Six takeaways from the Gartner IT Symposium 2023

At Gartner's IT Symposium/Expo in Orlando, recurring themes included preparing for growth, AI implementation, ransomware acceleration, building an identity fabric, investing in security outcomes, and reducing the friction of security. CEOs are cautiously optimistic about the economy and prioritizing growth over cost management. With increased investment in cloud platforms, BI/data analytics, and application modernization, IT teams will see a larger attack surface. AI is becoming increasingly important, with 56% of CEOs citing it as a top-impact technology. Ransomware attacks are expected to increase due to the use of generative AI in phishing emails. An identity fabric is necessary for safeguarding IAM assets and reducing vulnerabilities. Investing in security outcomes involves focusing on measurable protection levels, while reducing friction can promote cyber judgment among employees.