Q&A with David (DJ) Morimanno, Director of Identity & Access Management Technologies at Xalient
We had the pleasure of catching up with DJ after his recent keynote speaker talk at the Xalient Summit, held at the historic Abbey Road Studios. Here, he shares his reflections on the event’s atmosphere, key themes in cybersecurity, and Xalient’s identity-centric approach to securing today’s digital landscape.
Q: How did it feel to speak at such a unique venue, like Abbey Road Studios?
It was an incredible experience! The venue added something special, and there was a genuine excitement in the air. Before the event even started, attendees expressed interest in learning not just about Xalient’s future but about what the entire cybersecurity industry should be watching for. There was a sense that everyone was there to learn how to prepare for what’s next, which really set the tone for some forward-looking discussions.
Q: You were a keynote speaker at the event, can you summarise your main points?
Absolutely. My focus was on the urgent need for a unified, integrated approach to cybersecurity. Cyber threats have evolved, becoming more sophisticated and complex. This means traditional, siloed methods leave critical gaps that attackers can exploit. A big theme in my talk was that humans are often the weakest link, especially with sophisticated attacks like social engineering, deepfake technology, and poor password management.
To counter these vulnerabilities, Xalient advocates for an identity-centric security framework. This approach merges identity management, security controls, and secure networking, forming a comprehensive defence system. Each of these elements – identity, security, and networking – are powerful on their own, but the gaps in protection only close when they are combined in a unified strategy.
Q: How does Xalient’s identity-centric security framework address these modern cyber challenges?
Identity is pivotal in empowering organizations to enforce secure access control across internal and external resources. At the Xalient Summit, we explored how Xalient’s framework leverages Zero Trust principles, adaptive access management, and AI-driven behavioral monitoring to establish a robust security foundation. As data and applications increasingly move closer to the end user, identity now serves as the primary safeguard. This shift elevates identity management to a mission-critical function, ensuring that users’ access is intelligently governed and continuously protected.
Our holistic approach also recognizes that identity solutions can’t work in isolation. We connect identity management with robust security measures and secure networking practices, which makes it harder for attackers to exploit network vulnerabilities. Together, these measures provide an adaptable, scalable, and proactive defence.
Q: In her keynote speech, Dawn-Marie Hutchinson’s (Group CISO at BAT) and Non Executive Director at Xalient, introduced a compelling metaphor for today’s cybersecurity landscape. How did her message align with yours?
Dawn-Marie set the stage beautifully. She compared the cybersecurity journey to a rollercoaster ride, highlighting the ups, downs, and high stakes. She also touched on how advancements in AI have lowered the “cost of entry” for attackers, allowing threats to emerge more quickly and with greater complexity. This perspective perfectly led into my talk, as I discussed specific strategies and why a holistic defence is crucial. With AI and other advanced tools, attackers are always innovating, so organizations must constantly evolve to stay ahead.
Q: Following the keynote presentations, the panel discussion brought some real-world perspectives. What were some of your key takeaways?
The panel really rounded out the conversation by validating a lot of what Dawn-Marie and I shared. We had industry leaders, practitioners, and even some of our clients on the panel, and they echoed the importance of breaking down silos in cybersecurity. Many of them shared insights from real-world experiences, emphasizing that modern cybersecurity requires collaboration and continuous innovation. I also got to share a bit about MARTINA, Xalient’s AIOps solution, which adds a crucial layer of visibility and intelligence in our security framework.
Q: For those who couldn’t attend, what’s one key takeaway from your talk?
If I had to sum it up, it would be this: we can’t solve today’s complex problems with yesterday’s traditional solutions. Our defence strategy must evolve alongside the threats we face. I emphasized the need for proactive, holistic defence – anticipating threats before they reach us rather than simply reacting to them. While strong detection and response systems are still necessary, building defences that prevent attacks is always the better approach.
Looking ahead to a Unified Cybersecurity Future
The threats we face are evolving, so our defences need to evolve too. Xalient’s approach prioritises proactive, holistic defence – anticipating and preventing threats rather than just reacting to them. Detection and response are critical, but the goal is to stay one step ahead of potential attackers.
Watch DJ’s full summit talk to gain a deeper understanding of Xalient’s identity-centric security approach and hear more about the strategies shaping the future of cybersecurity.
Watch on YouTube: How an Integrated Strategy Solves Modern Cyber Challenges and Prepares for Tomorrow – YouTube
