We see opportunities across government, critical infrastructure, financial services, telecommunications and major enterprises. Internet intelligence is increasingly becoming part of the underlying security operating model rather than simply another point solution, which means we need to work closely with customers.

All of this creates tremendous opportunity, but it also creates a much more dynamic technology environment that needs to be secured. We are no longer talking about securing IT infrastructure in isolation, nor can we look at OT separately. Organisations need to understand and secure their entire infrastructure and wider digital ecosystem.

Customers in this region also expect commitment. They want localised engagement and strong partners, but they also want people who understand security and can genuinely help them move the needle.

The Censys leadership team recognised early on that this required investment and a strong regional presence. We have invested significantly across the Middle East, Turkey and Africa, with a particular focus on expanding our presence in the Middle East.

We see opportunities across government, critical infrastructure, financial services, telecommunications and major enterprises. Internet intelligence is increasingly becoming part of the underlying security operating model rather than simply another point solution, which means we need to work closely with customers.

We are already working extensively with governments, although given the sensitive nature of these organisations and the technology we provide, I cannot share specific details. We are also seeing strong engagement within financial services, where organisations continue to face significant levels of cyber risk.

Our government engagements span both regulatory requirements and organisations looking to strengthen their own security posture while advancing broader digital transformation initiatives.

Censys has significantly expanded its regional engagement through customers, partnerships and initiatives such as Operation Digital Shield. What have you learned about the cybersecurity challenges organisations are facing?

I joined Censys a little less than six months ago, and one of the biggest lessons has been just how interconnected cyber risk has become.

A government entity, bank or energy company no longer operates in isolation. An organisation cannot simply say,“ My infrastructure is secure, therefore I am secure.” Those days are gone.

Your security now depends on your cloud providers, technology suppliers, contractors and other third parties interacting with your environment. You also have subsidiaries and acquisitions to consider, particularly given the level of merger and acquisition activity we are seeing. An issue anywhere within that wider digital ecosystem can very quickly become your issue.

That is why initiatives such as Operation Digital Shield are important. Through the initiative, we work with some of our most sensitive clients to help them understand and secure their infrastructure and assets while encouraging a broader approach to resilience.

Security teams need to understand three things. First, they need visibility into their own Internet presence. Second, they need visibility into emerging adversary infrastructure so they can understand where attacks are coming from and respond quickly. Third, they need to understand their external exposures and dependencies, including the security posture of organisations they rely on.

These three perspectives increasingly need to come together. Security can no longer operate effectively in silos. Organisations need a unified view that gives them the context required to build a stronger security posture.

At Censys, we describe this as: know yourself, know your enemies and know your friends.

Knowing yourself means understanding your assets and exposures, where capabilities such as attack surface management become important. Knowing your enemies means understanding adversary infrastructure so you can potentially block attacks before they happen. Knowing your friends means understanding the organisations and third parties you depend on and the risks they may introduce.

Across all three areas, data quality is critical. Our focus is on providing high-quality data, a complete view with the right context and real-time, actionable intelligence. When you combine those capabilities with automation, security teams can respond much more effectively.

Why is Internet intelligence becoming increasingly important to modern security operations?

16 WWW. INTELLIGENTCISO. COM / MIDDLE-EAST