AI and the End of Traditional Cybersecurity: A Conversation with Barak Schoster

AI and the End of Traditional Cybersecurity: A Conversation with Barak Schoster

Cybersecurity is at a turning point, largely driven by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). My recent conversation with Barak Schoster—a renowned cybersecurity expert and entrepreneur—highlighted AI’s profound impact on the field. Schoster, who founded Bridgecrew (now part of Palo Alto Networks), has extensive experience in advanced threat protection and innovative security solutions.


AI’s Role in Cybersecurity
Schoster put it simply: “The boundaries have been broken.” Traditional security methods, such as endpoint protection and perimeter-based defenses, are no longer enough in an era dominated by cloud computing and fast-moving data. By 2025, Gartner predicts that 85% of enterprises will primarily operate in cloud environments, demanding proactive and adaptive security models.


Emerging Challenges
Organizations are increasingly using cloud platforms and SaaS applications, introducing new risks. AI-driven productivity tools, while boosting efficiency, also heighten vulnerabilities—through unintended data leaks and unsecured exchanges. Employees frequently use tools outside corporate oversight, raising serious security concerns. Schoster noted that open-source adoption accelerates software distribution but requires strategic monetization. “We moved from single-player mode, where developers benefited individually, to multiplayer mode, which brought real enterprise value,” he explained.


AI’s Double-Edged Impact
AI both expands the attack surface and enhances defense capabilities. Schoster pointed out that deepfakes and automated phishing campaigns have significantly lowered the cost and complexity for cybercriminals. However, AI-powered security tools can automate complex tasks, improving efficiency and resilience.

The urgency is clear: AI-driven phishing attacks have increased by over 2,000% in the past year alone, according to Team8. This escalation highlights the need for real-time security interventions. Bridgecrew leveraged AI for instant monitoring and security enforcement, shifting cybersecurity from reactive threat detection to proactive prevention.


The Future of Cybersecurity
This transformation reflects a larger industry shift. AI can dramatically reduce vulnerabilities, minimize false positives, and enhance productivity by automating critical security tasks—allowing experts to focus on strategic objectives. Schoster predicts that static defenses and perimeter-based models will soon be obsolete. “Execution, speed, and adaptability have become more important than traditional moats like IP or patents,” he asserted.

Organizations must embrace AI-powered security strategies or risk being replaced by more agile competitors. As Schoster warned, “Those that fail to adapt quickly enough will inevitably be replaced by innovative, AI-driven newcomers.” The future of cybersecurity depends on agility, automation, and a forward-thinking approach.

Episoder(1145)

Ep10: Hillel Fuld | Startup Advisor and Tech Columnist

Ep10: Hillel Fuld | Startup Advisor and Tech Columnist

Hillel Fuld has been named the 7th top tech blogger worldwide, Israel’s top marketer, and on Forbes, was dubbed “The Man Transforming Startup Nation to Scale up Nation.”   He is a global speaker, tech blogger, startup marketer, and leading online influencer. Today, Hillel collaborates with companies such as Google, Oracle, and Microsoft to help early and later stage entrepreneurs take their local technology to a global scale.

15 Aug 202025min

Ep6: Oded Hermoni | Managing Partner at J-Ventures

Ep6: Oded Hermoni | Managing Partner at J-Ventures

J-Ventures is a community empowered VC fund based in Silicon Valley and backed by over 150 leading investors. Previously a Partner at Rhodium, and was a VP at Capital Point group (early stage traded investment firm). Founded a startup that was acquired by YellowPages group. He formed and led the largest Israeli Tech and VC organization (now called IATI) and was a founding member of ICON and INTRO. Before becoming a VC, Oded was an editor and journalist covering tech and economy at Haaretz/TheMarker/ Red Herring.

15 Aug 202024min

Ep8: Cliff Weitzman | Founder and CEO of Speechify

Ep8: Cliff Weitzman | Founder and CEO of Speechify

Cliff is an American Israeli entrepreneur, Founder of Speechify Text To Speech software - the 10th highest grossing productivity app on Apple's App Store, used to read more than a billion words every month. Cliff is one of the youngest people named to Forbes magazine's 30 Under 30 list. He is a Dyslexia advocate, listens to 100 books a year, & has the first chapter of harry potter memorized. Cliff is one of the CEOs discussed in the book The Great CEO Within.

15 Aug 202019min

Ep2: Shuly Galili | Founding Partner of Upwest

Ep2: Shuly Galili | Founding Partner of Upwest

Shuly is the co-founding Partner at UpWest, a Silicon Valley seed fund investing in startups at the Israel-US technology junction. UpWest portfolio crossed $1B in VC funding and includes companies such as SentinelOne, HoneyBook, Stampli, CyCognito, Airobotics and more.

15 Aug 202021min

Ep5: Izhar Shay | Israeli Knesset, former VC

Ep5: Izhar Shay | Israeli Knesset, former VC

Prior to joining the Israeli Parliament, Shay was a high-tech entrepreneur, CEO of start-up companies, member in boards of directors, mentor for entrepreneurs and a social activist. He wrote a popular weekly column at Globes for 11 years, authored two books, and founded Israel’s largest digital community for entrepreneurs (“Start-Up Stadium”) with about 45 thousand members. Previously, Shay was a Managing General Partner with Canaan Partners Israel and was a board member with promising start-up companies, some of which reached significant ‘exit’ events.

15 Aug 202023min

Ep4: Yasmin Lukatz | Executive Director of ICON

Ep4: Yasmin Lukatz | Executive Director of ICON

Yasmin Lukatz, MBA Stanford, Startup Investor and Philanthropist, is the Founder and Executive Director of ICON - Israel Collaboration network, helping Israeli entrepreneurs penetrate the US market by bridging Silicon Valley and Israel. ICON's members are VC Partners, Executives at Fortune 500 companies and Founders of rising-star startups. Yasmin only asks, is to pay it forward, and also pay it back by rallying the ICON community to support and mentor children in Israel's periphery.  Yasmin is also a respected startup investor, starring in the new season of the Israeli TV version of Shark Tank.

15 Aug 202019min

Ep3: Alon Matas | Founder & President of BetterHelp

Ep3: Alon Matas | Founder & President of BetterHelp

BetterHelp is the world’s largest counseling service. They connect people facing life's challenges with a counselor from their network of licensed, accredited, and board-certified therapists. Each month, over 2,000,000 counseling messages, chats, voice calls, and video sessions are facilitated through BetterHelp’s secure website and mobile app!

15 Aug 202020min

Ep1: Amir Shevat | Co-Founder and CPO, Reshuffle

Ep1: Amir Shevat | Co-Founder and CPO, Reshuffle

Amir is a co founder at reshuffle, early-stage investor, and an author. Previously, he led initiatives at companies such as Google, Slack, Amazon Twitch and Microsoft. Amir is an innovator at heart.

12 Aug 202020min

Populært innen Business og økonomi

stopp-verden
dine-penger-pengeradet
e24-podden
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
rss-borsmorgen-okonominyhetene
tid-er-penger-en-podcast-med-peter-warren
pengepodden-2
finansredaksjonen
utbytte
livet-pa-veien-med-jan-erik-larssen
morgenkaffen-med-finansavisen
rss-sunn-okonomi
stormkast-med-valebrokk-stordalen
aksjesladder
lederpodden
stinn-av-gryn
okonomiamatorene
aksjepodden
pengesnakk
boligbobla