McAfee - Experts & Thought Leaders

Aryaka®, the pioneer in Unified SASE as a Service announced new personnel and program investments in its commitment to delivering performance, agility, simplicity, and security across customers' global networks. The company has promoted Vidyaranya Maddi to Chief Customer Officer and hired Scott Fanning, formerly of Palo Alto Networks, as VP of Security Product Management. Aryaka also announced the launch of the Aryaka Cyber Threat Research Lab (CTRL), a proactive research center committed to the identification, analysis, and mitigation of emergent network security risks and threats.  Maddi to head customer success teams A Gartner Peer Insights rating of 4.7 out of 5, exemplifying Aryaka’s reputation as an industry pioneer Vidyaranya Maddi, a pioneer at Aryaka for over 12 years, has been named Chief Customer Officer. Over the past decade, Maddi has spearheaded Aryaka’s global delivery and support functions, transforming customers’ networks and network security. His efforts have contributed to an average customer tenure of over eight years and a Gartner Peer Insights rating of 4.7 out of 5, exemplifying Aryaka’s reputation as an industry pioneer. In his expanded role, Maddi will oversee the entire customer success function, team, and experience, ensuring seamless interactions and value delivery across all touchpoints. Customer Success Management (CSM) function “Delivering outstanding service to our customers has always been at the heart of Aryaka’s mission,” said Maddi. “Over the years, I’ve seen our customer-first culture and innovative solution offerings create meaningful impact for our customers. My focus now is to further enhance our Customer Success Management (CSM) function, ensuring we anticipate and meet customer needs throughout their entire secure networking journey.” Customer-centric culture "Today marks a significant step forward in Aryaka's journey to deliver secure, dependable, and performant applications,” said Shailesh Shukla, CEO, of  Aryaka. “Maddi's promotion to Chief Customer Officer underscores Aryaka’s dedication to fostering a customer-centric culture and delivering superior value to our global customers.” Fanning to drive product advancement Scott Fanning will join the team to accelerate the advancement of Aryaka’s Unified SASE as a Service A seasoned cybersecurity pioneer with over 25 years of experience, Scott Fanning will join the team to accelerate the advancement of Aryaka’s Unified SASE as a Service, leveraging Aryaka's OnePass architecture to offer unique and differentiated ways to address ever-expanding threats and new attack surfaces introduced with the AI adoption. Fanning brings first-hand experience in pioneering innovative approaches to solving new security problems. Fanning joins Aryaka from Palo Alto Networks, where he led the team for Cloud-Delivered Security Services. Scott's work experience Before that, he was the first Head of Product for cloud security at CrowdStrike, where he delivered their pioneering Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP). His career also includes managing cybersecurity products and services for Citrix and McAfee, and more than a decade at Cisco in various security engineering and product management roles. SASE as a Service Platform “The security landscape is evolving rapidly, with adversaries leveraging AI to exploit gaps in enterprise defenses,” said Fanning. “Aryaka’s Unified SASE as a Service Platform delivers unparalleled observability, consolidating siloed tools to close these gaps and protect customers from advanced threats. I am thrilled to join this talented team to help our customers worldwide stay ahead of adversaries by empowering them with innovative, pioneering-edge security solutions.” Aryaka CTRL ensures the advancement of Unified SASE CTRL will ensure Aryaka’s solutions continue to deliver state-of-the-art defenses against advanced threats Under the leadership of Aditya Sood, VP of Security Engineering and AI Strategy and author of the newly released Combating Cyberattacks Targeting the AI Ecosystem, the Aryaka CTRL team will conduct proactive research to analyze data and stay ahead of the latest threats. By prioritizing real-world threat evaluations and collaborating with industry threat research groups, CTRL will ensure Aryaka’s solutions continue to deliver state-of-the-art defenses against advanced threats.  Built-in network layer controls “The launch of Aryaka CTRL underscores Aryaka’s commitment to providing effective and actionable defenses to our customers, already delivered through built-in network layer controls embedded in our OnePASS architecture,” said Renuka Nadkarni, Chief Product Officer, Aryaka. “Proactive research and threat intelligence by CTRL and adding Scott's deep expertise to the team will continue to fuel Unified SASE as a Service innovation to deliver unparalleled protection against evolving cyberattacks, including ones targeting GenAI implementations.” Leveraging AI “This announcement underscores our investment and dedication to ensuring our solutions remain at the forefront of secure networking in the emerging AI era,” Shukla added. “These strategic moves reinforce Aryaka's position as the pioneer in Unified SASE as a Service and empower us to deliver the most secure, agile, and customer-centric solutions on the market.”

Zimperium, a global pioneer in mobile security, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Michael Williams as the new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). With an illustrious career spanning over two decades in cybersecurity marketing, Michael brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of driving growth and innovation. Michael Williams joins Zimperium from KnowBe4, the world pioneer in security awareness training, where as CMO he helped lead the company through a successful IPO and acquisition. His leadership earned KnowBe4 top rankings in industry reports and most importantly, unparalleled ARR growth. Prior roles of Michael Previously, as CMO Symantec, Michael led the company’s return to pipeline and enterprise growth Previously, as CMO Symantec, Michael led the company’s return to pipeline and enterprise growth. His extensive experience also includes senior leadership roles at Blue Coat Systems and McAfee, where he drove global marketing growth strategies.  At Zimperium, Michael will be responsible for shaping and executing the marketing strategy, expanding the market penetration and thought leadership. His deep understanding of the cybersecurity landscape and his innovative approach to marketing will be invaluable as they continue to lead the industry in mobile threat defense. New heights of success “Michael’s appointment marks a significant milestone for Zimperium,” said Shridhar Mittal, CEO of Zimperium. “His extensive experience and proven success in the cybersecurity sector make him the ideal pioneer to drive our marketing efforts. We are confident that Michael’s vision and leadership will help Zimperium achieve new heights of success.” Michael Williams commented: “I have followed Zimperium for a long time and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of such a dynamic and innovative team. Cyber attacks on mobile devices and applications are at an all-time high as organized cyber criminals exploit mobile as the primary infiltration point for ransomware, credential theft and account takeover. Zimperium is the global pioneer in mobile security and I’m very proud to be part of their mission to protect enterprises across the world.”

Modern workplace is a product of decades of creative innovation and the automation of processes and tasks, from chatbots to food-delivery robots, thereby saving customers and businesses time and money, over the years. Since in business and in life nothing beats more than saving on time and money, the future of work will inevitably be marked by an ongoing need for workplace automation, as hybrid work adds new complexities to the workflows and tools needed to serve customers. This article is a guide for the hybrid workforce as it evolves and grows, plus it offers key insights on how to continue this pattern of time- and money-saving through automation. It covers: What workplace automation is? The pros and cons of workplace automation. Types of automation in the workplace. The future of automation and how Meraki can help? Workplace automation Workplace automation is the application of processes or systems using technology Workplace automation is the application of processes or systems using technology (software and/or hardware), to do repeatable or predictable workflows, without requiring manual intervention. The result is speeding up the way employees work by removing manual steps, in order to increase productivity and efficiency. Software-driven approach Nowadays, automation in the office has largely become software-driven. Along with the migration toward cloud-based tools and applications, APIs, big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) have paved the way for new advancements in analytics, driving even more efficient automation and the optimization of workflows. Ana Nennig, the Solutions Marketing Manager for Ecosystem and Developers, at Cisco Meraki, said “Automation is at the heart of any API system. Investing in technologies and platforms with APIs makes it easy for any small business or large enterprise to automate a variety of use cases and save countless hours, while seamlessly connecting tools.” Benefits of automation in the workplace With the advent of robotics and technologies, the notion that human jobs can be replaced by machines continues to simmer. According to a 2021 PWC survey, 60% of U.S. employees believe tech developments will improve their job prospects. Globally, 61% believe automation is putting many people’s jobs at risk.  The reality is more nuanced and less definitive. New technologies have, for the most part, allowed us to work more efficiently while offloading wearisome tasks. Here are four ways in which organizations can benefit from automation in the workplace: Higher productivity and performance There’s nothing quite as soul-crushing as doing repetitive and mundane tasks all day that require little skills or efforts. Reducing manual work can free up time for employees to focus on higher-value work. This can drive more innovation, giving your business a competitive edge. In a 2021 Zapier report, 88% of SMBs said automation allows them to compete with larger companies, by enabling them to move faster. Cost savings Less time spent on mind-numbing workflows and tasks can not only result in greater productivity, but also greater cost savings. As an added bonus, this can lead to greater employee happiness, output, and even pay. In the height of the pandemic in 2020, conversational software company LivePerson said they saw their call-center agents’ pay increase by about 15% when they became ‘bot builders’ to train their AI chatbots on how to answer questions. Increase safety Employee safety is paramount in any workplace and is eliminating risks or dangerous procedures, thereby benefitting everyone, particularly in manufacturing and labor-intensive environments. For example, with social distancing and sanitation being a major concern the past few years, companies have been able to use robots to clean floors, windows, and more. Reduce human error When it comes to manual tasks, such as data entry and invoicing, automating tedious workflows can benefit both companies and employees. Fewer mistakes translate to fewer errors, and in many cases greater employee satisfaction. According to Zapier, 34% of SMBs say automating tasks like data entry reduces errors. Disadvantages of automation in the workplace Will robots replace all of our jobs one day? The Paradox of Automation says that the more efficient the automated system The Paradox of Automation says that the more efficient the automated system, the more crucial the human contribution of the operators. Humans are less involved, but their involvement becomes more critical. Rather than replacing human jobs, it’s trending that robots may instead displace and shift jobs to new needs. MIT scientist, Andrew McAfee has said, “I would put more emphasis on the way technology leads to structural changes in the economy, and less on jobs, jobs, jobs. The central phenomenon is not net job loss. It’s the shift in the kinds of jobs that are available.” Four key challenges to keep in mind with workplace automation are: More training To keep your automated systems running smoothly, the employees may need to acquire new skills. New business workflows also tend to impact multiple teams and processes, meaning more training are required across organisations. Recommendation: Document new tools and workflows and create mandatory team or organization-level training sessions to orient teams on new processes or new policies to keep your systems running well.  Initial costs As there is digital transformation at the workplace, understand that implementation and maintenance costs, potential recurring fees or licensing, and investments in keeping up with the latest technologies come with the territory. Recommendation: Calculate the long-term ROI of investing in new technologies. Ensure it maps back to their longer-term business goals, and that the vendors work with include a full suite of customer service and support, should there be any issues that surface. Less flexibility Unless investing significant efforts in building an own automated workflows for maximum customization, tool and software integrations can be limited to certain use cases or tasks. Recommendation: To ensure future flexibility as the enterprise grows, integrate with software providers and platforms with open APIs, so that there are more customization options and the ability to integrate with other services and providers as the needs evolve. More security needed Adding new workflows, software, and applications could open up room for potential vulnerabilities in the business networks. Particularly as cyber security attacks have risen by 3-4 times since 2020, with the shift to a hybrid work model.  Recommendation: Deploy resilient cyber security solutions with threat protection to safeguard newly added applications, devices, and users in the networks. Schedule regular software and firmware updates or opt into automatic security updates when possible. Types of automation in the workplace to consider Nearly all teams can benefit from automating their workflows, such as an HR screening process, IT ticket routing Nearly all teams can benefit from automating their workflows, such as an HR screening process, IT ticket routing and assigning, or even AI-controlled robots for surgery. The use cases are limitless. Enterprises can start by prioritizing the biggest business challenges and operational bottlenecks, to uncover where repetitive work exists. Then look into flexible technologies, platforms, and ecosystems that let enterprises improve, streamline, and automate tasks. Listed below are four powerful workplace automation ideas, in order to help boost efficiency and employee job satisfaction: Hybrid workplace automation For a safe return to the office, keeping spaces clean and optimizing how the spaces are used can create an inviting workplace that employees look forward to returning to. Facilitating these hybrid work experiences can be done through seamless technology integrations. Smart spaces with digital tags Replacing physical price tags or labels with digital tags and electronic shelf label (ESL) solutions can open up new revenue streams for retailers, manufacturers, and offices. Enterprises can automatically sync, update, and optimize pricing, as well as update in-store stocking to create better customer experiences. Smart spaces with asset tracking Manually scanning or hand-counting products at the warehouse can create burdens, when it comes to traceability and reporting, while potentially introducing human error. Automating the entire logistics and supply chain through smart-tracking technologies can open up visibility and enable new operational efficiencies. Marketing automation To deliver memorable customer experiences, personalization matters. Accenture found that 47% of customers are willing to pay more for an experience that exceeds their expectations. Infusing more personalization into the customer’s journey, while automating marketing steps along the way, can go a long way to delivering happiness. The future of work and how Cisco Meraki can help There’s a clear and indispensable need for both automation and humans, today and in the foreseeable future American philosopher, Elbert Hubbard once said, “One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man.” There’s a clear and indispensable need for both automation and humans, today and in the foreseeable future. Meraki cloud-first platform The Meraki cloud-first platform powers IT and IoT technologies that delivers exceptional experiences for the hybrid workforce, throughout the company’s digital transformation journey. It all begins with Cisco Meraki’s intuitive dashboard and an extensive library of open APIs and technology integrations, to automate the workplace. Meraki Marketplace In the words of Ana Nennig, “The Meraki Marketplace features an exclusive catalog of applications, developed by ecosystem partners, using our open APIs. They help businesses solve their operational challenges of IT and IoT, and stay competitive by deploying apps in specific outcomes and experiences, such as hybrid work.” When innovating for the future, join the Cisco Meraki webinar and hear from Meraki Marketplace experts, Ana Nennig (Solutions Marketing Manager) and Joe Maestri (Ecosystem Business Development Manager), as well as Sabrina Venish (Global Head of Platform Solutions) from PlaceOS, on how to automate workplace tasks and much more.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are the rage in tech right now and not surprisingly, many cyber companies are beginning to automate an increasing amount of their operations. Some of this is great, particularly when it assists cybersecurity professionals to automate mundane tasks and focus more of their attention on higher level analysis. But so far, machine learning is more hype than helpful for cybersecurity, but that does not mean you can’t automate some tasks to keep your organization safe. Effective Machine Learning Applications At its most basic, machine learning technology is supposed to enable cybersecurity companies to predict the nature of future attacks based on past behavior, similar to how Netflix displays what you want to watch based on what you’ve previously viewed. According to Jack Gold, president and principal analyst at J. Gold Associates, this innovation can assist cyber companies to transition away from a “signature-based” system to detect malware. Instead, he sees more companies adopting a machine learning approach that aims to analyze past incidents in a broader manner and aggregate information from a multitude of sources. Machine learning technology is supposed to enable cybersecurity companies to predict the nature of future attacks Specifically, some machine learning applications for cybersecurity are effective at doing the following: detecting malicious activity, helping security officers determine what tasks they need to complete in an investigation process, analyzing mobile endpoints, decreasing the number of false positive threats, automating repetitive tasks like interrupting ransomware, and potentially closing some zero-day vulnerabilities. A number of tech giants have invested in these capabilities recently, including Google, which is employing machine learning to help protect Android mobile endpoints. Amazon also bought a startup called harvest.AI to help it aggregate and better understand data located on the S3 cloud storage service. Limitations Of AI For Cybersecurity That said, the signal-to-noise ratio for threat intelligence-type automation events isn't effective for most organizations at the moment. The reality is automating threat intelligence - or in other words, identifying adversaries automatically - is difficult to execute within an organization because every company’s threats, vulnerabilities, and risks are unique. Ultimately, machine learning can help cybersecurity outfits, but it can’t replace many important functions. In an article for Forbes, Alexander Polyakov explains well why machine learning’s applications for cybersecurity are limited. He writes, “There will always be a person who tries to find issues in our systems and bypass them. Therefore, if we detect 90% [of] attacks today, new methods will be invented tomorrow.” Cybersecurity outfits can pair their human intellect with machine technology to catch hackers before they do too much damage Put in another way, there is a reason that machine learning is very good at predicting events like the weather. As McAfee CTO Steve Grobman described at McAfee MPOWER, their annual security conference, the weather abides by laws of physics. So even with phenomena such as global warming, the weather will largely act in the future based on how it has been in the past. Pairing Human Intellect And Machine Technology Cyber attacks, meanwhile, are the complete opposite. Hackers become smarter, and are always one step ahead of cybersecurity officers, inherently and frequently shifting their strategies so that CISOs will not detect them. For all the incidents machine learning technology can identify, which is helpful, there will always be sophisticated attacks that no machine learning algorithm will be able to find. It is also worth stating a simple fact: Humans hack. While they may use fancy technology to deploy these attacks, it is a human-led effort. Therefore, at the highest level, cybersecurity officers will be the only force able to stop hackers from penetrating critical networks. Machines don’t fully understand us. Only humans can still (and probably always) comprehend hackers’ larger strategy. Instead, cybersecurity outfits can pair their human intellect with machine technology to sort through data faster and catch hackers before they do too much damage. No cybersecurity company should be led by robots -- and that’s a good thing.