Cybersecurity Community Roars to Life with AI Taking Center Stage at RSA Conference 2025

The energy at RSA Conference this year was undeniable. With over 40,000 attendees, the atmosphere was reminiscent to pre-2020, signaling a full recovery and a return to form for the cybersecurity community. The mood was electric, fueled by innovation and a shared passion for tackling the ever-evolving threat landscape.

Energy and Investment on the Floor

As always, the exhibit floor of the conference was a spectacle, with companies pulling out all the stops to create memorable and engaging booth experiences. And yes, this included several petting areas from exhibitors who brought in pens of dogs and goats (yes, goats!). This heightened competition for attention reflected the industry’s overall dynamism and drive to stand out in a crowded market.

We noticed a renewed energy from Venture Capital firms, who came out in force to support their various companies. The support and funding of VC firms was evident in the lavish booth activations and entertaining after-hours events. From well-established firms to newer players, the VC presence underscored the investment community’s strong belief in the future of cybersecurity innovation.

Trends and Takeaways from RSA Conference 2025

RSA Conference 2025 made it clear that the cybersecurity landscape is rapidly evolving, with AI playing a central role in shaping its future. The event not only showcased cutting-edge technologies but also provided a valuable platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and strategic discussions on the path forward.

If you tuned into our pre-conference webinar, you will recognize the predictions below. As expected, current tech trends were on full display as today’s established players and up-and-commers competed to demonstrate their expertise.

Here are the top trends and takeaways from our time at RSA Conference this year:

There’s Only One Trend: Artificial Intelligence

This year’s conference demonstrated the intense focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) among a wide variety of vendors. AI wasn’t just a buzzword; it was woven into the fabric of countless solutions on display. It seemed at times that almost everyone who could claim a tie to AI was relating their product to AI in some way.

AI vendors were particularly interested in deployment strategies, exploring how AI can best be leveraged for both protecting Security Operations Centers (SOCs) and securing Large Language Models (LLMs). Read more about what we’re seeing in AI innovation in this recent article.

Read more about what we’re seeing in AI innovation in this recent article.

Some of the AI-related developments and trends we observed:

• AI Detection tools, such as a vendor that could help detect deep fakes during virtual calls and meetings. This could be an especially useful tool during employee interviews, to avoid unintentionally hiring bad actors.
• AI Gateways are popping up to stem the issue of data leakage through the growing use of LLMs like ChatGPT. These tools can help mask sensitive data before it goes into ChatGPT.
• Automated vulnerability scanning, also known as continuous penetration testing that is specifically built to AI engines and APIs.
• Identity Mesh for AI Security, securing the interactions between the increasingly interconnected AI systems.

Risk Management and Compliance as a Supporting Character

Alongside the plethora of AI-related developments, the vendors on display showed an increasing awareness of risk management and compliance, especially in cloud and data security.

This renewed focal point may signal an increasing awareness of the reliance that companies place on their consistent performance. Third party reliability and risk continues to make headlines after devastating vendor outages and concerns over data sprawl remain top-of-mind for enterprises.

Learnings to Guide 2025 and Beyond

RSA Conference continues to be a prescient glimpse into trends and innovations for the coming year. In addition to the main floor of established sponsors, RSA Conference’ focus on innovation and early-stage technology companies allows us to take a gander into where security solutions might be going in the coming year.

The outsized focus on AI demonstrates that these automated technologies are here for the long-haul. Finding ways to address potential vulnerabilities and incorporate AI-based tools into your workflow will continue to be a focal point as AI continues to grow and become more ubiquitous in our daily and professional lives.

For more on the tools and trends to keep an eye on, reach out for a conversation!