Heading into 2013, security leaders across industry feel confident about their processes and technology. People, though, continue to create the greatest risks. Can "awareness in depth" make a difference?

Karen Scarfone, who coauthored NIST's encryption guidance, sort of figured out why many organizations don't encrypt sensitive data when they should. The reason: they do not believe they are required to do so.

House Cybersecurity Caucus Co-Chair Jim Langevin sees the new International Telecommunication Regulations, approved in Dubai earlier this month over the objections of the U.S., as a veiled threat to suffocate Internet freedom around the world.

CISOs' top three priorities for 2013 are emerging threats, technology trends and filling security gaps, says RSA CISO Eddie Schwartz. But what new strategies should leaders employ to tackle these challenges?

Threats have evolved, and so have our Internet needs. This is why organizations need to explore the security and productivity gains of the next-generation firewall, says Patrick Sweeney of Dell SonicWALL.

When it comes to mobile security, users say the right things, but still indulge in risky behavior. Javelin's Al Pascual tells how security leaders can create better partnerships and practices in 2013.

A breach that resulted in a $1 million HIPAA settlement led Partners Healthcare in Boston to take many significant steps, including merging its privacy and security efforts, says CISO Jennings Aske. More changes are planned for 2013.

In parts of Europe and Asia, privacy legislation took solid steps forward in 2012. In the U.S., however, progress has stalled. Is the U.S. at risk of falling behind when it comes to privacy protection?

HIPAA compliance audits will resume within about a year once results of a recently completed pilot program are reviewed, says Leon Rodriguez, director of the Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights.

Healthcare organizations need to more closely monitor how their business associates protect the security of patient information and step up risk assessments as they prepare to comply with looming HIPAA modifications, says attorney Lisa Sotto.