Black Hat 2019 was a success and a teaching tool for all. Even if all of the attendees, presenters, merchants, and hackers have left, what you learnt in Vegas should not be forgotten. It is hoped that you are returning to your regular activities with fresh knowledge and ideas. Here are some take aways:

  1. Government institutions are still a top target for cyberattacks. Due to the different operations and requirements, as well as the fact that governments possess some of the most valuable and sensitive data in the world, protecting them from threats can be challenging. The news has been filled with city and state government attacks which are becoming more and more prevalent. At Black Hat this year, we spoke with a lot of government employees who were worried about securing their sensitive data from online threats.
  2. Because systems are interconnected, supply chains are susceptible to attacks. In his presentation on Thursday, Microsoft’s Eric Doerr reminded us that supply chain breaches can occur in a variety of ways, including:
  • Manipulation of dependencies and source code
  • Changing or destroying the provided binary images
  • Misrepresentation of distribution and update processes
  • Contaminated settings and tools for development
  • Including spyware that poses as legitimate manifest things
  • Assaults based on services

If the supply chain doesn’t straighten itself out, these compromises will still be a problem. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and comprehensive Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) are the greatest ways to reduce sourcing risk (EDR).

  1. The lack of cybersecurity talent is being filled. Since there are over 1 million open cybersecurity positions, it is challenging for IT organizations to find, develop, and retain talent. We chatted with a lot of kids who had received scholarships from Black Hat. We were pleased to learn that the gap was being addressed, even if this initiative won’t be the only solution.
  2. The lack of cybersecurity talent is being filled. Since there are over 1 million open cybersecurity positions, it is challenging for IT organizations to find, develop, and retain talent. We chatted with a lot of kids who had received scholarships from Black Hat. We were pleased to learn that the gap was being addressed, even if this initiative won’t be the only solution.

All told, we discovered that many businesses still struggle to locate a cybersecurity partner who can provide a fully-managed yet scalable solution for their requirements in terms of IT security, threat protection, and compliance management.