iTWireTV Interview: A 'fireside chat' with Sophos A/NZ MD, John Donovan, as we d...

Thursday, 23 December 2021 00:33

iTWireTV Interview: A 'fireside chat' with Sophos A/NZ MD, John Donovan, as we discuss the 2022 Threat Report

By Alex Zaharov-Reutt

GUEST INTERVIEW: Sophos has released its 2022 Threat Report, and Sophos A/NZ MD joined iTWireTV not only to tell us its findings, but to recap 2021, talk ransomware, ethical zero-day research and more!

Sophos. Founded in 1985, the company has been producing security products for 36 years, and reminds us that it "secures the networks used by millions of people in 150 countries", protecting more than 500,000 organisations of all sizes - which is 100,000 more than this time last year. 

Just over a year ago, on December 15, 2020, we spoke with Aaron Bugal, Global Cyber Security Solutions Enabler at Sophos about the 2021 Threat Report.

Cyber criminals have gone absolutely ballistic, taking advantage of the pandemic, making cutting-edge cyber security more important than ever, for businesses and consumers alike.To learn more, we spoke with Sophos A/NZ MD, John Donovan about the 2022 Threat Report and what the biggest changes in the cyber security landscape have been - and what else the report covers. 

It was a real pleasure to talk with John, who recapped 2021, explained the report, what companies need to look out for in 2022, issues around ethical zero-day research legislation and more, including John's memories of his first computer, first experience with viruses, how he sees the industry evolving, great advice in life and more - so please watch the video interview below, after which is a more detailed summary of the topics we spoke about!

• I started by introducing John, welcoming him to the program, and asking him to recap 2021 at Sophos, and the big developments that occurred.  

• We then moved onto the 2021 Threat Report, looking at the biggest changes from last year, and what else the report covers.  

• John then shared the most important cyber security threats that companies still aren't getting a handle on - and what  companies are doing right. 

• Next we looked at the report's predictions for 2022, while also discussing the CyberSecurity Advisors Network (CyAN) and its recently created Zero Day Legislative Project, started by CyAN International VP and former Internet Industry Association founder Peter Coroneos, with the project explaining why laws are needed to protect ethical zero-day cyber research. 

• John shared what else we needed to know about Sophos and cyber security, after which I asked my usual questions about John's memory of his first computer, and the first experience with viruses, malware and ransomware that he remembers. 

• John also shared a great story about what encouraged him to get into the world of cyber security, how he thinks the industry will evolve over the next decade including peering through AR glasses that should be commonplace by then, great advice received in life, and his final message to iTWire viewers and readers, and to the current and future customers and partners of Sophos.  

It was a really great fireside-style chat, with lots to learn and think about, so please watch the video interview above!

The Sophos 2022 Threat Report can be read in full here, without needing to register for it first. 

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