CYBER UNCUT: CyberArk’s Thomas Fikentscher on why cyber security should not be an afterthought

Defence Connect Podcast Network

In this episode of the Cyber Uncut podcast, host Liam Garman is joined by Thomas Fikentscher, CyberArk’s head of ANZ operations, to explore the company’s international business, cyber security trends, the importance of privileged access, and the importance of taking cyber security seriously.

• Garman and Fikentscher begin with a discussion on CyberArk’s international operations and recent trends regarding how businesses are looking at their networks and what’s essential to keep their operations running smoothly.
• The pair then discuss the importance of understanding and implementing privileged access to data and how that can keep critical infrastructure secure. Fikentscher talks about the recent blackouts in Spain and the challenges of introducing AI agents into workflows.
• Fikentscher discusses why modern privileged access management (PAM) must extend beyond traditional admin controls as organisations scale across cloud and AI environments. He explains it now needs to secure both human and machine identities, manage ephemeral access and integrate seamlessly into DevOps workflows.
• Finally, he emphasises the importance of a ‘security by design’ approach - embedding security into the architecture of systems and processes from the start to strengthen resilience and compliance, but also to help prevent security lapses that can disrupt business operations and impact bottom lines.

Enjoy the episode, The Cyber Uncut team