AI Meets the Boardroom: Jen Easterly’s Unlikely Mission to Save Cybersecurity from Politics and Chaos

Jen Easterly, a cybersecurity veteran who once led a controversial election integrity agency, now aims to steer RSA Conference into an 'inflection point' era of AI-driven security—amid political turbulence. As CEO of RSA Conference (RSAC), Easterly is redefining the organization’s role in an industry grappling with AI’s dual-edged potential.

Easterly, former CISA director and US Army veteran, emphasized RSAC’s expanded mission beyond its annual event. 'The conference is the crown jewel, but now we are also a year-round global membership entity for cyber professionals,' she said.

This shift aligns with RSAC’s focus on 'secure by design' principles and fostering innovation through its 'innovation sandbox' for startups.

The cybersecurity landscape is evolving rapidly as AI tools reshape both attack and defense strategies. Easterly positioned RSAC as a nonpartisan platform: 'Cybersecurity is not a political endeavor.'

This stance comes amid uncertainty about how the Trump administration’s policies might affect global collaboration in the field.

For mid-sized cybersecurity firms, RSAC’s role in connecting researchers, policymakers, and industry players offers tangible value.

A hypothetical CTO might assess this through Easterly’s quoted priorities: 'We are living through an inflection point' in cybersecurity, with AI-driven innovation central to RSAC’s expansion of its 'innovation sandbox' for startups.