AI, Sovereignty, And The New Cybersecurity Crossroads
Cybersecurity is at an intersection of cloud infrastructure, AI code, and geopolitical ... More maps—symbolizing the complex crossroads of innovation, sovereignty, and global risk.
It's no secret the cybersecurity landscape is shifting fast. Between the surge in AI adoption, rising demand for data sovereignty, and the political turbulence rattling global trust in U.S.-based tech, security leaders are being pulled in a dozen directions at once. We're no longer navigating steady waters—we're in a storm of change.
If there's one thing I've learned covering this space, it's that disruption isn't just coming. It's already here. And the question that matters now isn't how to stop it—but how to prepare for what comes next.
Not long ago, the knee-jerk response to generative AI in the workplace was to ban it outright. CISOs blocked tools like ChatGPT, fearing data leaks, compliance violations, or worse. But that wall cracked fast. Within months, organizations began walking back the bans and instead started asking a more productive question: How can we use this responsibly?
Kevin Simzer, chief operating officer at Trend Micro, shared a firsthand experience with me that emphasizes this shift. At a CISO roundtable just nine months ago, he polled the room—and every single participant was trying to block AI tools. Now? 'We're about to release some new research... and actually, 97% of them are leveraging AI,' Simzer said. The speed of that reversal underscores just how fast attitudes are changing.
The conversation today is about sanctioned AI tools, corporate guardrails, and strategies for safe deployment. You'll hear a lot about fine-tuned models, private deployments, and internal copilots. What changed? Companies realized the competitive cost of saying 'no.' If the tools can boost productivity, speed up decision-making, and automate grunt work, then blocking them just holds everyone back.
And as I've pointed out before, you can't really ban AI use. You can try—but employees will just find workarounds. Shadow AI becomes the new shadow IT. The smart path forward is enabling responsible use, not pretending the genie can be stuffed back in the bottle.
Here's the part we're not talking about enough: while AI promises efficiency, it also threatens to hollow out the early-career ranks.
If entry-level developers are replaced by code-generating bots, who becomes tomorrow's senior engineer? If AI filters out basic SOC alerts, where do future Tier 2 analysts come from?
Simzer echoed this concern with examples from Google's own transformation. At a recent executive dinner hosted by Google, he heard firsthand that '25% of all code submitted into production in Q4 was AI-generated, and by the end of Q1 it was 30%.'
That's not about replacing talent—it's about accelerating innovation. But the question remains: What happens when the foundational learning experiences disappear?
It's the classic 'use it or lose it' problem. Much like how GPS made many of us forget how to read a map, AI could gradually erode the foundational skills that used to define the cyber talent ladder.
Meanwhile, a parallel shift is gaining momentum across the globe: data sovereignty. In short, countries and companies alike want more control over where their data lives and who can access it.
It's not just about compliance anymore—it's about national security and strategic independence. Across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, organizations are rethinking whether they want sensitive data flowing through U.S. hyperscalers or stored in data centers subject to American jurisdiction.
Simzer noted a surge in customers explicitly asking that their 'intellectual property, their crown jewel of data never leaves the country.' The demand for flexible deployment models—including on-prem solutions that can operate completely outside U.S. influence—is climbing sharply. And it's no longer a fringe concern. It's central to buying decisions in sectors where trust is paramount.
Add in the growing mistrust in U.S. government policy—DOGE, export bans, trade disputes—and the picture gets even murkier.
The MITRE CVE funding scare earlier this year sent shockwaves through the security community. The idea that a foundational piece of vulnerability tracking infrastructure could vanish overnight because of political gamesmanship? That was a wake-up call. It raised bigger questions about who we can trust to maintain the digital infrastructure we all rely on.
Simzer referenced a recurring example that, while possibly apocryphal, speaks to real fears There were recent reports that the US government has some sort of 'kill switch' capability for F-35 fighter jets sold to our allies. The implication? If the U.S. can remotely disable advanced hardware, what's stopping them from flipping the off switch on your cloud applications?
These kinds of stories, real or not, are prompting countries to reassess their tech dependencies. Some are already investing in local infrastructure and pushing for regional cloud initiatives to reduce exposure to foreign policy swings.
So where does that leave cybersecurity leaders?
It leaves us in a moment of strategic reckoning. We can't afford to say no to innovation. But we also can't afford to ignore the risks. The answer isn't fear or paralysis—it's balance.
Organizations need to build systems that allow for AI adoption with transparency and oversight. They need infrastructure that can flex between cloud and on-prem to meet sovereignty and compliance needs. And they need to think long-term about the human skills that keep those systems safe and functioning.
If 2023 was about waking up to disruption, then 2025 is about adapting to it.
Resilience is no longer a buzzword—it's a survival trait. That means being agile enough to pivot when policies shift. It means architecting flexibility into your tech stack. And it means keeping a firm grip on who controls your data, your workflows, and your destiny.
Cybersecurity has always been about anticipating threats. But now, it also has to be about anticipating change—and being ready for whatever comes next.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
This millennial was rejected from 200 jobs—now he makes millions charging wealthy families six-figures to get their kids into the Ivy Leagues
Like many Gen Zers today, after graduating from college, Christopher Rim was rejected from more than 200 job applications—including at top firms like Goldman Sachs and BCG. But, he says, 'that was the best thing that could have happened to me.' Now, he's making millions disrupting the $3 billion college consultancy industry. How much would you pay to help your child get accepted into Harvard, Stanford, or MIT? $10,000? What about $100,000, or even $750,000? Hundreds of families are paying six-figure price tags to a young millennial named Christopher Rim to get their kids into their top college choices. As the founder and CEO of college admissions consultancy group Command Education, Rim has become a wizard of sorts for how to crack the Ivy League code. Over the last five years, 94% of his clients have been accepted into their top three college choices. And while the $3 billion college consultancy industry may sound like another leg-up the rich have to get their children into schools, Rim says it's about helping students reach their dreams and unlock their potential. After all, on average, only about 5% of pupils who want to go to an Ivy League school actually get in. 'You have one chance. That's it,' the 30-year-old tells Fortune. 'You can't go back to college or apply to these selective universities again.' Unlocking potential is something that hits home in Rim's own story toward success, both in his own journey trying to attend an Ivy League school as well as trying to find his footing as a young graduate. As a public high school student in New Jersey, Rim was told he'd never be cut out for an Ivy League institution. While he admits himself that he wasn't the smartest kid in his class, he had a mission to attend Yale University, and decided to apply even when his guidance counselor pleaded with him to settle for Rutgers University, an in-state public school. Out of the nearly two dozen students from his school who applied to Yale, he was the only one who got in—despite having a lower GPA than the rest. As a student, he kept the ball rolling by charging high schoolers $50 to edit their admissions essays and advising them on how to strengthen their resumes and 'authentically stick out.' After his first two clients got into MIT and Stanford, he realized he might have a gift, and thus Command Education was born in 2015 in his New Haven, Conn., dorm room. However, Rim still wasn't sure it was the key to a post-grad career. Then came the time to apply for jobs. 'I applied to over 200 jobs senior year. All my friends were getting jobs at Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, BCG, major corporations. I got none. I got zero,' he says. 'And that was the best thing to have that happen to me.' Instead of letting the rejection defeat him—like what happens to millions of young adults each year—Rim used it as motivation to help others reach their dream college, too. 'Everyone has this potential, and I was able to instill that confidence and belief and motivate them through the process,' Rim says. 'I think that was a major reason as to why my students succeeded, which, of course, led me to succeed with the business.' So far, Command Education has guided over 1,500 students into top-tier schools, with acceptance rates that soar far above the national average—more than seven times higher at places like Harvard, Caltech, and the University of Chicago. And with parents investing close to $100,000 on average for his services, Rim isn't just shaping student futures, he's built a booming business in the process. While he declined to comment on his company's revenue, his average fee and high demand would put that figure in the millions. (Rim also explained that the $750,000 price tag was a one-off example that included working with a student starting in middle school and having unlimited access to services.) With or without professional help, getting into a top institution is no easy feat. In fact, over the last decade, colleges have only gotten more selective in the students they accept. However, it's not because schools have gotten much smaller in size, it's because more students are applying. For Harvard's class of 2028, who just finished their first year of college, over 54,000 applicants battled for just 1,970 seats; an acceptance rate of 3.6%. That's up from about 37,000 applicants competing for 2,080 spots for the class of 2019, an acceptance rate of 5.6%. Even then, not all accepted students ultimately choose to attend that school. At the same time, college is only getting more expensive. Tuition and fees at private universities have increased by about 41%, when adjusted for inflation, according to U.S. News and World Report. And while some colleges have made attempts at softening the burden for many lower-income students—like Harvard making tuition free for families making less than $200,000—attending a top college remains an uphill battle for many students. However, Rim says services like his aren't making the process less equitable, but rather helping young people find their true calling. 'I know I am not helping my student take a spot away from a middle-class student or a lower-income family student,' Rim adds. 'I'm helping other wealthy families and their kids compete against other wealthy families.' And despite some students feeling that their degree wasn't worth the cost, Rim says demand is higher than it's ever been before. But young people are expanding their interests outside of the traditional Ivy Leagues to other top-ranked schools like Duke University, Vanderbilt University, and the University of North Carolina. 'If you want to get a specific job at a bank, consulting firm, or become a doctor or lawyer, your school is going to matter a lot,' he tells Fortune. But at the end of the day, he says it's about finding students' passions and interests. 'I really will never tell a student, join the debate team, join band club, join newspaper club, because we think that's what colleges want. In fact, it's the total opposite,' Rim says. 'Do what you want.' This story was originally featured on
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
If You Can Only Buy 1 Cathie Wood Stock in 2025, It Should Be This
Cathie Wood, founder, CEO and chief investment officer of Ark Invest, continues to make headlines for her high-conviction approach to disruptive innovation. Her flagship fund, the Ark Innovation ETF (ARKK), has posted a 52.9% return in the past 52 weeks, reflecting investor confidence. Known for identifying transformational themes early, Wood maintains focused exposure to industries like genomics, autonomous technology, and blockchain. Within this context, Natera (NTRA) has drawn sharp relevance. The company leads in cell-free DNA testing and precision medicine, aligning directly with Ark's long-term thesis. CoreWeave Just Revealed the Largest-Ever Nvidia Blackwell GPU Cluster. Should You Buy CRWV Stock? AMD Is Gunning for Nvidia's AI Chip Throne. Should You Buy AMD Stock Now? The Saturday Spread: Statistical Signals Flash Green for CMG, TMUS and VALE Tired of missing midday reversals? The FREE Barchart Brief newsletter keeps you in the know. Sign up now! For investors seeking a stock that fits the Ark playbook, Natera may represent one of the most fundamentally aligned additions under Wood's current investment lens. Based in Austin, Texas, stands Natera (NTRA), a pioneer in the field of cell-free DNA and genetic testing. The $23.3 billion biotech firm's arsenal includes powerful offerings like Panorama for prenatal screening, Signatera for real-time cancer surveillance, and Prospera, which sharpens the lens on transplant rejection. Over the last three months, the stock has climbed 16.9%, leaving the broader S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 5.4% gain behind. On May 8, Natera opened the books on its first-quarter, and the results exceeded Wall Street expectations. Investors responded swiftly, with the stock inching up 1.5% the same day. Natera posted $501.8 million in total revenues, a 36.5% year-over-year increase that soared past Wall Street's $443.3 million forecast. Behind those numbers were powerhouse operations. The company processed 855,100 tests during the quarter, up 16.2% year over year. Women's health volumes climbed meaningfully over the fourth quarter, but it was Signatera that stole the spotlight. The personalized, tumor-informed molecular residual disease test reached new heights, recording its highest volume quarter ever. Clinical volumes for Signatera grew 52% year over year, with a sequential gain of roughly 16,005 units over Q4, marking the most significant quarter-on-quarter growth to date. Gross margins landed at 63.1%, reflecting solid cost discipline. Moreover, Natera's net loss narrowed 1% from the year-ago period to $66.9 million. Also, the company managed to trim its loss per share by 10.7% to $0.50, outperforming analysts' projections of a $0.59 loss per share. As for liquidity, the balance sheet remained in good shape. Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash climbed to $973.8 million, up from $945.6 million on Dec 31, 2024. CEO Steve Chapman has made no secret of the firm's long-term vision. He believes Signatera could ultimately generate over $5 billion in annual revenue, and he emphasized that they are still playing in the shallow end of a much deeper market pool. In a move that reinforced this optimism, Natera has raised its full-year revenue guidance to between $1.94 billion and $2.02 billion. That is a $70 million boost from the midpoint of its earlier outlook, pointing to a 26% year-over-year growth. On the other hand, analysts expect the Q2 2025 loss per share to widen 100% year over year to $0.60. For FY25, the loss per share is projected to increase 37% to $2.10, but FY26 could bring relief, with a forecast 64.8% narrowing to $0.74, hinting that profitability may finally be within reach. Analysts seem to be singing in harmony when it comes to NTRA, marking it with a firm 'Strong Buy' rating. Out of 19 analysts following the stock, 16 have given it an enthusiastic 'Strong Buy' rating, and the remaining three have placed their bets on a 'Moderate Buy.' The average price target of $200.42 represents potential upside of 17.6%. Meanwhile, the Street-High target of $251 hints at a 48% climb from current levels. Such projections do not come lightly and often reflect deep-rooted confidence in future earnings momentum and strategic execution. On the date of publication, Aanchal Sugandh did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Is Quantum Computing (QUBT) Stock a Buy on This Bold Technological Breakthrough?
Quantum computing stocks are heating up again, offering investors a front-row seat to what could be the next massive tech revolution. Even Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang, once skeptical about near-term adoption, recently said quantum computing was at an 'inflection point,' signaling a dramatic shift from his earlier stance that it was 'decades away.' Companies in this space are finally beginning to move from the research lab to real-world commercialization. Quantum Computing (QUBT) just hit a major milestone in that journey. The company announced the successful shipment of its first commercial entangled photon source to a South Korean research institution. This cutting-edge product is a foundational piece of QUBT's quantum cybersecurity platform, which won a 2024 Edison Award. The shipment not only showcases the company's ability to execute globally, but also underscores growing demand for integrated quantum solutions. CoreWeave Just Revealed the Largest-Ever Nvidia Blackwell GPU Cluster. Should You Buy CRWV Stock? AMD Is Gunning for Nvidia's AI Chip Throne. Should You Buy AMD Stock Now? The Saturday Spread: Statistical Signals Flash Green for CMG, TMUS and VALE Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what's moving stocks, sectors, and investor sentiment - delivered right when you need the info most. Subscribe today! With real momentum behind it and a clear roadmap ahead, QUBT could be a high-risk, high-reward play for investors looking to capitalize on the coming wave of quantum adoption. Based in Hoboken, New Jersey, Quantum Computing is an integrated photonics company that focuses on the development of quantum machines for both commercial and government markets in the United States. The company specializes in thin-film lithium niobate chips. These chips are central to QUBT's mission of building quantum machines that operate at room temperature and require low power. Valued at $2.7 billion by market cap, QUBT shares have exploded over the past year, soaring more than 3,000%. However, the stock has cooled in 2025, rising just 17.4% year-to-date amid growing skepticism over the commercialization timeline for quantum technology. Following last year's sharp rally, QUBT's valuation has reached nosebleed territory, with a staggering price-sales ratio of 7,475x, far above the sector median. This suggests the stock is extremely overvalued compared to its industry peers. On May 16, Shares of QUBT popped nearly 40% in a single trading session after Quantum Computing reported Q1 results that illustrate both nascent revenue traction and the substantial investments required to advance its quantum photonics roadmap. The company recognized approximately $39,000 in revenue for the quarter, representing a 42.7% year-over-year increase from a similarly low base. However, this figure fell roughly 61% short of consensus forecasts, highlighting the early stage nature of commercial adoption. Gross margin contracted to 33.3% from 40.7% a year earlier, While net income was reported at nearly $17 million or $0.13 per share, beating the estimate of $0.08, it was driven primarily by a non-cash gain on the mark-to-market valuation of warrant-related derivative liabilities. Operating expenses rose to approximately $8.3 million, up from $6.3 million in the year-ago quarter, as the company expanded staffing and advanced its Quantum Photonic Chip Foundry in Tempe, Arizona. The balance sheet remains robust: cash and cash equivalents totaled about $166.4 million with no debt, providing a multi-year runway at current expenditure levels. Revenue divisions are still emerging, with initial sales tied to prototype devices, quantum cybersecurity platforms, and early foundry orders, but detailed segment reporting is limited given the infancy of commercial deployments. Looking ahead, management indicated they expect only modest photonic foundry revenue in the back half of 2025, with revenue likely to accelerate in 2026 as additional customers come online. Earlier this year, Quantum Computing disclosed collaborations with NASA's Langley Research Center and the Sanders Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute. These partnerships were formed to validate their quantum photonic technologies in demanding, real-world settings, removing sunlight noise from space-based LiDAR and enhancing drug discovery workflows. On May 12, Quantum Computing said it has completed its Quantum Photonic Chip Foundry in Tempe, Arizona, positioning it to meet demand in data communications and telecommunications. This facility enables scalable production of entangled photon sources, enhancing QCI's competitive standing against established photonics firms and emerging quantum hardware startups. The foundry's completion transitions R&D toward revenue generation. For now, only a single analyst covers QUBT stock, assigning it a 'Strong Buy' rating with a price target of $22, implying upside of 14%. For investors, QUBT remains a highly speculative stock with unique technology but limited commercial traction. Despite partnerships and bold claims, it lags far behind the commercial sucess of industry giants like International Business Machines (IBM) and Nvidia (NVDA). Without a clear path to profitability or a meaningful share of the market, its lofty valuation is difficult to justify in today's competitive and capital-sensitive environment. Lastly, investors should note that quantum computing stocks often move more on hype than fundamentals, making QUBT a highly speculative bet. On the date of publication, Nauman Khan did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on
