Mark De Simone. Regional Director – MEA at ThycoticCentrify
What does ‘security’ mean to you?
True security means that no individual or device is trusted by default, with organisations instead implementing a policy of ‘zero trust’.
What made you want to work in the industry?
Human societies are built on trust. Today, the world around us is rapidly evolving through the adoption of new processes based on digital identities and digital privileges. Organisations that continue to follow traditional security paradigms as they move to the realms of digital, cloud, and AI will find that they now have a far greater risk exposure.
If you could change anything in the industry, what would it be?
I would like to elevate discussions around the complexity of various cybersecurity threats and solutions to the Board of Directors level.
Describe a funny thing that happened to you recently?
At the conclusion of a particularly interminable, though fruitful, session I recently had with two customers on a video call, I stood up and vigorously directed my hand towards them for a handshake, only for it to bounce off the monitor!
What’s the most important trend you see today?
With nearly 80% of security incidents and breaches involving compromised user credentials, I see robust privileged access management (PAM) becoming an integral part of any modern cybersecurity strategy. I also see the line between PAM and IAM becoming increasingly blurry because, as an enterprise setting, virtually all users are in fact, privileged users. Eventually, every identity will become a privileged identity for some short period of time under certain access use cases.
What three words define you?
Energy, Bold, Passion!
If you didn’t work in security, what would you be doing?
I would be a singer.
What’s the most interesting thing about you that we wouldn’t learn from your CV?
I spent a full day being interviewed by Steve Jobs for an executive position at NEXT.
What is one thing you would make compulsory in the office and one thing you would ban?
I’d make one good hearty group laugh each day compulsory, while banning closed doors.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Using my experience to help young entrepreneurs.
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Editor, Security Portfolio
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