It’s the first episode of 2025, and we’re kicking things off with the cybersecurity economy! Gianna and Maria are joined by Mike Privette, CISO and Cybersecurity Economist at Return on Security, to chat about the key funding, acquisition, and industry trends from 2024—and what they mean for marketers and cybersecurity professionals in 2025.

From billion-dollar acquisitions to the role of AI in reshaping cybersecurity, Mike gives insights on the state of the market, the rise of resiliency, and what marketers need to know when evaluating companies and trends. Plus, a look at the promise (and pitfalls) of AI-driven security operations and the long road to IPOs in a competitive market.

Oh, and don’t miss the debate over Mike’s alternate career paths—sled dogs vs. professor!

[03:10] – In 2024, the cybersecurity scene held up well! There were fewer transactions, but funds raised took off with significant acquisitions like MasterCard snagging Recorded Future for $45 billion

[07:45] –Why MasterCard decided to buy Recorded Future: This acquisition boosted MasterCard’s fraud prevention efforts and shows just how closely tied cybersecurity is to the world of fintech.

[11:22] – Consolidation and Resiliency Trends: In 2024, data protection and disaster recovery became important. With all the ransomware attacks and significant outages, businesses focused on finding solid backup and recovery solutions.

AI in Security Operations: AI isn't just trendy—it's making security operations smarter, automating tedious tasks, and training systems to test each other for more vigorous defense.

[22:38] – The Future of AI in Cyber:  Mike talks about how new AI tech is helping organizations fight off threats and highlights why marketers should pay attention. From training AI to tackle adversaries to putting privacy first, it’s all about staying one step ahead.

[28:12] – Picking Your Next Move: Mike gives some insight into trending topics like data backup and AI tools for marketers when checking out job opportunities, sharing tips on what to keep an eye on in a potential employer.

[36:10] – Mike’s Alternate Reality: Would Mike be a professor or a sled dog racer? Hear the hilarious guesses and the surprising answer.

👉Gianna Whitver

👉Maria Velasquez

Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing. You can join the Cybersecurity Marketing Society on our website, main LinkedIn page, or podcast LinkedIn page, and keep up with us on Twitter.

See you in the next episode!