At this week’s mWISE Conference, theCUBE had a front-row seat for the latest news about cybersecurity’s evolution and the dawn of a new era in the digital realm.

The conference, hosted in the heart of Washington, D.C., brought together luminaries, thought leaders and cybersecurity experts to unravel the complex tapestry of today’s digital security landscape. TheCUBE was there to learn more about the intriguing insights and revelations that emerged from the event, including the pivotal role of integration and the ease of use of artificial intelligence in simplifying cybersecurity, as  well as the emergence of a creative class poised to redefine the industry.

“I think the AI conversation’s so hyped up right now; it has to be in the conversation for sure,” said John Furrier (pictured, left), theCUBE industry analyst. “That’s all they’re talking about is AI — how do you secure AI, and is it good for security?”

Furrier was joined by fellow analysts Rebecca Knight (center) and Rob Strechay (right) for an analysis of news coming out of the mWISE Conference, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed the key takeaways and predictions that are set to shape the cybersecurity landscape in the years to come. (* Disclosure below.)

Integration, ease of use and AI

Some of the standout themes of the mWISE Conference were the importance of integration, ease of use and AI in the field of cybersecurity. When it comes to securing data, cybersecurity needs to be more accessible and less intimidating, according to Strechay. The focus of many at the conference was on simplifying security and making it less daunting for professionals in the field.

“I think there’s a really good thread here that they get that this is hard,” he said. “I think you are even reaching into some of the toil and what that means for how people work. I think that was really one of the key things about this is how do you make things simpler so you avoid burnout and don’t lose the security professionals?”

The analysts also talked about the emergence of a creative class within the cybersecurity industry. AI is predicted to play a pivotal role in enabling a new wave of creativity among professionals, according to Furrier. Rather than solely focusing on the technical aspects of cybersecurity, this creative class would leverage AI to ask innovative questions, unlock new approaches and harness their artistic thinking.

AI has the potential to alleviate the toil associated with mundane tasks, such as report generation and legal filings, allowing human professionals to dedicate more time to creative problem-solving. This shift could be particularly beneficial in known areas and regulated industries where AI’s efficiency and reliability could be fully harnessed, according to the analysts.

“That is exactly what we keep hearing about, that these are hard jobs,” Knight said. “This is a big, bad, scary world. And a lot of these jobs can be demoralizing, because there is just so much that can go wrong and it’s hard to retain people in this line of work.”

The geopolitical implications of cybersecurity

Also, up for discussion, the geopolitical implications of cybersecurity, especially in light of China’s dominance and the urgency of addressing security as a warfare issue. What makes it even more difficult are outdated systems and the ongoing digital transformation in an industry under siege from these evolving threats.

“I think the big takeaway from the analysis is one, China,” Furrier said. “The dominance of China … China’s huge, and they don’t play fair.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of the mWISE Conference:

(* Disclosure: This is an unsponsored editorial segment. However, theCUBE is a paid media partner for the mWISE Conference. Google LLC and other sponsors of theCUBE’s event coverage do not have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE