Cybersecurity Investment: Trends and Misconceptions

Governance & Risk Management
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IT Risk Management
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Next-Generation Technologies & Secure Development

Saj Huq of Plexal on Placing ‘Trust’ in Cybersecurity Startups

Anna Delaney (annamadeline) •
August 31, 2021    

Although research firm Gartner forecasts that spending on cybersecurity will surpass $150 billion in 2021, "the proportion of investment going to companies raising investment for the first time is significantly down," says Saj Huq, director of cyber innovation at Plexal, a center for innovation in the U.K.

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Huq cautions security leaders against a "mistrust of innovation" and warns them to not rely on existing suppliers to the degree that they may feel they should. "Invention can only turn into innovation when a technology is commercialized and solves a problem. Therefore, they [security leaders] are critical in that life cycle in terms of sharing problems and working with those who are trying to innovate in cybersecurity," he says.

In a video interview with Information Security Media Group, Huq discusses:

• Trends in cybersecurity innovation and emerging technologies;
• Misconceptions about current cybersecurity investment trends;
• Advantages for security leaders who collaborate with startups.

Huq leads cyber innovation at Plexal and is the director for LORCA, the London Office for Rapid Cybersecurity Advancement. His work at LORCA involves facilitating collaboration between startups, scale-ups, government, investors, academia and a cross-section of industry, with the aim of growing the U.K.’s cybersecurity sector and making the internet safer for everyone. He is also a member of the UK5G Security-Sub Group to the Testbed and Trials Working Group.

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