We’ve hit an inflection point where data, storage, and computing power can finally take full advantage of machine learning and artificial intelligence.
About a half dozen years ago, Art Coviello, then the Executive Chairman of RSA, spoke at the RSA Conference for a need for “thinking security.” Alan Turing and “Thinking Machines” were the subject of the conference that year. Fast forward to today and machine learning and artificial intelligence were the most frequently discussed topics at this year’s RSA Conference in San Francisco.
“I’m pleased to say we’ve started to make remarkable progress,” says Coviello, who is now a venture partner with Rally Ventures. “Because at some point, the attackers are going to do something anomalous. And if we have enough data, and we can process it fast enough, then we can spot that signal in the noise that an attack is underway. And not only detect it, but stop it cold.”
Watch the full video of Coviello’s interview with Cylance here:
VIDEO: Art Coviello Interviewed at RSA 2017
Six years later, Coviello’s predictions have come true. We now have the processing power we need to take advantage of the sheer volume of data currently available to be able to catch these anomalous moments.
Coviello goes on: “What we’re doing with companies like Cylance is far more sophisticated than the algorithms used to spot fraud in banking transactions. It’s basically the next generation capability of what banks have been doing for a number of years. This is just the beginning of a new wave of technology, and a new way of doing security. It will finally give us the opportunity to get ahead – and stay ahead – of our adversaries.”
ABOUT ART COVIELLO
During Art Coviello’s two-decade career at RSA as Executive Chairman, the company evolved from its roots in authentication and encryption to being a leader in the most important emerging areas of information security, including security analytics, identity, and Governance, Risk & Compliance. Coviello now works with companies, industries and governments to inform and shape the evolution of security strategy to meet the challenges facing organizations today and tomorrow. He is a venture partner at Rally Ventures and serves on the Boards of Synchrony Financial, EnerNOC, Cylance, Optiv and Bugcrowd.
About the Author
David Spark is a veteran tech journalist and founder of Spark Media Solutions. Since 1996, Spark and his articles have appeared in more than 40 media outlets including eWEEK, Wired News, PCWorld, ABC Radio, John C. Dvorak’s “Cranky Geeks,” KQED’s “This Week in Northern California,” and TechTV (formerly ZDTV). Spark is also the author of the book, “Three Feet from Seven Figures: One-on-One Engagement Techniques to Qualify More Leads at Trade Shows.” Today, Spark blogs regularly on the Spark Minute and is a regular contributor for Forbes. Spark is a noted speaker, entertainer, and moderator at tech and marketing events.
