Now more than ever, conversations and resulting action around AI, cybersecurity, privacy, risk, digital trust and emerging technologies are fundamental in building the future of our digital world.
ISACA recently brought together its global community of visionary digital trust professionals for ISACA Conference Europe 2023: Digital Trust World in Dublin, Ireland.
Keynote speaker, critically acclaimed author and renowned trust expert Rachel Botsman opened the conference with a session on digital trust, emphasizing the importance of understanding and achieving trustworthiness in a modern digital setting. Digital trust emerged as the focal point of the conference, as presenters and attendees alike acknowledged trust as an indispensable currency in today’s business landscape. As we move into the future, digital trust must exist alongside transparency and security at the core of organizational operations. Conference-goers also attended a data protection workshop, a ChatGPT masterclass and a gathering of the European Strategic Advisory Council.
The second day’s sessions covered a wide array of timely topics, including leveraging emerging technologies while mitigating risk, networking and a conversation surrounding collective contributions to digital trust. The spotlight on ISACA’s upcoming Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework focused on the necessary collaboration on trust factors throughout an organization rather than adapting inconvenient and burdensome sets of controls.
"As we stand on the cusp of an AI-driven future, our ability to trust these systems becomes paramount,” said Rolf von Roessing, CISA, CISM, CGEIT, CISSP, CDPSE, FBCI, CABCF, Partner, Forfa Consulting AG, who underlined the necessity of regulating the tech industry and implementing safeguards, not just for the technology itself but for the builders of these technologies. He said that “the EU Artificial Intelligence Act marks a momentous milestone in the digital landscape. It enshrines digital trust at its core, recognizing its profound significance in the AI era. As we navigate this new regulatory terrain, the Digital Trust Ecosystem Framework serves as an invaluable guide, enabling enterprises not just to comply but to excel in cultivating trust within the AI ecosystem."
ISACA Board Director Jason Lau shared the stage with security researcher during a packed session on the unique advantages of AI in security assurance settings. They explored the challenges, misconceptions and dos and don’ts surrounding AI tools like ChatGPT, including a conversation about the potential AI has to confirm, rule out or prioritize system vulnerabilities. Through ensuring robust compliance and governance, the beneficial operational efficiencies of AI can reinforce digital trust within organizations.
During the closing fireside chat between Bob Findlay and Christopher Wylie, the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica whistleblower, the crowd leaned forward, holding onto every word as the speakers discussed challenges within the social media ecosystem and the related threats to both consumer safety and democracy itself. Conference-goers left the three-day event with takeaways from true industry thought leaders and a roadmap to traverse the ever-evolving digital terrain.
“In the digital era, digital trust is not just a prerequisite; it’s the very lifeblood that sustains the roadmap to success,” said session presenter Dr. Valerie Lyons, CDPSE, Chief Operations Officer, BH Consulting/Dublin City University. Lyons noted that "the journey to digital excellence is a strategic one, where governments, organizations and professionals must demonstrate the right actions, embrace transparency, and prioritize security.”
