As Change Your Password Day rolls around on 1st February, it’s a great opportunity to highlight the importance of secure password practices. While traditional advice has often encouraged frequent password changes, this approach has been reconsidered by cybersecurity experts, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Modern best practices now recommend focusing on creating strong, memorable passwords and using multi-factor authentication (MFA) to enhance security.

The growing demand for cybersecurity talent is outpacing the supply of skilled professionals, and this is especially true in the field of identity security. With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated and the number of identities within organisations expanding, companies are struggling to find qualified experts to manage and protect sensitive data. The challenge of filling Identity and Access Management (IAM) roles is becoming a major barrier for businesses looking to stay ahead of cybercriminals.

As cyber threats continue to evolve, organizations face a growing challenge: protecting their most critical assets – identities. With identity now at the heart of security strategies, 2025 marks a pivotal year for addressing identity-centric risks, making Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) a vital component of enterprise security.

The year 2025 will not be a revolutionary one, it will be evolutionary, with developments coming into effect that were necessitated by events and happenings in 2024, and solutions to address these events reaching maturity levels that allow an appropriate, comprehensive response. With threats like ransomware certain to continue, identity resilience is going to become more important in the year ahead and, as such, identity will become the critical component of security.

As 2024 wraps up, we’re feeling reflective (and a little proud!). It’s been a whirlwind year here at Xalient, packed with milestones, achievements, and more awards than we could fit on a shelf (not that we’re complaining!). From industry accolades to workplace recognitions, we’ve been celebrating non-stop and it’s all thanks to our amazing team and the unique culture we’ve built together.

We had the pleasure of catching up with DJ after his recent keynote speaker talk at the Xalient Summit, held at the historic Abbey Road Studios. Here, he shares his reflections on the event’s atmosphere, key themes in cybersecurity, and Xalient’s identity-centric approach to securing today’s digital landscape.

Effective from November 9, 2024, G-Cloud 14 supersedes G-Cloud 13, further enabling public sector organisations—from government agencies and local authorities to healthcare, educational, and emergency services—to easily access and procure cloud services. As a G-Cloud 14-approved supplier, Xalient provides seamless access to secure cloud solutions critical to digital transformation across the UK.

A recent study by ISC2 reveals that 73% of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) in the US reported experiencing burnout over the past year. According to this Voice of the CISO report 61% of CISOs said they face excessive expectations from their employers. Additionally, owing to the cybersecurity skills gap, many CISOs must continue to defend their companies with incredibly stretched resources and a mounting list of tasks that fall at the CISO’s feet. High Expectations and Limited Resources.

Xalient, a global provider of expert advisory and managed services in identity, cybersecurity, and networking, has today released its UK research report: Why SASE is the Blueprint for Future-Proofing Your Network in 2025 and Beyond. The study found that a staggering 99% of UK respondents have experienced a security attack in the last 12 months.