We had an amazing conference and are thrilled to close out our Chats On The Road to (from) RSA Conference 2023 with a recap chat with our good friends as they give us the latest and greatest for what took place at this year's event.
Guests
Linda Gray Martin, Vice President at RSA Conference [@RSAConference]
On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-gray-martin-223708/
On Twitter | https://twitter.com/LindaJaneGray
Cecilia Murtagh Marinier, Cybersecurity Advisor - Strategy, Innovation & Scholars at RSA Conference [@RSAConference]
On LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilia-murtagh-marinier-14967/
On Twitter | https://twitter.com/CMarinier
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Host:
Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast
On ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/marco-ciappelli
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This Episode’s Sponsors
BlackCloak | https://itspm.ag/itspbcweb
Brinqa | https://itspm.ag/brinqa-pmdp
SandboxAQ | https://itspm.ag/sandboxaq-j2en
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Episode Notes
We had an amazing conference and are thrilled to close out our Chats On The Road to (from) RSA Conference 2023 with a recap chat with our good friends as they give us the latest and greatest for what took place at this year's event.
Be sure to tune in to all of our RSA Conference 2023 USA coverage from San Francisco to hear stories from the keynotes, sessions, speakers, expo hall, community events, and so much more. And, yes, we decided to capture a lot of our coverage on video too, so be sure to check out the RSA Conference 2023 playlist on YouTube as well.
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Resources
Learn more, explore the agenda, and register for RSA Conference: https://itspm.ag/rsa-cordbw
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For more RSAC Conference Coverage podcast and video episodes visit: https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsa-conference-usa-2023-rsac-san-francisco-usa-cybersecurity-event-coverage
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To see and hear more Redefining CyberSecurity content on ITSPmagazine, visit:
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Please note that this transcript was created using AI technology and may contain inaccuracies or deviations from the original audio file. The transcript is provided for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the original recording as errors may exist. At this time we provide it “as it is” and we hope it can be useful for our audience.
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Marco Ciappelli00:05
Okay, is this charts on the road or back from RSA Conference? Let me think about it. Yeah, we're back. We're definitely back. We were there. already. What it seems to be a long time ago, more than two weeks, and I was there. ITSPmagazine was there, all bunch of our hosts were there, we created a ton of content. And we were there. First of all, I want to thank everybody in the organization of RSA conference for beautiful days of sun in San Francisco. I don't know how you did it. But that was great.
Linda Gray Martin 00:44
Amazing, and our CFO lives in San Francisco. And he said the Monday afterwards that the weather had already deteriorated. It was so fun, and we got so lucky.
Marco Ciappelli00:56
So good job on that. Yeah.
Linda Gray Martin 01:00
I'd like to think we orchestrated that one. But it didn't make such a difference, doesn't it? I think it just really affects people's moods, it just felt there was great energy from start to finish. And, you know, obviously, I think that's always to do with the community coming back together, but throw in some sunshine. It helps the winning combination.
Marco Ciappelli01:21
And the beautiful gardens in the back, you go from one side of the other, it's always nice to put your shades on and enjoy some some good lighting. And overall, like I said, we were there we witness it was a fantastic event, RSA Conference in San Francisco 2023. And we're here for a quick recap with cilia and Linda, which we both have the honor and the pleasure to speak before the event. So honestly, we don't have an agenda right now. We're chilling, the things that have happened, the things was exciting, and beautiful. In my opinion, the event was exactly what I actually expect it to be. But I wasn't the one running around. And I've seen your lender running around quite a bit. How about a quick introduction of who you are for the people that don't know you? And yeah, how was it?
Linda Gray Martin 02:20
Yeah. So I'm Linda Gray, Martin, I'm responsible for the RSA conference event. And it was, honestly, it was a fantastic experience. And you know, our theme, as we talked about, when we chatted before the conference was stronger together. And you could really feel that I really think you could feel it. That was just as I said, at the top businesses energy this year, and it you know, our attendance was higher than last year, which is fantastic. So, you know, we are doing our final audit, which takes a few weeks. So we will right around the 40,000 attendee mark, to be confirmed. But you could feel it, I think, but you could feel it in a really positive, good way. And I think we'd really worked on the flow of attendees and space. And we'd also really worked with the attendee experience and trying to create these moments that people would remember. For example, I'm sure you would have seen this, Marco, because it was really the way you guys were positioned. But did you see the common thread the string wall that was out. So little uniting things like that, but people loved it. So we asked to 10 attendees to choose from different colored threads dependent on how long they've been in the industry. And then they would create this unique pattern by winding around these kind of nails that corresponded to a personality trait or something that they were at, it was just amazing to watch this thing build over the course of the week. And it was almost like a kind of community work of art at the end. And, you know, we did a lot of that. And another example, was just having some musicians at lunchtime and on the streets after hours, not after hours, but towards the end of the day. And it just helped create this kind of festival free kind of vibe. I think. I feel like you could feel that throughout. And I'm sure Cecilia, where you were for most of the time up in Sandbox and with your scholars and students, you hopefully you had that same. That same feeling of energy.
Cecilia Marinier 04:32
Yeah, absolutely. It was incredible. What a fun, fun event this year, you know, coming back after a couple years after COVID to just be all together again, and it may felt like people were ready. And like you said, we did order up the sunshine for you so much. Oh, you're welcome. But it did help. And then when you walk outside, you had the music and you kept seeing people who hadn't seen in a while and you're connecting with them over a coffee or just in the hallway Are the Hangout zones. I just think that what we tried to accomplish and making these special moments, we did. And we tried to make it easy for people, we have other people out there telling people where to go. We were trying to streamline our agenda, we did lots of fun things to really make it more accessible. And I think it's coming through on just how people are reacting to it, and what they came out of it and all the positive. LinkedIn posts, you see everybody looking at it, this is why we come to RSA. It's us with like, you know, 75 of our friends. So and the scholars, of course, were just ecstatic. I mean, anything you do with them they're so grateful for. So I feel so blessed to be part of that. The innovation sandbox contest had great feeling right from the start, it had a great winner. And I agree top 10. So everything about this conference, honestly, on the other side of it, it went better than we all thought it might.
Marco Ciappelli05:54
Well, that's great. And that's exactly why I would like to stay for a little bit here is we talked a lot about people coming back and again and again and again. And you know, I don't even know how many times all our friends have been there. But there were a few people, even in our circle that were there for the first time. And I know Cecilia, you deal with a lot of first timers there. I know you have a way to make them feel comfortable. But one thing is the theory. And one thing is in the practic of things. And I have seen people getting together, I've seen people stopping in the middle of the corridor talking to each other, introduce new people that happened to me, we may have picked up a couple of new hosts for our podcast while we were there. Very cool. And I'm assuming this is kind of like how I felt on your side there with the villages. And then the expo the new, you know, the new commerce there and the scholars. Right. What was it that that I mean, that vibe that I feel was a real?
Cecilia Marinier 07:00
Really? Absolutely, you know, one thing I'm going to flip it to Linda and then have Linda flip it back to me. But I want to talk about that first timer event the misperception that that's such a tone.
Linda Gray Martin 07:10
Yeah, it did. So I think we talked about this when we mentioned we were doing it Marco, and it was on the Sunday night. And it was for first timers. And also for our loyalty closet, me. So people who have been told these five RSA conferences, and we bought the two groups together, because we figured that there would be some really good learning for the first time as from the Loyalty Class. And on the other side, you know, the loyalty plus people, those people that are really invested in RSA Conference and love to share, you know, their knowledge with people who haven't met before. And oh, my goodness, me, it was absolutely jam packed. And we had a pub trivia quiz. There were like two to goes around for it. And it was such a uniting event. And one of my colleagues was sat on a table with a group of people who hadn't been before. And by the end of it, they had created a WhatsApp group. And they stayed in touch throughout the week. And honestly, that was exactly what that was for. And I get all like, that's exactly what we wanted to happen. You know, because those people may well have made connections that will see them through their professional career, you know, and that I think, is one of the beauties of RSA Conference, people make those kind of depth connections there, and it keeps on coming back. So yeah, that that first time as reception was great. And then I like a funny story. So I don't know if you were there for the closing keynote session with Hugh Thompson and Christopher Lloyd. You know, it was about quantum. And Christopher Lloyd kind of brought it home with us back to the future experience. And we put five golden tickets under five random seats in the keynote room. And he announced that right at the end, and if you were a golden ticket winner, you will have the chance to have your photo taken with Christopher Lloyd at the DeLorean that we had at the back of the room. And one of the winners was also at that first time as reception on the Sunday and just seemed to have the best experience from start to finish. And that first time was Reception The holy for for that person and it was just so heartwarming to see that kind of great experience as Casey had. So that was just an absolute standout moment for me personally,
Marco Ciappelli09:35
talking about if coming around full circle from the beginning to the end. I mean, people maybe may not be in our community listening to this podcast, but you put a DeLorean there, and the good can you it's just gonna it's gonna light up
Linda Gray Martin 09:54
and it looks like the one and back to the future and you have Doc Brown there who was the nicest man And you know, just very, very warm when you met him, which isn't always the case, you know, with these celebrities, but he was just an absolute joy. And was so excited to meet people. It was just it was really special, really special. And I'm sure that that person will remember that experience.
Marco Ciappelli10:19
For sure you have a good good influencer there and Ambassador conference wherever silly a couple of highlights maybe on your on your side of the innovation parks. And I was there I met with the guys our friend at the aerospace village and I heard weird story about a toilet in there. I don't know if you want to the day before? No,
Cecilia Marinier 10:44
of course you did. It's like one of my secondhand, it's my second home. You know, it's like it's my, actually my homing ground while I'm at conference, I do a lot of other things around there. But you asked about these moments that we created, where we built out, you know, 40,000 people is a lot of people. And so it's hard to create a connection point for a lot of these people when they're coming in from outside. And I think one of the things that I've been really proud of that RSA Conference has done is to create that moment like Linda was talking about with that first timer. We do the same in this very curated experience with the scholars where they get to meet with the top people like Adi Shamir, and with envy and their kids are beside themselves, and they're all over LinkedIn, with their photos with these heroes are our industry. And you have just every single moment, and it's just one of those we do bring everybody together. And it's a cross fertilization of ideas, whether it's in the closed door sessions, or is in these, it's in the sandbox, and you keep talking about the sandbox, and I love the sandbox, it's fun, it's that hands on activity, there are seven villages that have helped us out this year, they all brought content, they brought ideas, the toilet was there, and if you miss the toilet, you're gonna have to come see and 2024 is all I can say. But it's a moment where people give back and RSA Conference is a great place where you see all the experts get on the stage. And they share their knowledge with our audience. And with the with the community writ large, or in the sandbox, where these guys are volunteering, and they're sharing. They're trying to teach you how to get better at what you do. And I love that we're able to tie this all together, whether you're in privacy, whether you're in government, whether you're in the business side of it, we do it all together. And then on top of it, we have that expo floor, which is crazy, but super incredible, because where else can you get all of those different companies sharing their thoughts, their ideas and their products to our whole community? So anyway, long and short. Great.
Marco Ciappelli12:39
That's all I wanted you here. Let's talk about with thinking how the expectation was and what it has become. I mean, we know attendance was great. Everything was pretty smooth. Nothing, no big surprise, great organization. But for example, on our side that we had a lot of conversation we one of the thing I always like to ask is, what was what's the buzzword of this year? You know, like many people talk about people stronger together. That was the theme of the conference. And I can't imagine a better headline for that than this one is a theme. But also, we heard about artificial intelligence, Chad GPT and a lot of other interesting thing 0000 Trust, what I love it, whatever that is, you know, like kind of like drink when you hear the buzzword and bingo, what what? What was your impression? What was the theme of the conference from what you heard?
Linda Gray Martin 13:48
Yeah. So from what I witnessed in the keynote room, and like in talking to Britta, the predominant theme was generative AI, I would say that just kind of was everywhere, everywhere. And it's really interesting how these really strong, strong themes emerge. And you look back and think, Wow, that really was everywhere. You kind of you see it kind of on paper beforehand, but then you go into the conference, and you start hearing it everywhere. So that would be nice to see you. And
Cecilia Marinier 14:18
I definitely feel that this threat came up so quickly, like people weren't even talking about chat TBT before I think November, really, when they they accelerated as how many users they had. And now it's become so integral. And the and the part that scary is that we don't know where it's going. And so it can be you know, it's fun, because I got to interview Miko, hipot in the sandbox stage. And he talked about this one particular issue. It's now a race of to who gets there first, the good guys or the bad guys. And I think having this platform where RSA conference was able to allow for these kinds of conversations to happen. made it so that we have a good shot, like the good guys have a good shot.
Linda Gray Martin 14:58
Right I'm
Cecilia Marinier 15:00
definitely great to check TBT, zero trust, a lot of collaboration. That was the other one I saw. Platform plays, if you're looking at innovation, a lot of the companies that were in the top 10, were in the platform play business, whether it's an API, or over in the balance theory, guys, which are doing this is actually from Launchpad. And I really like this kind of idea of where they're kind of the GitHub for cybersecurity. They're trying to give a overview to everybody. So the ideas that are coming up, are to help automate automation in getting in there faster. But that will be probably my top level ideas right now.
Marco Ciappelli15:43
Anything that stuck in your head more than others? Oh, well, I
Linda Gray Martin 15:47
talked about really, I just because I was in the keynote room from dawn until dusk, and you just saw, it was definitely a I chat GPT. And a lot, a lot, a lot, a lot of obsessions. So kind of, I guess, in keeping with what we thought, which was great. And the theme as well, I know, we said stronger together. I know you. And I absolutely loved Eric idols twist on the theme, which was stranger together. Because keynote title, and oh, my goodness, mean, how the audience embraced him. It was a miracle. And you know, he's in his 80s. And he was bouncing around that stage singing. And it was a total highlight, I think, for so many people.
Marco Ciappelli16:30
Yeah, it is. People think about this info security cyber security conference to be like, wow, it must be boring. I mean, you guys are just talking about, you know, all this technical thing and security and be safe. And because they hear the story from the news, you know, to FA you have to do this, everybody's out there to get you. But when you're with the people in the community, I have to tell you what, what did come through for me, which is kind of like maybe I'm looking for the Orman's about this, but the humanity of things. So even when we talk about artificial intelligence, we talk about Chad GPT. And in all the kinds of technology we have, it's all about understanding it, and how for the first time, we are talking more about who we are, because we have to look at who we are in the technology. So ethics, they were all over the place. And I know philosophers are more important now than ever.
Cecilia Marinier 17:33
To get Josh Corman on your show.
Marco Ciappelli17:37
So Josh, yes,
Cecilia Marinier 17:39
it is absolutely we are at the cusp of having to redefine this. I mean, it's always been on the periphery, whether you wanted to talk privacy and security, you know, the balance between the two. But the humanity part I 100% agree with you, Marco, it's like this is being interjected at a rapid pace, and we need to all work together to make it happen.
Marco Ciappelli17:58
Absolutely. I don't want to keep you too much. We already have a lot of content, people can come on the page and listen to everything both what we did before, when we were there. And of course this one as well. But like we were joking before we started the day after the conference was over, we were already talking about the next one. So I know you need some quiet time. You're regrouping you have a beautiful board and a lot of people involved in the organization, the continent so on But where do we go from here? I love to just, you know, put your futuristic cap on and Time Machine. Let us know why.
Linda Gray Martin 18:41
While we are excitedly dipping our toes in the international waters once again. And I think we told you Marco about our seaso bootcamp that we have at the US Conference this year for kind of up and coming CISOs kind of a closed door session where people learn from experts and also each other and again, make connections that's just such a strong undercurrent and theme that runs through the conference. But we're taking it on the road. And we are going to be in London in early October. And then we are heading to Australia in mid October. And we're going to be partnering with Acer, the Australian Information Security Association and seaso boot camp will be part of their Cyber Conference in Melbourne in October. So just two small events, but serving critical audiences in both locations and fingers crossed they will go well we're excited to get back out on the road. And then of course we're looking at looking forward to the main event next May or May 6 to the ninth we'll be back with RSA Conference 2024 and plans are already underway. So call for speakers. The call for speakers sorry, the call for speakers is planned for September time.
Marco Ciappelli20:11
Yeah, there you go. And facili any any thought on what you would like to see maybe improved or different? Or what you expect next year to be? I mean, you're coming from a very successful event for what you're organizing? Are you looking for something that hey, maybe I could push this a little bit more?
Cecilia Marinier 20:36
Absolutely. But I'm not going to tell you Marco because if I do,
Marco Ciappelli20:40
I'm still gonna invite you. Next year,
Cecilia Marinier 20:46
I'm gonna I have to say that we have what's crazy is Linda organized a meeting already in Boston, on the in May. And she's like, okay, let's regroup real quick and just have a meeting to kind of see where we want to take this. So there are some really good ideas percolating right now, I definitely, you know, focus on the innovation piece, I have quite a few ideas I'm going to be proposing. But until they're totally locked down and solid, I'm going to stay quiet, to make sure that you know, I over achieve, like, I'll surprise you with all the goodness, but there's a lot, there's so much happening, that hopefully, you're just going to be thrilled. And we are definitely not sitting still. That's all I'll say is like, yeah, we are constantly trying to get better. And that is our goal for 2024.
Marco Ciappelli21:29
I agree. Absolutely. Keep it keep it alive as you're all excited and celebrating what what you achieved and what the entire community did. I mean, we're getting ready for another coverage. And Linda, you just need to give me one excuse to bring my my microphone over there. And I was struggling, I'll be there. RSA call for, it's always one of my great memories. So at any opportunity, I'll jump on it. So I'll talk about that was shot. Until then, I want to thank you very much for taking once again the time, I mean, the support we had from the OPR your organization made everything super smooth for us. So I hope we created some grand content for you. And we just keep working together. And everybody stay tuned. And book, your book your trip for next.
Linda Gray Martin 22:31
Yeah, absolutely. As soon as you as well. I think you probably know that. Just when you talk to our team, we really, really care about RSA conference. It's so important to us for so many reasons. So to have it goes so well. Just heartwarming for us, honestly.
Marco Ciappelli22:54
Absolutely. And for everybody listening, everything we talked about here. We didn't make it up. We have content video podcast to prove it. All this conversation you can find in itspmagazine.com Subscribe. Stay with us. And again, Cecilia and Linda. Thank you. Thank you very much. We'll talk to you soon. Bye bye bye