technology and cybersecurity vendors across the spectrum. Regardless of the area of focus of the company or the solutions they provide, the discussion frequently comes back to the importance of identity security. But that awareness hasn't necessarily translated into action, particularly among resource-constrained companies. While Fortune 500 enterprises deploy full-fledged IGA platforms with lifecycle management, access reviews, and privileged access monitoring, smaller firms often make do with spreadsheets, email approvals, and best guesses. The result? A growing identity gap where bad actors have more opportunities to exploit excessive access or outdated entitlements in environments with fewer safeguards. I spoke with Subbu Rama, CEO of BalkanID, about these challenges. He explained, 'If somebody gets into Tony's account, acts as Tony, and Tony is not least privileged, now you actually have exposed too much in your company—and now that's the keys to the whole kingdom.' Many IGA solutions were built in a different era—one where long implementation cycles, high-touch professional services, and six-figure price tags were the norm. They assumed companies had security teams to spare and the patience to customize workflows for months before realizing value. The environment looks very different today. Organizations are leaner, faster, and operating in a digital landscape that changes daily. They need tools that can adapt just as quickly, not platforms that require a project manager just to get started. In response to growing demand from lean security teams, a new generation of IGA platforms is emerging. These solutions are built for speed, simplicity, and scalability. They can often be deployed in under an hour and are designed with modular features that organizations can enable as needed. But one of the most transformative aspects of this new model is how these platforms are priced.. Traditionally, IGA pricing has been a black box. Organizations are often required to sit through multiple sales calls before they get any sense of what the solution will cost—and even then, pricing is frequently bundled, inconsistent, or tied to long-term contracts. This lack of transparency creates friction and mistrust at a time when security teams need clarity and flexibility. BalkanID's new product, BalkanID Lite, challenges that approach. It's a self-service offering designed for mid-market companies that need essential identity governance features without the enterprise-level price tag or implementation burden. What sets it apart isn't just its features—it's the way it's priced. BalkanID publishes clear, modular pricing directly on its website. Organizations can see what each component costs, pick only what they need, and understand exactly what they're committing to. It's an approach borrowed from consumer experiences—simple, upfront, and predictable. 'We wanted to solve [the problem] by making the pricing completely transparent,' Rama explained. 'Just like you buy cars now—hey, do I want a low-end model? That's all I care about, like a Model 3? Sure. Here's the Model 3. Want a Model X? Here's the pricing for a Model X.' By removing the need for negotiations and eliminating hidden fees, this model empowers customers to make informed decisions based on their actual needs and budgets. It also reflects a broader trend in SaaS: transparency is becoming a feature, not just a nice-to-have. The evolution of tools is important, but so is the mindset shift. For years, identity governance was viewed primarily as a compliance necessity—something done quarterly to satisfy auditors. That's no longer enough. As threat actors grow more sophisticated, identity governance must become continuous and dynamic. Least privilege can't be a one-time review—it needs to be a living principle embedded into how access is granted, adjusted, and revoked. The challenge is balancing that level of control with the need for business agility. According to Rama, the future of identity governance is modular. It's accessible. It's aligned with how companies actually work today. For SMBs and mid-market players, that means having options that don't require tradeoffs between productivity and protection. It also means recognizing that the value of a security tool isn't just in its features—it's in how quickly and consistently it delivers results without becoming a burden to manage. As companies reassess their security priorities, identity governance is getting the long-overdue attention it deserves. And thanks to this wave of more agile, transparent, and user-friendly platforms, that attention might finally translate into action. Because identity risk isn't reserved for the Fortune 500—and neither should be the tools to manage it.
