EMA Research Blog: Navigating IT and Security Horizons

If 2025 was the year the industry aggressively deployed agentic AI to automate everything from code deployment to customer service, 2026 is shaping up to be the year we pay the security debt for that speed. We have effectively built an "AI-native" enterprise ecosystem, but in doing so, we have introduced a new class of insider threat that doesn't sleep, doesn't take breaks, and crucially doesn't think like a human.

Welcome to the recap of the Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) Cybersecurity Awesomeness (CSA) Podcast. Hosted by Chris Steffen, vice president of research, and Ken Buckler, research director at EMA, the CSA Podcast covers a wide range of cybersecurity topics, from cyber workforce talent shortages to cyber threat intelligence, to current events in technology and security. This short, laid-back podcast is for listeners of all skill levels and backgrounds.

If you’ve tried to track the blizzard of OpenAI partnership announcements lately, you might feel like you’re watching the most ambitious infrastructure strategy ever conceived, or a Three Stooges-style routine where everyone keeps paying the same $20 back and forth…except now it’s $20 billion.

The recent conclusion of Black Hat USA 2025, which saw over 20,000 security professionals converge in Las Vegas, served as a powerful barometer for the state of the cybersecurity industry. The event, with its more than 100 briefings and 115 in-person tool demos, underscored the continued evolution of the threat landscape. The conversations in the business hall and around the conference revealed a cybersecurity world trying to grapple with new forms of risk, a shifting vendor landscape, and an ever-expanding attack surface that now extends to every corner of our digital lives.

Welcome to the recap of the Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) Cybersecurity Awesomeness (CSA) Podcast. Hosted by Chris Steffen, Vice President of Research and Ken Buckler, Research Director at EMA, the CSA Podcast covers a wide range of cybersecurity topics, from cyber workforce talent shortages to cyber threat intelligence, to current events in technology and security. This short, laidback podcast is for listeners of all skill levels and backgrounds.

Black Hat Asia 2025 returned to Singapore with a dynamic mix of technical depth, real-world impact, and plenty of sobering insights about the evolving cybersecurity landscape. Across two packed days, experts from around the globe tackled threats old and new, offering live demonstrations, original research, and thought-provoking commentary on the increasingly blurred lines between digital, physical, and even quantum attack surfaces.

Organizations are constantly dealing with rapid shifts toward cloud computing, escalating security threats, and regulatory frameworks that have necessitated more robust solutions in data governance. As they continue to accumulate more and more sensitive data, the need for visibility into data assets becomes obvious. Moreover, regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, ITAR, and PCI impose stringent compliance requirements, compelling organizations to ensure that they can not only manage, but also protect, their data effectively.

Welcome to the recap of the Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) Cybersecurity Awesomeness (CSA) Podcast. Hosted by Chris Steffen, Vice President of Research and Ken Buckler, Research Director at EMA, the CSA Podcast covers a wide range of cybersecurity topics, from cyber workforce talent shortages to cyber threat intelligence, to current events in technology and security. This short, laidback podcast is for listeners of all skill levels and backgrounds.

Welcome to the recap of the Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) Cybersecurity Awesomeness (CSA) Podcast. Hosted by Chris Steffen, Vice President of Research and Ken Buckler, Research Director at EMA, the CSA Podcast covers a wide range of cybersecurity topics, from cyber workforce talent shortages to cyber threat intelligence, to current events in technology and security. This short, laidback podcast is for listeners of all skill levels and backgrounds.

The future of cybersecurity is a hot topic, and Episode 91 of the Cybersecurity Awesomeness Podcast dives deep into what 2025 might hold. Hosted by Chris Steffen and Ken Buckler, this episode offers insights into emerging threats, groundbreaking technologies, and the ever-critical human element in security. Here’s what you need to know.