Mandiant CEO Kevin Mandia explains his company’s biggest investments in 2024 around AI, cybersecurity, Google Cloud and channel partners.
Principal CEO Kevin Mandia is optimistic about cyber security the future of the company in 2024 thanks to the injection of investment dollars into secure AIby migrating customers to modern security architecture, as well as co-developing partner programs with Google Cloud.
“The two major technology investments we plan to make in 2024 are in security operations, including helping customers migrate existing platforms to a modern SOC, and AI,” Mandia said in written responses provided for CRN’s annual CEO Outlook project.
Based in Reston, Virginia Mandiant is a global leader in cyber defense, threat intelligence and incident response services. The cybersecurity superstar has been on the front lines of cyberattacks for decades, helping businesses prepare to defend and respond to cyberthreats.
(Related: Google Cloud CEO talks about huge investments, AI and challenges in 2024)
In 2022, Mandiant was acquired by Google Cloud for $5.4 billion.
“Together with Google CloudThe biggest market opportunity that Mandiant and our channel partners will capture together in 2024 is applying AI to security challenges,” Mandia said.
Mandiant and Google Cloud Cybersecurity Forecast for 2024
According to Google Cloud’s 2024 cybersecurity forecast, AI will be used to scale Phishinginformation operations and other campaigns, but also to improve adversary detection, response, and attribution at scale.
Additionally, Mandiant and Google Cloud predict that malware authors will develop more software in programming languages such as Go, Rush, and Swift to make reverse engineering more difficult. Companies also predict that cybercriminals will use zero days in 2024 to evade detection and maintain access longer, and will increasingly target edge devices and virtualization software.
As part of CRN’s 2024 Outlook, Mandia explains his company’s top technology investments, the business impacts AI will have on Mandiant, and the biggest market opportunities with channel partners in 2024.
What are the main technological investments that you plan to make in 2024?
The two major technology investments we plan to make in 2024 are in security operations, including helping customers migrate existing platforms to a modern SOC, and AI.
With AI, we see three opportunities for partners:
First, implement AI in a safe and secure manner.
Second, new use cases around AI to solve customer problems.
And third, offer our AI capabilities to other ISVs.
What impact do you think AI will have on the activities you and your partners do together in 2024?
In 2024, we want to work closely with our partners to develop security AI use cases and bring real, tangible solutions to market in a safe and secure manner.
What is the biggest market opportunity that you and your channel partners will capture together in 2024?
With Google Cloud, the biggest market opportunity Mandiant and our channel partners will capture together in 2024 is applying AI to security challenges.
To achieve this, we are working with our partners and Google Cloud to bring to market the best security operations platform, powered by artificial intelligence and Mandiant Threat Intelligence expertise and expertise.
We see three opportunities for partners in this area:
First, co-innovation to provide joint offerings specific to different segments and industries.
Second, services to help our clients implement, deploy and manage their offerings, including upskilling.
And third, develop programs to market together.
What is the key to success for your channel partners in 2024?
We see notable disruptions in cybersecurity every five to seven years, and we are currently in the midst of such disruption.
For our channel partners to be successful, they must embrace change and take a more active advisory role to help customers through this transition.
Additionally, the market demands more managed services. Therefore, it will be essential to provide customers with the skills and expertise they need through automation, not just refer people to the problem.
What are the toughest challenges facing customers in 2024?
We see our customers facing the same challenges in 2024 as in 2023, but in bigger, deeper and bigger ways.
The number of security alerts, threats and resource requirements are increasing exponentially.
Organizations will need to learn how to get maximum protection with fewer resources, and AI combined with real-time threat intelligence can help them manage these challenges more effectively.
My top priority for 2024 is:
Empower partners with training and development to ensure they have what they need to succeed and market our products with us. Together, we can leverage emerging technologies like AI to close security gaps for customers.
