Page 261 - Cyber Defense eMagazine RSAC Special Edition 2025

Why CISOs Need an AI-Native Strategy

By Tom Tovar, CEO, Appdome

The CEO of Nokia, on the eve of being purchased by Microsoft, said “we didn’t do anything wrong but
somehow, we lost.” These words describe the reality businesses face: embrace change or get left behind.
The same is true for CISOs, particularly in the rapidly evolving AI economy.

The Roots of an AI-First Strategy in Cyber

Let’s look at the digital (r)evolutions that brought us to the AI economy. Each evolution brought benefits,
including new efficiencies, capabilities, and competitive advantages. The underlying technologies also
brought new security risks and threats:

• Software & SaaS Era (1990s–2010s): This period saw automation, increased productivity, and
scalable cloud services. However, it also introduced large-scale data breaches, mobile malware,
and new attack surfaces.

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