Cybersecurity consulting services providers help provide security assurance for business and government entities. They work with businesses to protect data and systems against cyberattacks, as well as provide solutions to help prevent and remedy data breach incidents.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of information security, IBM Security X-Force stands out for its unwavering commitment to innovation, excellence and cutting-edge approach. With a global presence and a strong reputation for delivering results, this company has solidified its position as a leader in the industry.
At the helm of this dynamic organization is Charles Henderson, a visionary leader, the Global Managing Partner and the Head of X-Force. With extensive experience and a deep understanding of the intricacies of the information security sector, he is playing a pivotal role in driving the company’s success and shaping its future. Having navigated the ever-changing technological landscape, Charles has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic thinking and a relentless pursuit of excellence. His ability to identify emerging trends and anticipate market demands has been instrumental in his success.
IBM Security X-Force is a threat-centric team of hackers, responders, researchers, and analysts. The X-Force portfolio includes offensive and defensive products and services, fueled by a 360-degree view of threats
We at CIOLook interviewed Charles on pushing boundaries, challenging conventions and delivering extraordinary results for clients.
Let’s delve into the insights of the interview!
Fail-Fast Culture
In the realm of cybersecurity, where the stakes are high and failure can have dire consequences, X-Force stands out as an organization that champions a fail-fast culture of experimentation. The company understands the importance of finding acceptable ways to fail, recognizing that it is precisely these failures that breed innovation.
Moreover, X-Force recognizes that constant fear of failure can contribute to employee exhaustion and burnout, two challenges already prevalent in the security industry.
Prank Culture
Within X-Force, a unique prank culture has taken root, fostering a sense of camaraderie and team-building. X-Force has dedicated internal communication channels to this “prank culture,” playfully dubbed “parrots.”
Every year, during the Def Con event, team members engage in pranks, creating memorable experiences that serve not only as team-building exercises but also as training grounds for the company.
Taking a Unique View
Charles’ impact on the dynamic industry stems from a unique perspective. Throughout his career, he has always emphasized looking at everything through the lens of an attacker.
Charles says explaining the same, “Too often in information security, we think of our own goals and not the goals of the attacker. To be truly successful, it’s important to turn that on its head and look at everything through the eyes of an attacker.”
Charles adds, “Additionally, looking at the problems we have to solve in security, it’s not just about having a solution, but having a solution that can be used on a large scale and replicated effectively.”
Take Penetration (pen) Testing as an example. At one point, it could cover an organization’s entire environment, but as businesses and environments grew, traditional pen testing couldn’t keep up. It became impractical for a human to evaluate an entire environment.
So, the need to adapt and find new ways to make testing more meaningful and relevantThis means taking existing products and find ways to work for new challenges. And that’s one of the main areas that Charles tends to focus on – looking at how tools and technology can be used to scale and create efficiencies.
Sector’s Next Change: Taking the Leap
Contemplating the next significant change in the cybersecurity sector, Charles anticipates that artificial intelligence (AI) will play a crucial role in the coming decade. Charles shares, “AI will have a meaningful impact on our industry in the next decade. At X-Force, we’re exploring how AI can elevate offensive and defensive capabilities.”
X-Force is focused on addressing critical areas that have been overlooked or remain unsolved, such as patching and detection engineering, considering this as an example. Charles believes that the industry has a flaw-fixing problem, not a flaw-identifying problem. Patching is extremely labor intensive and minor improvements, at this point, would be insignificant. However, by leveraging AI, it may be possible to substantially improve speed, and volume.
Innovation and Research at Scale
Charles embraced technological innovations as a means to enhance its solutions and address the pervasive skills shortage in the industry. The organization constantly seeks ways to extend the reach and impact of its personnel through technology.
For Charles, scalability is paramount. Research and innovation serve as the building blocks of X-Force, and using technology to to disseminate research and innovation to a wider audience is crucial for success.
Journey as a Leader: Building the Right Culture
As a dynamic leader within the industry, the individual at the helm of X-Force has faced numerous obstacles along his career. Building teams and attracting talent have consistently been major challenges in the industry.
He states, “This holds true even in my entrepreneurial days.”
Charles recognizes this and believes that building a culture that promotes innovation and that the type of culture people want to come work for is so important.
The cybersecurity industry itself presents a constant challenge of keeping up with ever-evolving threat actors. X-Force acknowledges that security innovations are often driven by the innovations of its adversaries. In this highly competitive environment, X-Force not only competes with other security firms but also with threat actors.
Envisioning Future Growth
Looking ahead, it’s clear that AI is going to significantly shape the future of the industry which is whyX-Force is focusing on innovative research and exploring the impact of AI on defenders and attackers.
X-Force is actively preparing for the changes that threat actors will bring in the next decade, particularly around how they will exploit AI advancements. By understanding the possibilities, we can get ahead of what’s to come. Aiming to stay ahead of the curve, understanding the possibilities and implications that lie ahead.
Advice for Entrepreneurs
For budding entrepreneurs aspiring to venture into the dynamic cybersecurity industry, Charles offers valuable advice: be part of the solution. A lot of entrepreneurs create a solution and then go look for a problem. It’s a lot easier to come up with an idea than an application for that idea. Put in a little more work upfront to find a problem that you can solve. That’s where you can make a real impact.
