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For everyone involved with Tanium, the annual Converge conference is the highlight of the year. Such was the case this year when more than 3,000 IT and cybersecurity
For everyone involved with Tanium, the annual Converge conference is the highlight of the year. Such was the case this year when more than 3,000 IT and cybersecurity professionals met in Orlando, Florida to share experiences and learn what Tanium has in store for them in the coming years.
Under the theme “Trust and Resilience,” Converge highlighted the growing complexity of cybersecurity in times of digital transformation, geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty. Discussions focused on the convergence of IT operations and security, the increasing reliance on automation and the role of real-time data in defending against ever-increasing cyber threats.
Opening the event, Tanium CEO Dan Streetman emphasized that cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important. “Our commitment to continue working with you remains unwavering,” he said. This set the tone for the event: Enterprises must adapt quickly to defend against increasingly sophisticated attacks, and technology providers must keep pace with these demands.
A recurring theme of the conference was the convergence of IT and security functions – a necessity and certainly not a luxury given the developments surrounding cybercrime. Participants highlighted that many organizations find it difficult to bridge the gap between these disciplines. They often still work in silos, reducing efficiency and increasing vulnerability. The consensus was clear: bringing IT operations and security together is a necessity and will result in leaner workflows, faster incident response and reduced risks.
The need for real-time data for real-time decision making was at the heart of discussions. Several speakers emphasized that the traditional time lag between identifying a vulnerability and fixing it leaves organizations vulnerable. In this context, Tanium presented its platform as a way to bridge these gaps, providing real-time insights across millions of endpoints and enabling rapid, autonomous action to mitigate risk.
Tanium customers shared insights into how they are addressing these challenges in their respective industries. For example, Chin Okorafor, CIO of PNC Bank, highlighted how integrating Tanium’s real-time capabilities with ServiceNow improved operational efficiency, allowing teams to collaborate more effectively and achieve significant time savings. Pam Gott, senior vice president of global cybersecurity services at Fiserv, noted the value of automation in her company’s cybersecurity strategy. She believes that automation not only reduces response times, but also allows teams to focus on strategic innovation rather than routine tasks.
The conference also looked at broader trends shaping the cybersecurity landscape. Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) have been in focus, particularly because of their potential to make more efficient use of the limited resources of IT and security teams. By automating repetitive tasks like vulnerability scanning, patch management, and configuration updates, companies can free up valuable human resources for more strategic tasks. The conference clearly demonstrated that Tanium not only adds AI to its own products, but also contributes to the AI capabilities of software partners such as Microsoft and ServiceNow.
However, the use of AI and automation is not without challenges. Several speakers expressed concerns about the reliability of automated systems. They also agree that the necessary trust for large-scale deployment does not always exist. To address these concerns, platforms like Tanium emphasize transparency and control, offering features such as trust scores that help organizations assess the expected success of automated actions before implementing them.
With the proliferation of connected devices, companies are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain a clear overview of their digital ecosystems.
Wytze Rijkmans, regional vice president Tanium
Another key trend discussed is the increasing importance of transparency across the IT environment. With the proliferation of connected devices, from IoT sensors to cloud-based systems, companies are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain a clear view of their digital ecosystems. Real-time platforms that bring together data from different sources were cited as essential tools for comprehensive transparency and control.
At Converge, customer stories added a practical dimension to discussions and illustrated how companies are implementing these technologies to improve their cybersecurity measures. For example, NEC Corporation explained how it uses Tanium to centralize IT asset management and improve vulnerability detection and response times. Colgate also demonstrated how real-time data and automation have led to better collaboration between teams, resulting in faster and more effective incident responses.
One of the more compelling stories came from GRAND Mental Health, which highlighted how automation has transformed their ability to secure sensitive systems. The organization described how real-time automation not only improves security, but also allows teams to focus on mission-critical goals without being held up by routine tasks.
Amid discussions of trends and challenges, Tanium used the conference to unveil a number of new products tailored to new cybersecurity needs. One of these was the introduction of Tanium Autonomous Endpoint Management (AEM), a solution to automate endpoint management tasks such as patching, configuration and experience monitoring. The product reflects a broader industry shift toward integrating endpoint management with AI-based tools, simplifying complex processes and improving response times.
Another important announcement was the Tanium Jump Gate. This is a tool designed to improve infrastructure access management by providing just-in-time minimum access protocols. This capability is part of a broader approach to mitigating the risks associated with excessive access rights abused in high-profile cyberattacks. Tanium Cloud WorkLoads, in turn, reduces the attack surface and improves security for containers, both on-premises and in the cloud.
Rounding out the product announcements was HuntIQ, a threat hunting tool tailored to individual corporate environments. Using real-time data and AI, HuntIQ enables teams to quickly identify and combat threats specific to their unique digital landscape. According to Tanium, these innovations are not aimed at replacing existing systems, but rather at improving them and providing organizations with additional layers of protection and control.
The overarching message of Converge 2024 was one of urgency. With cyber threats constantly evolving, organizations cannot afford to rely on outdated approaches. The convergence of IT and security, supported by real-time data, AI and automation, represents a new paradigm for countering these threats. However, achieving this vision requires not only technological innovation, but also cultural and organizational changes – a point made by speakers and participants was emphasized again and again.
In his closing remarks, Dan Streetman described the role of IT and security professionals as protectors of their organizations. He highlighted the challenges they face and the importance of equipping them with the right tools. While the event highlighted Tanium’s contributions to these efforts, the broader implications were clear: the cybersecurity landscape is changing rapidly and companies must continually adapt to stay ahead.
This is a commercial contribution from Wytze Rijkmans, Regional Vice President of Tanium. The editorial team is not responsible for the content. You can find more information about their services here.
Source: IT Daily
As an experienced journalist and author, Mary has been reporting on the latest news and trends for over 5 years. With a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, Mary has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of journalism. Her writing style is insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, as she takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues of our time.
