3 key lessons from Black Hat 2024

We’re back from Black Hat USA 2024 and... Wow, what a blast!

Once again showcasing the latest developments in security and privacy, this conference helped us dive deep with security leaders on what’s new, what’s keeping them up at night, and the key role vendors play in this constantly evolving space.

After conversations with hundreds of security leaders, hackers, and privacy enthusiasts, several key themes emerged—reflecting both challenges and advancements in the industry.

1. Privacy and security priorities are beginning to converge

Black Hat 2024 underscored the increasingly intertwined nature of security and privacy. As data protection becomes more critical – amidst the increasing prevalence of cyber threats, evolving AI technologies, and stringent global regulations – the overlap between these two fields is more pronounced than ever.

Security professionals and privacy experts alike are moving beyond basic compliance checklists, focusing on how to harness better data governance to drive business value and reduce risk.

Our conversations throughout the conference highlighted the increasingly unified front between privacy and security professionals, who are now more engaged in creating business value through trusted data, improved customer trust, and greater operational efficiency.

2. Real-time data visibility has become increasingly key

Another recurring theme was the urgent need for enterprises to establish real-time, comprehensive views of their data.

Legacy methods, such as survey-based approaches, are increasingly seen as outdated and inadequate. Executives are stressing the importance of real-time data visibility to drive business value and ensure continuity.

The shift towards real-time data management reflects a broader trend where organizations are recognizing that having an up-to-date, unified view of their data is essential for both security and operational success.

3. AI: Ubiquitous but unclear

As with most conferences in the past few years, artificial intelligence was a hot topic at Black Hat—though many attendees voiced the opinion that the term "AI" is often overused and misunderstood.

Many vendors presented AI capabilities as a key feature, but potential buyers noted they struggle to quantify the benefits and risks of pursuing AI functionality. The integration of AI into existing security products is definitely a hot trend right now, but it’s clear people are beginning to wonder if the hype exceeds the practical impacts.

Security professionals are hungry for clearer definitions and more tangible benefits from AI solutions. As AI becomes a standard feature rather than a differentiator, there is a pressing need for robust AI governance to ensure these capabilities are securely managed and deployed.

Connecting beyond Black Hat

As AI continues to influence the market and data protection regulations force increased focus on consumer data security, Black Hat 2024 underscored the need for a modern, yet holistic approach to addressing these challenges.

Our booth was filled with lively discussions, where we explored key questions and shared our experiences with the role security plays in effective data governance. If you missed us on the showroom floor, or couldn’t attend this year, please reach out to see how we can help your business enable innovation with trusted data, reduce risk through greater automation, and build customer trust with responsible data practices.