As RSAC 2026 Convention wrapped up its remaining day Kelly Jackson Higgins, Editor-in-Chief of Darkish Studying and VP of cybersecurity editorial at Informa TechTarget, took to Broadcast Alley to debate with Jamison Cush and Sabrina Polin about what she observed on the convention this 12 months.
In per week dominated by conversations round AI, cybersecurity developments, and trade challenges, Jackson Higgins offered a singular perspective on the fast evolution of know-how and its impression on organizations. Her insights underscored the unprecedented tempo at which AI is remodeling the cybersecurity panorama, leaving many corporations scrambling to adapt as menace actors proceed to lift the stakes.
Jackson Higgins mirrored on the collaborative efforts of Informa TechTarget’s three cybersecurity manufacturers — Darkish Studying, Cybersecurity Dive, and TechTarget SearchSecurity — highlighting their distinct, separate approaches to protecting the cybersecurity trade. With a shared dedication to delivering tailor-made content material for numerous audiences, the manufacturers have efficiently prevented duplication whereas providing a complete view of essential points. Jackson Higgins described their technique as a “360-degree” strategy, guaranteeing that CISOs, SOC managers, threat professionals, and others obtain the data they should navigate the trade’s complexities.
Because the dialog delved into the evolution of cybersecurity over the previous twenty years, Jackson Higgins shared her observations on the trade’s progress and challenges. From the early days of restricted distributors and rudimentary threats to immediately’s sprawling ecosystem of 4,000 distributors and complex assaults, the transformation has been outstanding. But, some points, corresponding to authentication and software program vulnerabilities, stay stubbornly persistent. Jackson Higgins emphasised the significance of studying from historical past whereas making ready for the longer term, notably as AI continues to reshape the cybersecurity panorama at an unprecedented velocity.
Reside at RSAC 2026: Our Protection is the Better of Three Worlds: Full Transcript
This transcript has been edited for readability and size by Informa TechTarget’s inside AI assistant. For the complete expertise, please watch the video, above.
Jamison Cush: Hi there, and welcome to day 4, our remaining day of stay streaming protection from RSAC Convention 2026. I am Jamison Cush with Informa TechTarget. And if you happen to missed day one, two, or three, and also you’d prefer to watch it once more, test it out on Eye on Tech. We chatted with the cybersecurity specialists from Informa TechTarget, in addition to thought leaders from WiCyS, ISACA, and different organizations.
Becoming a member of me as soon as once more to share in internet hosting duties, senior managing editor from Informa TechTarget, Sabrina Polin. Sabrina, welcome again.
Sabrina Polin: Pleased to be right here. Little bittersweet. It is our final interview of the week.
JC: After which as soon as it ends, to not look previous what we’re about to do right here, however Wolverine goes to be down the corridor singing or dancing.
SP: Sure, PT Barnum additionally, .
JC: That is Hugh Jackman.
SP: You may see him if you happen to guys discover a giant crowd behind us. We’re celebrities, but it surely will not be for us. Will probably be for Hugh Jackman.
JC: Wonderful. Sure. And I at all times like to make use of that to segue to our movie star visitor. Completely. It is truly our remaining visitor from RSAC Convention 2026. Welcome to Kelly Jackson Higgins, the Editor-in-Chief of Darkish Studying and the VP of cybersecurity editorial at Informa TechTarget. Kelly, welcome.
Kelly Jackson Higgins: Thanks. They received me as a result of they could not get Hugh, so I used to be glad to fill in for him.
JC: RSAC pays much more for his or her company than we do. So, the present is nearly within the books. It is all wrapped up, and we have had your crew right here chatting with us. We have talked AI, individuals in AI got here up so much, on the road versus within the line. Just a little little bit of politics as nicely. So, I used to be questioning what did you see, or what stood out to you from the present this 12 months?
KJH: Yeah. So, I spent most of my time in conferences rooms with individuals. So, I did not see loads of the present, however one factor that basically struck me in regards to the present this 12 months was — final 12 months there was a dialog about “Oh agentic AI is subsequent, and it may take some time.” Nicely, it occurred method sooner. So, I really feel like we’re on this AI wave is nothing we have seen earlier than within the trade by way of like cyber developments. It occurred a lot sooner than we anticipated, and it is taking place sooner than loads of organizations are prepared. The massive dialog I do know previously 12 months was “Nicely, that is our likelihood to get forward of the unhealthy guys.” That did not occur. So now most corporations are paying catch-up. And the distributors are all popping out with AI-type instruments, some completely different than others, but it surely’s it’s important to know what it’s behind the backstage. Completely.
SP: So, we’re right here from Informa Tech Goal. We have loads of specialists underneath our belt. We have colleagues in every single place on the present this 12 months: Darkish Studying, Cybersecurity Dive, TechTarget SearchSecurity. How do you strategy protecting a present like this with this actually unbelievable group of manufacturers underneath Informa TechTarget?
KJH: That is an excellent query. We now have I am so pleased with this crew. We now have among the most gifted journalists within the trade and editors, arms down. We work actually intently collectively. We preserve our distinctive model approaches. You recognize, our complete methods are completely different.
However we truly work collectively. We meet weekly and one of many issues we had a large spreadsheet of planning who was doing what. So, we weren’t, , duplicating effort. And there wasn’t any duplication. And we positively had been sharing one another’s content material, , amplifying it. All of us had dinner collectively. There was one night time we had been all right here. We staggered our arrivals and departures for max assets. And we met up for dinner Tuesday night time. It was nice as a result of it was simply we’ve a very good chemistry with the group which actually helps how we work collectively. And , we positively in some methods compete with one another for tales, however we additionally like very a lot respect each other’s, , approaches, experience, and actually do I feel all of us type of profit from each other’s approaches to issues. So, yeah.
JC: Good. And it has been a 12 months and a half, I feel, nearly a 12 months and a half for the reason that manufacturers mixed. So only a greater image how is that working and enjoying out and the way is that how are you approaching uh simply the protecting the cybersecurity huge matter on the whole?
KJH: Yeah. So, , I feel my, , like anybody, I used to be anxious, are we going to by accident cannibalize one another or, , duplicate effort?
However as a result of we’ve completely different viewers approaches and content material methods, um, we do not. You might need a subject that we have possibly all three cowl, however you are going to get three various kinds of tales and completely different info every of these tales.
So I prefer to say we’re like a 360 of this of a subject. If you wish to examine one thing, you’ll be able to learn this information story from Cybersecurity Dive that is, , made for the CISO cyber threat perspective. You may learn a Darkish Studying story that has a information evaluation secret sauce as we name it, or SearchSecurity, a very deeply researched and technical piece on the place you are going to get the complete image of you if you wish to analysis a subject you are going to go there. So, you actually have the perfect of three worlds I might say with the three manufacturers. I actually really feel strongly about that, and I’ve seen it in motion the final 12 months and a half.
SP: I’ve to make a Hannah Montana reference as a result of we simply had the twentieth anniversary better of each worlds. Um, and I like that you just mentioned better of three worlds. I simply, , I do know that my viewers out right here will respect that, however um, that is a very superb.
JC: I don’t know what you are speaking about.
SP: Oh my gosh. 20 years of Hannah Montana. Anyway: So it has been 20 years of Darkish Studying. Wonderful segue if I do say so myself. 20 years of Darkish Studying. In order that’s nearly 20 years of RSA and now RSAC protection. What’s modified in from then to now? Is there something that is drawing parallels? Something noticeably completely different? I might love to listen to what you have seen on this trade on this house during the last 20 years.
KJH: So, 20 years in the past and I wasn’t at RSA 20 years in the past. We did not go early days there was a two-person three-person employees. We simply did not have price range for this stuff. Um, however what I’ve seen change within the final 20 years and it has been enjoyable wanting again, , to see what we had been writing about in 2006. There weren’t very many safety distributors again then. A whole lot of the safety merchandise had been from networking corporations who had been promoting safety instrument like firewalls after which there was anti-virus corporations. So, there weren’t as wherever close to as many distributors there now. So, it wasn’t a giant commerce present. It was extra of a convention again then. Just a little extra technical in some methods. You recognize, it was clearly RSA the corporate began. There was loads of emphasis on the encryption algorithms and issues like that, but it surely was positively the gathering of the trade. I might say, , again then once we first began at Darkish Studying, there wasn’t a hearth hose of issues taking place, information like we’ve now. So, we had been in a position to actually innovate, which was enjoyable, like get to know the trade. One among my first mandates once I was employed — I used to be worker three on the time, one month after we launched — was to interview the pioneers of the trade and see what they’re doing. And these had been individuals who actually there was like an natural, this trade was very organically constructed. It wasn’t like we will have a cyber safety trade. It simply type of occurred.
And the parents who had been doing all of the arduous work like breaking issues to seek out out what was damaged and so they had been those who had been type of like forcing the distributors to concentrate to safety and their software program. So, I received loads of enjoyable I received to do is I received to interview them and do function items on all these individuals all of the how they received within the trade, what they had been doing, all of the cool issues they had been doing, proper?
So, we actually received a great deal with on the neighborhood and that was it was so small then that type of everybody knew everybody. So, we received to type of get to know the trade in its early days.
I might say now there’s nonetheless that really feel of the trade, however now we’ve like what 4,000 distributors, possibly we had like I do not know, formally a dozen or so, after which this networking corporations. So, the dimensions is unquestionably a giant factor. And again then there weren’t loads of breaches or threats. It was simply very what we might think about type of cute. You get these little emails from the faux FBI telling you that you just did one thing whereas now your complete system your complete networks knocked down and your manufacturing stops if you happen to get ransomware. However there weren’t as many like information occasions taking place. We had large breaches, but it surely wasn’t like it’s now the place it is continuous. So, I might say the information fireplace hose is massively greater and there is extra occurring. In some methods I look again and I see issues that have not modified, which makes me really feel bizarre that we’ve not gotten wherever with that, however I additionally see how far we have come and there’s a lot extra development. The extra the trade advances, the extra the menace actors preserve elevating the bar.
The whole lot simply it is nonetheless a continuing battle, proper? And that is we’re seeing that with AI as nicely.
SP: So, what’s one thing that hasn’t modified that you just’re like, why is that this nonetheless the identical because it was 20 years in the past?
KJH: I feel the one which at all times took I imply it is like type of trite now is rather like authentication. Like we will not get actually away from passwords. We had been speaking about that 20 years in the past. Like when passwords are lifeless, they’re not likely lifeless but. I imply that we’re getting higher at evolving with, , biometrics and passkeys, however we’re nonetheless not doing it nicely.
You recognize, individuals are nonetheless getting breached as a result of they don’t seem to be doing authentication the correct method. They are not doing multifactor. I nonetheless suppose that space might be significantly better to be sincere.
And software program, you are at all times going to have vulnerabilities. prefer it’s simply I imply the working methods are higher due to what the researchers discovered and now the businesses have their very own vulnerability disclosure and safe software program growth methods, however you’ll be able to’t make it good it is at all times going to be one thing that might be breakable might be abused that’ll occur.
JC: I feel we chatted with Alissa from SearchSecurity and she or he did say I feel she had a narrative that password much less future may be right here she mentioned anecdotally she’s listening to {that a} bigger embrace of passkeys. It is the one instance or uncommon instance in safety the place there’s comfort tied to safety. So, , hopefully we’re getting nearer.
KJH: I have been listening to the identical, however we’re not completely there but.
JC: It is prefer it’s just like the paperless workplace. We waited perpetually for that. So 20 years of protection does that assist put the present scenario in context? As a result of I am considering like Rob Clyde was right here earlier this week from ISACA and he had mentioned that the AI the disruption from AI rivals or matches the disruption from the Web by way of cyber safety. So, in 2006 the Web was already in full bloom, however do you get extra of a way of the context of the present scenario? Are these actually unprecedented occasions or is it simply extra of the identical just a bit sooner, just a little faster?
KJH: I feel it is unprecedented and I have been speaking to loads of people that I’ve identified since 2006 within the trade who agree like this isn’t one thing we have seen earlier than taking place so quick. It is due to the tech AI simply by nature issues transfer extra shortly. You possibly can take care of issues extra shortly. In order that is smart. Prior to now we might see oh there’s this development in the direction of this factor the cloud and it might occur very it might simply occur such as you’d watch it evolve. this simply actually in a single day occurred and it is taking place sooner than some organizations are prepared for to be sincere however yeah I feel wanting again at historical past is at all times very helpful proper to see the place we’re the place we’re going and that is one of many issues we need to have a look at I feel in our subsequent 20 years of Darkish Studying is to look forward too like we at all times attempt to look forward however to type of like preserve that historical past in thoughts once you have a look at the place we’re coming from the place we’re going
JC: What about quantum? As a result of that is one thing that retains arising like which are we going to be speaking about that at RSAC 2027, 2028.
KJH: In all probability I imply we’re speaking about it, but it surely’s not just like the entrance and middle concern proper now, I feel. However it’s coming. It is positively coming, but it surely’s not like an emergency factor, I might say, proper now.
SP: I heard and I feel it was Rob Clyde from ISACA consult with quantum as just like the boring factor, which is like loopy as a result of such as you hear quantum, you suppose like some type of futuristic loopy factor. And he is like, it is actually simply going to be like a one thing that organizations have to love get on board with and handle. It is not going to be like AI the place it modifications every part. And I assumed that was identical to actually attention-grabbing.
KJH: I feel that is a very good option to describe it. Completely. I agree with that.
SP: Yeah, my two cents. However, um, do you are feeling like you’ll be able to inform us what may be subsequent on the horizon for Informa TechTarget safety protection? Like how do you propose on addressing this like loopy quick evolving panorama uh along with your websites within the coming years?
KJH: So, one of many issues that we’re actually doubling down on is ensuring once we’re protecting this new know-how that we’re truly protecting it in a method that issues to our readers. And every of the three manufacturers has just a little bit completely different viewers, proper?
That we’re specializing in and the way we’re approaching that content material. However one of many issues we actually attempt to do with each story that we write, particularly with new know-how tales, is what are what does that reader must know? Should you’re writing for a CISO, what does the CISO must learn about this factor, this agenda? What do they what are their issues that they need to clear up? You recognize, what can we inform them that can assist them of their jobs. In order that’s one thing we’re actually conscious of and we have been actually simply refocusing on increasingly all three manufacturers. And once more we cowl issues just a little bit in a different way. So you are going to see possibly three completely different tales on that matter but it surely’ll be one story may be for the SOC supervisor, one may be for the CISO, one may for this the chance supervisor. And our three manufacturers, , we meet repeatedly. We do speak so much about know-how traits um with each other to type of like bounce concepts off one another and ensure we’re not lacking something. Um we’re at all times type of questioning issues, proper? That is the way you evolve and that is type of at all times been my philosophy is do not simply sit in your laurels preserve wanting forward what’s subsequent this trade has moved quick and comparatively to most industries now even sooner with AI so we’ve to be forward on a regular basis.
JC: I at all times like Becky Bracken the way in which she describes it. I feel it is the second time I’ve repeated it right here like we I speak to the neatest individuals on the planet and that is and so far as protection goes these are sensible individuals speaking to the neatest individuals on the planet about this superb matter.
KJH: Yeah, we’ve loads of this trade. And that is what I’ve at all times mentioned to reporters. No person on this trade does not need to share with you what they know. Like they’re captivated with it. Do not be afraid to ask some questions. They need to share what they know with you and so they’re actually good at sharing with what they know. I have been protecting cyber for like 30 years and the way you be taught is you ask the dumb questions that you just suppose are dumb, however they don’t seem to be dumb as a result of they need to let you know. They need to educate you. And the extra and perceive it, the higher journalist you are going to be, the higher content material you are going to present. So that is what we attempt to do. And I feel she Becky’s proper. We now have this trade that’s simply stuffed with loads of actually sensible people who find themselves prepared to share their information and we strive to verify we benefit from that.
JC: And SearchSecurity, Darkish Studying, and Cybersecurity Dive are nice locations to soak up that information.
SP: Completely.
JC: So, I hope we are able to get you again right here for 2027. Completely. Thanks very a lot, Kelly, for becoming a member of us.
KJH: Thanks for having me. It was nice.
JC: And Sabrina, thanks. Thanks. We now have to go get in line for Hugh Jackman. ‘
SP: I do know. I am watching the group collect. I am like, I received to go do my celeb looking.
JC: And thanks to the crew right here as nicely. Avery and Fred and Frank and MB and the entire crew right here. You guys, they make us look skilled, nice, fantastic.
SP: They do. They’re actually the perfect on the planet. I like working with them any likelihood we get. And so they actually, they’re those that has introduced this to our viewers. And so, large thanks to the crew, Moscone crew, and all their assist and assist.
JC: And thanks for tuning in. Let’s do that once more subsequent 12 months. However till then, like and subscribe.
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