Security | Threat Detection | Cyberattacks | DevSecOps | Compliance

Getting in front of CISOs and senior decision-makers is one thing. Getting them genuinely interested is another. Targeted executive dinners can offer better conversations than an expensive conference stand, but only when organisers are realistic about what vendors are actually paying for. Why CISOs Really Attend VIP Dinners Hint- It's Not For You.

Tech conference speakers can have very different experiences depending on where they are invited to speak. Some international events discuss budgets and fees upfront, while UK cybersecurity events may offer little financial support or rely increasingly on sponsored speaking slots.

Pay-to-play cybersecurity awards can turn professional recognition into something you simply purchase. One example promises an industry award and magazine coverage for $1,200, raising an obvious question about what that recognition is actually worth.

B2B events can charge extraordinary amounts for access to senior decision-makers. One tech conference pitched a £10,000 table with ten decision-makers and claimed the investment would generate £100,000 in business, until that “guarantee” was put to the test.

Public speaking requires far more preparation than simply getting on stage and reading a deck. Even a short presentation can take hours or days to prepare, while effective delivery is a skill that has to be learned and practised.

Cybersecurity awards can create credibility surprisingly quickly, even when nobody stops to question where the recognition came from. A fake Canva award for “best shirts in cybersecurity” attracted more than 100 congratulations, demonstrating how easily perceived authority can influence people.

Awards you have to pay to win, events you have to pay to attend and conferences that expect speakers to work for free. When did recognition and expertise in cybersecurity become something you have to buy? Welcome to Razorwire, the podcast where we share our take on the world of cybersecurity with direct, practical advice for professionals and business owners alike. I'm Jim and in this episode I'm joined by security consultant and regular community speaker James Bore and Gary Hibberd, co-founder of Consultants Like Us and the Real Cyber Awards and Conference.

HIPAA compliance becomes considerably more complicated when a stolen healthcare laptop may contain patient information. Keeping protected health information away from local storage changes the consequences of device theft and reduces the endpoint’s exposure.

Endpoint security becomes harder when Windows devices drift away from the security configuration organisations expect. Smaller, more controlled endpoint operating systems can simplify patching while potentially extending the useful life of existing hardware.

Windows 11 is pushing some organisations to reconsider what operating system they actually need at the endpoint. Complexity, patching, licensing and hardware demands are helping put Linux-based alternatives and centrally delivered applications back into the conversation.

The Windows 11 upgrade has created an expensive problem for organisations that delayed their hardware refresh. With support and hardware costs rising, postponing the decision may have left some IT teams facing an even bigger bill.

AI computing is following a familiar pattern: centralise the workloads, then start asking whether they should move back to the endpoint. From mainframes and PCs to cloud computing and AI, technology keeps repeating the same cycle.

Healthcare IT can reduce endpoint risk by keeping patient information away from local devices. VDI and application virtualisation allow clinical software and sensitive data to remain centrally managed while care providers access what they need remotely.

If most of your applications no longer run on the endpoint, why are you still managing and securing it as though they do?

Endpoint security is changing, but are organisations still protecting devices for a way of working that no longer exists? From Windows endpoints drifting out of compliance to VDI, preventative security and a radically different approach to what runs locally, the full Razorwire episode asks whether it’s time to rethink the endpoint. Watch the full episode to discover what modern endpoint security could look like.

Event marketing loses focus when a conference tries to serve everyone at once. Smaller events built around specific audiences, relevant vendors and tailored talks offer a stronger alternative to chasing scale and prestige for their own sake.

B2B relationship building matters when buyers put their money, time, effort and reputation behind a cybersecurity purchase. Trust develops through credible conversations and relationships, rather than collecting another pen, T-shirt or sales pitch from a vendor stand.

B2B event marketing does not have to mean spending thousands on an exhibition stand. Renting the pub next door, bringing the right people together and having genuine conversations can deliver more value than waiting for prospects to walk past a conference booth.