Offleash Unpacks RSAC 2024: Insights from ‘The Art of Possible’

Each year, the RSA Conference (RSAC) in San Francisco serves as a vital touchpoint for the cybersecurity community. For us at Offleash, it’s a time to collaborate closely with our clients and the media, discussing the latest trends and how to tackle the newest challenges while celebrating the strides and successes of our cybersecurity clients.

This year’s theme, “The Art of Possible,” celebrates the boundless possibilities when it comes to cybersecurity, technologies that are breaking new ground, and the companies leading the charge.

With nine cybersecurity clients in attendance, we had boots on the ground to provide hands-on support, attend sessions, and network with our industry partners. Here are key insights and highlights from this year’s event, along with some exciting client announcements and activities.

Bigger cyber threats require stronger defenses 

RSAC Innovation Sandbox, a competition featuring ten hand-picked startups working to solve some of the biggest challenges in cybersecurity, kicked off the week. 

With just three minutes to pitch and present a startup’s product to a panel of expert judges, attendees get an inside view of the latest security innovations. While the approaches varied, the technologies primarily targeted today’s most pressing threats like AI, deepfakes, fraud, and disinformation.

Outside of the competition, RSAC offers a front-row seat to all the latest product launches and security advancements in the industry. 

Offleash client Code42, the leader in data loss and insider threat protection, announced new source code detection and leak/theft protection capabilities for its Incydr product. Meanwhile, our client, Cribl, the Data Engine for IT and Security, announced a product integration with Wiz, a strategic alliance with Deloitte, and signed a global agreement with Microsoft.

Bridging media and cybersecurity leaders

Offleash organized an exclusive breakfast media panel to engage local press and analysts, as well as press and analysts attending RSAC from out of town, with three of our cybersecurity clients and industry leaders. 

The one-hour panel discussion, moderated by Joubin Mirzadegan, GTM Partner at Kleiner Perkins and host of the Grit podcast, and featuring the CEOs and co-founders of Offleash clients Cato Networks, Armis, and Cribl, was a lively discussion where our panelists shares their insights on the broader cybersecurity industry and the technological trends propelling it forward.

With the evolving media landscape and limited bandwidth of reporters, the event provided a setting specifically designed as an intimate environment for journalists from top tier business and technology publications (including Business Insider, CNBC, Crunchbase, Forbes, TechCrunch, The Information, The New York Times, among others) and analysts following the space to pose their questions to three prominent CEOs on the frontlines of cybersecurity. 

Funding, M&A, IPOs, and more

After a multi-year IPO freeze, market activity is heating up and was much of the buzz at this year’s conference. Last month, Offleash client Rubrik (NYSE: RBRK) announced its initial public offering (IPO) and became the first tech unicorn to go public since the fall of 2023.

In another successful exit, Offleash client Noname Security entered into an agreement to be acquired by Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM.) Wiz also announced a $1 billion round of funding with a $12 billion valuation, which created chatter all week long. These developments highlight renewed optimism in the economy and the cybersecurity market.

Work hard, play hard

With the vibrant return of in-person events, the week of RSAC was bustling with social gatherings hosted by cybersecurity vendors and organizations. Highlights included Cato Networks’ SASE Skyline & Cato Cocktails event at The View Lounge, Rubrik’s Hoops & Highballs at SPIN featuring NBA legend Scottie Pippen, and a happy hour hosted by Descope, Wing Security, Orca Security, and Notable Capital at Notable Capital’s stunning office in downtown San Francisco. Needless to say, attendees had plenty of fun after busy and productive days on the show floor.

‘The Art of Possible’

In his keynote speech, Dr. Hugh Thompson, Executive Chairman of RSAC and Program Committee Chair, said regarding this year’s theme: “It’s a phrase that, on the one hand, is meant to inspire hope, but it also serves as a warning. We should never underestimate what is possible by our adversaries.”

The threat landscape is formidable and constantly evolving. RSAC reminds us of not only the importance of technology for keeping cyber threats at bay, but also the power of coming together as a community to network, knowledge-share, and connect about the cybersecurity topics that matter most in today’s world.