Last updated on September 9th, 2024 at 03:00 pm

B2B News Network: So, I’ve been quite familiar with Check Point for most of my career. I worked with Robert Herjavec many years ago—he brought Check Point to Canada in the late ’90s here in Toronto. I even have my CCSP certification, though it was probably about 25 years ago now. You guys have really led the charge in this space. From what I understand, Check Point was one of the first security companies. And you were at Intel for 23 years, with Check Point as a customer, right?

Check Point President: Yes, that’s correct.

B2B News Network: What was that transition like from Intel to security? I mean, moving from hardware to cybersecurity must have been quite a shift.

Check Point President: It was definitely a significant change. I’ve always been passionate about technology, though I’m not an engineer by training. My interest in technology is genuine, but my career began in semiconductors, which gave me a broad understanding of the underpinnings of technology and hardware. After spending 23 years at Intel, I transitioned into databases, application software, and cloud technology with Oracle, and then moved into AI at a startup. That experience at the AI startup really opened a new chapter for me. It gave me insight into the startup culture and what it’s like to be scrappy and innovative.

Moving to cybersecurity at Check Point, a company that’s not a mega corporation but also not a small startup, allowed me to marry my learnings from AI with cybersecurity. While I don’t have the 25 years of cybersecurity experience that some might have, I believe my diverse background offers a unique perspective that’s beneficial for the industry’s future. Cybersecurity, much like semiconductors, needs to be ubiquitous—it should be ingrained in every aspect of technology.

B2B News Network: What does the combination of AI and cybersecurity look like, especially considering Check Point’s history and evolution over the years?

Check Point President: In the early days of cybersecurity, the focus was on protecting the network within a physical data center. Cybersecurity had a clear definition—it was about physical and software protection with perpetual licenses. But then the cloud came along, followed by business applications and enterprise SaaS, turning everything upside down. Cybersecurity has been evolving since its inception, and Check Point has been a part of that evolution. However, we’ve traditionally been more focused on doing the work rather than talking about it.

Over the last 30 years, several major shifts have occurred: client-server architecture, the ubiquity of the internet, the mobile revolution, and now AI. Each of these shifts has expanded the attack surface, and with each, the cybersecurity industry has had to adapt. Check Point has evolved through smart acquisitions and R&D investments, building a platform that’s integrated, consolidated, and collaborative. We’ve been there for each inflection point, quietly innovating and building robust solutions.

B2B News Network: It seems like the industry has been slightly ahead of the bad actors, but with AI, it feels like the moat between us and them is getting shallower. Do you think AI will act as a barrier to bad actors, or will it enable them?

Check Point President: I think you’re being generous in suggesting there’s still a moat. The reality is that bad actors are leveraging AI at an incredible speed, faster than we as an industry are currently responding. They’re using AI for everything from deep fakes to network penetration. The bad actors don’t have to worry about ethics, rules, or privacy—they can move at the speed of logic.

To counter this, we must invest, collaborate, and innovate. Public-private partnerships are crucial, as is integrating AI with cybersecurity. We need to focus on security by design, especially in sectors like FinTech, where innovation must not come at the cost of security. If FinTech companies build without embedding security from the ground up, they’re opening themselves and their users to significant risks.

B2B News Network: Recently, the Toronto Public Library system was hacked, which highlights the increasing vulnerability of public systems. Do you think this is the biggest threat right now, or are there other significant risks?

Check Point President: It’s like personal healthcare—prevention is always better than treatment. Transparency is crucial; it diminishes the power of bad actors. Reporting requirements, such as those being implemented by the SEC in the U.S., are essential because they promote transparency, which helps neutralize threats. If organizations are embarrassed or worried about shareholder reactions and choose to hide incidents, they’re only making things worse.

B2B News Network: In terms of AI, is pattern detection helping to identify bad actors more quickly?

Check Point President: Absolutely. At Check Point, we’ve built a threat cloud AI powered by 50 AI engines. This serves two key purposes: it allows us to aggregate customer data to detect attacks and recognize patterns. For instance, we know that certain activities spike in specific countries six months before election cycles. This kind of pattern recognition is crucial for preparing and protecting our systems.

We’re also using AI to enhance our products. For example, our AI copilot helps SOC operators and network administrators be more effective. Tasks that used to take hours or days can now be completed in minutes, which is game-changing. This is about augmenting human capabilities, not replacing them. It allows professionals to focus on what they’re great at, rather than getting bogged down in repetitive tasks.

B2B News Network: It seems like human error has always been a significant vulnerability in security. Do you think AI will help mitigate this risk?

Check Point President: AI has the potential to significantly reduce the risk of human error, especially in areas like social engineering, where bad actors exploit human weaknesses. By using AI to detect unusual patterns or behaviors, we can intervene before a breach occurs. The promise of AI in cybersecurity is immense, but it has to be implemented smartly, with appropriate regulations in place to ensure that it benefits the good guys more than the bad.

B2B News Network: Thank you for your insights. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you.

Check Point President: Thank you as well. It’s always great to talk about the important role we play in the ecosystem. Having a mission you truly believe in makes all the difference. Enjoy the rest of the conference!

This article provides a deep dive into the perspectives of the Check Point President on the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, the integration of AI, and the ongoing battle against increasingly sophisticated threats. The conversation highlights the importance of innovation, collaboration, and transparency in safeguarding our digital world.

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