Sumedh Thakar

Sumedh Thakar, President and CEO of Qualys, a leader in enterprise security and compliance, talks about reframing cybersecurity as business risk management. He outlines creating a Risk Operation Center to drive real remediation. He explores agentic AI as a force multiplier and the need for vendor guardrails and regulatory clarity.

Sumedh Thakar, the President and CEO of Qualys, shares his extensive insights on the evolution of vulnerability management over the past 25 years. He discusses the need for prioritization beyond just CVSS scores, emphasizing the value of threat intelligence and business context in decision-making. Thakar highlights the transformative role of cloud in streamlining remediation and introduces the Risk Operations Center concept, which integrates data for informed prioritization. He also touches on practical AI applications, mitigating risks beyond patching, and the importance of communicating cyber risks to boards.

Sumedh Thakar, CEO of Qualys, who has been with the company since 2003, dives into the evolution of cybersecurity strategies. He discusses shifting from traditional attack surface management to a more integrated risk surface approach. AI's role in enhancing cybersecurity measures takes center stage, as he highlights its potential to transform workforce dynamics and decision-making. Thakar also reflects on the complexities of incidents like the SolarWinds attack and anticipates future trends in cybersecurity mergers and acquisitions.