Rocket Planes in 1947, Pointless Tools in 2025

Ah, Cybersecurity Month. 🎉 It's that time of year again when the security industry turns up the volume, and we all get bombarded with those ever-present emails nudging us to "update your password" (as if that's the magic bullet to solving all our cybersecurity problems). But here's the thing—this time of year should be about more than just rehashing the same advice over and over. It should be about real cybersecurity innovation and evolving threats, right?

Speaking of progress, did you know that on this very day in 1947, Chuck Yeager became the first human to break the sound barrier in the Bell XS-1? Think about that for a second. A guy in a rocket plane flew faster than the speed of sound before most people even had a TV 📺 in their living room. That wasn't just progress; that was breaking barriers—literally.

The reason I bring up Yeager's feat is because it embodies something I believe cybersecurity desperately needs: bold ideas, followed by solid execution. Back then, Chuck and his team had a revolutionary idea—go faster than anyone had before—and they backed it up with a plan that actually worked. Can you imagine cybersecurity companies working like that today? Because, if I'm honest, it feels like the industry is moving at a snail's pace in comparison.

Talk to any CISO these days, and their perspectives on cybersecurity are all over the place. You've got your optimistic ones who'll confidently say, "We're building an impenetrable fortress of defenses. Our data is secure!" Then you've got the more realistic (or should I say pessimistic?) CISOs who've already accepted defeat. Their mantra? "We can't stop everything, but maybe we can limit the damage." Meanwhile, lurking behind both of these perspectives are the CEOs of cybersecurity firms. Now, they're an interesting bunch.

CEOs in cybersecurity have plans—oh, do they have plans—but are they driven by big, bold ideas that aim to push the industry forward? Not really. Instead, most are laser-focused on squeezing out as much profit as possible, whether that's through new shiny tools, subscription models, or renewal fees. 🤑 It makes you wonder: Are these companies more interested in genuinely solving security problems, or in keeping us hooked on their products like they're the latest must-have gadget?

This brings me back to Chuck Yeager and his breakthrough moment. Yeager didn't just dream up a crazy idea and then walk away. He and his team pushed the limits and backed their vision with a plan that resulted in actual progress. In contrast, the cybersecurity industry often feels like it's stuck on autopilot, churning out tools that struggle to keep pace with evolving threats. Where's our Chuck Yeager moment? Where's that groundbreaking idea that revolutionizes the field?

Imagine if, instead of focusing solely on quarterly earnings, cybersecurity companies invested in true innovation. What if they prioritized protecting people's data over boosting their bottom lines? The threats are getting more sophisticated every day, but the solutions—well, they're mostly just band-aids slapped onto deeper issues.

As we celebrate Cybersecurity Month, it's hard not to feel a little frustrated. The industry seems to be more concerned with keeping up appearances than driving real change. We're constantly seeing flashy new products that claim to be the next big thing, but at their core, they're often just slight variations of what already exists. The real threats are evolving faster than the so-called solutions we're being sold.

What we need now is a bold leap forward—our own Chuck Yeager moment in cybersecurity. We need big ideas that are backed by executable plans, focused on solving the real problems, not just selling the next subscription model. Until that happens, we'll keep watching this cybersecurity soap opera play out, hoping that someday, someone will break the cyber sound barrier and truly innovate in ways that protect us all.