Cyberattacks are happening faster, hitting harder and costing more than ever before. In a recent webinar, Bugcrowd CEO Dave Gerry shared how companies can adapt to this new reality. Below are four big lessons that apply to leaders at every stage.
- The threat landscape is accelerating fast. A few years ago, hackers might spend weeks looking for a way in. Now, they can move in hours. With new tools (including AI), the time it takes to find and exploit a weakness is shrinking. That means companies can’t just “check in” on security a few times a year. Defenses need to be constant.
- AI is both a tool and a target. AI is helping security teams work faster by sorting through reports and spotting patterns. But attackers are also using AI to break in more quickly. On top of that, AI systems themselves can become targets if companies don’t secure them.
- Talent constraints are real. And you can’t hire your way out. A recurring theme was the shortage of security talent. Even if companies want to hire more specialists, there simply aren’t enough to go around. Bugcrowd tackles this by tapping into a global community of experts and matching the right people to the right problems when needed. For example, testing 5G hardware requires rare skills that only a handful of people worldwide have. Instead of trying to hire them outright, Bugcrowd can bring them in on demand. This flexible approach gives organizations access to top talent without adding permanent headcount.
- Human creativity still beats automation. Automated tools are good at finding well-known problems. But the trickier, more damaging issues usually require a human who thinks like an attacker. That’s where combining technology with diverse human perspectives really pays off.
What This Means for Startups & Growth-Stage Companies
- Start earlier than you think. Security shouldn’t be a late-stage checkbox. Even early-stage firms can adopt crowdsourced or hybrid models to embed security into product development from day one.
- Think “always on.” Checking your security a few times a year isn’t enough anymore. Companies are shifting toward ongoing monitoring and quick check-ins whenever something changes — like a new product launch, system update or shift in the business environment.
- Turn problems into learning. Companies can use the results from a security test as lessons instead of just treating them as a to-do list. These test results show where teams need more training, where product design could be stronger and how to better prepare for future risks.
- Mix tech and people. Automation is powerful, but don’t fully automate critical decisioning without oversight. The best defense models integrate AI and people.
Security isn’t a single project you can check off. It’s a moving target. The most resilient companies are the ones who stay flexible, bring in outside expertise when needed and balance technology with human ingenuity.
