Cyber threats are evolving, and the Cyber Warriors Power List recognises the leaders shaping the future of digital security. Christopher Hills, Chief Security Strategist at BeyondTrust, is at the forefront of identity security innovation, helping organisations combat privilege misuse and AI-driven cyber risks. BeyondTrust’s solutions provide real-time visibility into identity threats, enforce least privilege access, and secure remote work environments. By leveraging automation and machine learning, the company enables businesses to stay ahead of emerging cyber threats while ensuring compliance and resilience in an increasingly complex security landscape.
BeyondTrust – Christopher Hills, Chief Security Strategist
What innovative cybersecurity solutions does the organisation offer, and how do they address the region’s unique challenges?
By providing real-time visibility into identity security posture and using machine learning to analyse permissions, BeyondTrust helps organisations identify and mitigate hidden privilege pathways that pose significant risks. Its Just-in-Time (JIT) access model grants temporary privileges, minimising long-term access risks and supporting compliance with regulations such as GDPR and SOX. BeyondTrust also addresses vulnerabilities in legacy access tools and VPNs by offering secure, infrastructure-free remote access. This solution enables fast, scalable deployment for hybrid workforces while reducing administrative overhead.
How is the firm leveraging advanced technologies to combat emerging threats such as AI-powered cyberattacks or sophisticated bugs?
BeyondTrust leverages advanced technologies such as machine learning, automation, and identity analytics to combat emerging AI-powered cyberattacks and sophisticated vulnerabilities. By analysing identity behaviours and detecting anomalous activity, BeyondTrust identifies hidden privilege pathways that could be exploited by attackers, reducing the risk of breaches. The company also monitors abnormal access patterns, such as AI-driven credential stuffing and risky permissions, helping to prevent automated privilege escalation attacks.
In what ways can cybersecurity effectively tackle challenges related to AI misuse or malicious activities online?
According to Christopher Hills, Chief Security Strategist at BeyondTrust, blocking AI usage entirely is unrealistic due to its widespread availability. Instead, organisations must focus on raising awareness about the risks associated with AI tools, including concerns around confidentiality, intellectual property, and privacy. BeyondTrust also highlights the importance of educating users on the potential dangers of AI-driven phishing attacks, such as content creation for deceptive purposes. Additionally, AI has significant potential in threat hunting, with its ability to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers.
Can a recent case study or success story demonstrate the impact of BeyondTrust’s solutions?
BeyondTrust recently assisted a major financial institution in the United Arab Emirates in modernising its approach to identity security. Facing challenges with its legacy solution, the organisation sought to enhance its cybersecurity framework across multiple remote offices. BeyondTrust provided a unified solution for credential discovery, onboarding, management, and secure remote access, aligning with both business and regulatory requirements. Through automation and streamlined management, BeyondTrust enabled the institution to oversee more than 85 remote offices while maintaining least privilege principles, reducing operational overhead, and ensuring compliance with financial regulations. The solution also supported zero-trust principles, continuous monitoring, and risk reduction, significantly improving the organisation’s security posture across its expanded network.
What industry trends are shaping cybersecurity strategies, and how is BeyondTrust preparing for the future?
BeyondTrust identifies three key trends driving cybersecurity strategies: the rise of AI-powered cyberattacks, the adoption of Zero Trust Architecture, and the rapid expansion of cloud and multi-cloud environments.
Threat actors are increasingly using AI and machine learning for automated credential theft, privilege escalation, and social engineering attacks. In response, organisations are adopting Zero Trust principles to strengthen security postures. Additionally, as cloud adoption accelerates, securing and managing identities, privileges, and entitlements within these environments is becoming even more critical. BeyondTrust supports organisations in implementing robust identity security strategies that mitigate risks across hybrid and cloud infrastructures while embracing Zero Trust and countering AI-driven threats.
How is the role of cybersecurity evolving in a hyperconnected digital world?
The role of cybersecurity professionals is becoming even more crucial as cyber attackers—including nation-state actors—use advanced techniques and machine learning to launch sophisticated attacks. Insider threats, whether malicious or accidental, will continue to pose significant risks, particularly as employees misuse AI tools or fall victim to phishing scams. As the digital ecosystem expands, managing access, identities, and privileges will be central to protecting organisations from an evolving threat landscape.
