5 Must-See Keynotes at the RSA Conference 2023

Whether you’re attending RSAC 2023 in person (or tuning in to the recorded presentations after they’re made) here’s five keynotes you should definitely check out.

If you’re thinking of attending, don’t forget to secure a seat early (See what we did there?), and for you digital viewers, make sure you’re got the right pass to watch all the recordings.

• RSA Conference 2023: Your Ultimate Survival Guide

• How to tackle the RSA Conference: Deciding what to attend

1. The Looming Identity Crisis

Time: Monday, Apr. 24, 2023 | 3:35 PM PT

Speaker(s): Rodit Ghai, CEO, RSA Security

The topic: “As we enter the age of AI, we’re confronted with a staggering new challenge: traditional approaches to identity are dead. This new age demands that our sector answer fundamental questions about our role and capacity to secure identity as it evolves. Join RSA CEO Rohit Ghai as he discusses these new challenges and the solutions we’ll need to avert an identity crisis.”

Why we’d suggest it: It’s a good rule of thumb to attend the first keynote on the first day of a conference, and AI is a big topic in 2023.

2. Security as Part of Responsible AI: At Home or At Odds?

Time: Tuesday, Apr. 25, 2023 | 8:30 AM PT

Speaker(s): Daniel Rohrer, VP Software Product Security, NVIDIA | Ram Shankar Siva Kumar, Data Cowboy, Microsoft; Harvard | Dr Rumman Chowdhury, Founder of Bias Buccaneers, | Vijay Bolina, CISO, Deep Mind

The topic: “Responsible AI is thought to solely focus on mitigating bias, explainable AI and improving fairness. Should securing AI systems be seen as a Responsible AI task? If so, which organization does it fit: security or responsible AI? Bias Buccaneers, Deep Mind, NVIDIA and Microsoft discuss the complex connections between responsible AI and traditional security, and the lessons learned in harmonizing them.”

Why we’d suggest it: Again, with AI being on the forefront of everyone’s mind with security, this is a good one to attend - particularly with the big names all coming together for this keynote. 

3. Defending at Machine Speed: Technology’s New Frontier

Time: Tuesday, Apr. 25, 2023 | 3:40 PM PT

Speaker(s): Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Security Business

The topic: “In security, it’s not about what technology can do, but what people can do when empowered by technology. Human expertise is a precious resource, and with the sophistication of cyberattacks increasing, breakthroughs in technology can help close the security gap. Vasu Jakkal, CVP of Security at Microsoft, will examine key technologies that are reshaping the future of cybersecurity.”

Why we’d suggest it: Getting a grasp on what technology in 2023 can help you improve security is important, and who better to learn this from than the CVP of Security at Microsoft?

4. The Role of Partnerships in Advancing Cyber Diplomacy

Time: Wednesday, Apr. 26, 2023 | 1:15 PM PT

Speaker(s): Kevin Mandia, CEO, Mandiant, Google Cloud | Niloofar Razi Howe, Sr. Operating Partner, Energy Impact Partners | Wendi Whitmore, Senior Vice President, Palo Alto Networks | H.E. Nathalie Jaarsma, Ambassador-at-Large for Security Policy & Cyber, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands | H.E. Nathaniel Fick, Ambassador-at-Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy, U.S. Department of State

The Topic: “From supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s use of cyber operations in the war in Ukraine to helping ensure governments do not use digital surveillance to silence dissent, cyber diplomacy is playing a growing role in advancing security, defending democratic institutions, and protecting digital freedom. Join us for a conversation with cyber envoys from the Netherlands and the United States, as well as representatives from the private sector, to explore how international collaboration can help set and enforce limits on state behavior in cyberspace and how it can contribute to effective Internet governance.”

Why we’d suggest it: If you’re interested in cyber diplomacy — or you’ve never heard of it, and want to know what it’s all about — this is the keynote to attend. 

5. Regulation and Risk When Your Customer’s Browser Leaks Data

Time: Thursday, Apr. 27, 2023 | 10:50 AM PT

Speaker(s): John Elliott, Principal Consultant, Withoutfire and Pluralsight Author

The topic: Recent research has shown that control of what happens to data entered in the browser is gradually diminishing — whether that’s due to the JavaScript or “tags” on a webpage, or the behavior of in-app browsers. Regulators expect organizations to protect their customers from browser data leaks. Do we have the risk management and security controls to comply, and if not, what should we do?

Why we’d suggest it: Second shameless plug for this article — you’re on a Pluralsight blog, reading a Pluralsight article. Why not check out this keynote by our awesome Pluralsight security expert? John Eliott is a specialist in regulated security and data protection, and was a significant contributor to the PCI standards representing both Visa Europe and Mastercard on the PCI Security Standards Council.