Veritas Executive Emphasises Power of Collaboration in Data Security at Veritas vConnect Malaysia 2023
In the recent Veritas Cloud vConnect 2023, held at the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Dr Joye Purser, Global Head of Field Security at Veritas Technologies, highlighted the significance of collaboration and relationship-building among industry peers, emphasising the sentiment, “We are safer together.” This notion perfectly aligns with vConnect 2023’s theme: “Defy Risk, Be Cloud Secure.”
The Importance of Relationships
Dr Purser, in her keynote, shared personal anecdotes about her residence in Atlanta, Georgia, describing the synergies she has witnessed at informal steak dinner gatherings, where chief information security officers discuss not just pressing industry issues, but also establish personal relationships. Such bonds, she pointed out, prove indispensable in times of cyber crises.
“If you need to make a call during a data breach,” Dr Purser noted, “it should be to someone you already know.”
A central tenet of her discourse centred on increasing organisational resiliency through genuine relationships, foresight, and proactive planning, which she said makes for a more robust defence against threats.
The Role of Data Backups
Later on during her address, Dr Purser cited alarming statistics, notably the recent exfiltration of 180 million gigabytes of data from Malaysian organisations in April. Against this backdrop, she emphasised the importance of being prepared before such breaches (pre-boom), the immediate response during them, and the critical recovery phase post-breach.
Dr Purser then underscored the critical role of tabletop exercises in ensuring business continuity. These exercises, she explained, are not merely theoretical but crucial rehearsals to simulate and strategise responses to potential breaches. Central to this discussion was the undervalued yet paramount importance of data backups.
She took a moment to discuss the recent release of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, a US agency that sets cybersecurity standards. The updated framework introduces the term “govern,” a pivotal concept that pertains to establishing a robust organisational structure supporting security layers. Dr Purser emphasised that governance ensures that the right people, equipped with the right skills, are in place and that they are clear about their data protection responsibilities.
Moreover, in the rapidly digitising world where “data is the new gold,” Dr Purser underscored the importance of understanding and managing it appropriately. With governments worldwide formulating data governance regulations, she praised Veritas Technologies for continuously engaging with governments, offering constructive feedback, and positioning itself as a leader in the realm of data protection.
Endpoint Security Challenges
Dr Purser also touched on the challenges in endpoint security, stressing the importance of device security, ranging from PCs to mobile phones, and the frequent pitfalls of account and access management. She encouraged participants to view these challenges collaboratively, leveraging shared experiences to enhance overall industry resilience.
The Veritas Technologies executive concluded by extending an invitation to the attendees to participate in Veritas’s upcoming events. These events, according to Dr Purser will delve deeper into pressing data-related topics, offering insights into industrial control sites, vendor perspectives, and the overarching need for continuous learning in the field.
“Learning from each other, particularly in a world where cyber threats are evolving rapidly, is not just a necessity—it’s a responsibility,” concluded Dr Purser as she implored everyone to be proactive about security.
