For everyone involved with Tanium, the annual Converge conference is the highlight of the year. So too this year, when more than 3,000 IT and cybersecurity professionals gathered in Orlando, Florida to share experiences and hear about what Tanium has in store for them in the coming years.
Under the theme “Confidence and Resilience,” Converge highlighted the growing complexity of cybersecurity in an era 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 increasingly important. “Our commitment to continue working with you remains unwavering,” he said. This set the tone of the event: organizations must adapt quickly to defend against increasingly sophisticated attacks, and technology vendors must keep pace with these demands.
The ever-changing landscape for cybersecurity
A recurring theme at the conference was the convergence of IT and security functions – a necessity and certainly not a luxury given the developments around cybercrime. Participants emphasized that many organizations are struggling to bridge the gap between these disciplines. They often still work in silos that reduce efficiency and actually increase vulnerability. The consensus was clear: merging IT operations and security is pure necessity and will lead to more streamlined workflows, faster incident response and reduced risk.
The need for real-time data for real-time decision-making was a major focus during the discussions. Several speakers emphasized that the traditional time lag between detecting a vulnerability and addressing it leaves organizations vulnerable. In this context, Tanium presented its platform as a means of closing these gaps, providing real-time insights into millions of endpoints and enabling rapid, autonomous action to mitigate risk.
Tanium customers shared insights into how they are addressing these challenges within their respective industries. For example, Chin Okorafor, CIO of PNC Bank, highlighted how integrating Tanium’s real-time capabilities with ServiceNow has improved operational efficiency, allowing teams to collaborate more effectively and realize significant time savings. Pam Gott, Senior Vice President of Global Cybersecurity Services at Fiserv, highlighted the value of automation in her organization’s cybersecurity strategy. Automation, she said, not only reduces response times, but also allows teams to focus on strategic innovations rather than routine tasks.
Trends driving cybersecurity innovation
The conference also addressed broader trends shaping the cybersecurity landscape. Automation and artificial intelligence (AI) took center stage, particularly for their potential to more efficiently utilize the limited resources of IT and security teams. By automating recurring tasks such as vulnerability scanning, patch management and configuration updates, organizations can free up valuable human resources for more strategic work. It was clear at the conference that Tanium not only equips its own products with AI, but also contributes to the AI capabilities of software partners such as Microsoft and ServiceNow.
However, the application of AI and automation is not without its challenges. Several speakers acknowledged concerns about the reliability of automated systems. They also address that the trust needed to deploy them on a large scale is not always there yet. To address these concerns, platforms such as Tanium emphasize transparency and control and offer features such as trust scores to help organizations assess the expected success of automated actions before they are implemented.
With the proliferation of connected devices, organizations are increasingly struggling to maintain a clear view of their digital ecosystems.
Wytze Rijkmans, Regional Vice President Tanium
Another key trend discussed was the increasing importance of visibility across the IT environment. With the proliferation of connected devices, from IoT sensors to cloud-based systems, organizations are increasingly struggling to maintain a clear view of their digital ecosystems. Real-time platforms that aggregate data from multiple sources were cited as essential tools for achieving comprehensive visibility and control.
Customers’ perspectives
At Converge, customer stories added a practical dimension to the discussions and illustrated how organizations are implementing these technologies to improve their cybersecurity measures. For example, NEC Corporation detailed how it is using Tanium to centralize IT asset management and improve vulnerability detection and response times. Colgate also showed how real-time data and automation have led to better collaboration between teams, leading to 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 has not only improved security but also allowed teams to focus on mission critical objectives without being held up by routine tasks.
Product announcements reflect industry needs
Amid discussions of trends and challenges, Tanium used the conference to unveil a number of new products designed to address emerging cybersecurity needs. One was the introduction of Tanium Autonomous Endpoint Management (AEM), a solution aimed at automating 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 major announcement was Tanium Jump Gate. This is a tool designed to improve infrastructure access management by providing just-in-time protocols for minimal access. This feature is part of a broader approach to mitigate the risks associated with excessive access rights, which have been abused in cyberattacks that have attracted much attention. For its part, 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 detection tool tailored to individual organizational environments. Using real-time data and AI, HuntIQ enables teams to quickly identify and address threats specific to their unique digital landscape. According to Tanium, these innovations are not intended to replace existing systems, but to enhance them and provide organizations with additional layers of protection and control.
Outlook
The overarching message of Converge 2024 was one of urgency. As cyber threats continue to evolve, 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 defending against these threats. However, realizing this vision requires not only technological innovation, but also cultural and organizational change – a point that was repeatedly emphasized by speakers and participants.
In his closing remarks, Dan Streetman characterized the role of IT and security professionals as that of the protectors of their organizations. He emphasized the challenges they face and the importance of equipping them with the right tools. While the event highlighted Tanium’s contributions to this effort, the broader implications were clear: The cybersecurity landscape is shifting rapidly and organizations must continually adapt to stay ahead.
This is a submitted commercial contribution by Wytze Rijkmans, Regional Vice President of Tanium. The editors are not responsible for the content. For more information about their services, please visit here.