The evolution of the cyber threat landscape is outpacing many organizations. In order to stay secure against these accelerating threats, cyber leaders must be able to adapt and act quickly. But how can leaders stay ahead? Moreover, how do they avoid burning out? 

Here, Security magazine talks with Dr. Deepak Kumar, Founder and CEO of Adaptiva, about how security leaders can stay ahead of cyber threats. 

Security magazine: Tell us about your background and career.

Kumar: I grew up in India and was always fascinated by the pace at which Americans were driving innovation and solving big problems at scale. That curiosity ultimately led me to move to the United States, where I embarked on my journey in software development.

Before founding Adaptiva, I played a key role as one of the principal designers of Microsoft SCCM/MEM, shaping how enterprises manage and secure their endpoints at massive scale. Prior to that, I led the development of advanced IP telephony products at Nortel, where I gained deep expertise in real-time networking technologies.

I’ve been fortunate to secure six patents and publish extensively in the field throughout my career. My focus as CEO of Adaptiva, a global leader in autonomous endpoint management, is driving innovation in endpoint management and security, ensuring organizations can protect their systems efficiently, and prepare themselves for a future in which attackers are AI agents, whose speed and capabilities far exceed the abilities of human workers to defend the enterprise.

Security magazine: In your opinion, what are the greatest cyber threats organizations face today?

Kumar: One of the biggest challenges facing organizations today is the increase in vulnerabilities. With threats evolving rapidly, IT and security teams struggle to keep up with the sheer volume of patches required to protect their systems. In fact, many organizations find that patching has become more challenging than identifying vulnerabilities in the first place.

Recent research highlights that delays caused by stakeholder approvals and misaligned priorities are some of the biggest bottlenecks in vulnerability remediation. More than half of organizations report that these delays extend their exposure to threats, making them more vulnerable to attacks.

To address this, companies must streamline their patching processes and adopt automated remediation solutions that reduce manual effort. Additionally, fostering stronger collaboration between IT, security, and business teams is crucial to minimizing delays and ensuring a more resilient cybersecurity posture.

Security magazine: In a world where cyber threats and vulnerabilities are consistently accelerating, how can security leaders stay ahead?

Kumar: The rapid expansion of remote work, cloud services and IoT devices has dramatically increased the number of endpoints organizations must secure. Each endpoint — whether a laptop, smartphone, or IoT device — presents a potential entry point for cybercriminals. 

Endpoint attacks are particularly concerning because of their scalability and the diverse attack methods used, including phishing, malware, and ransomware. As the attack surface grows, manual security approaches are no longer sufficient. Organizations must shift toward real-time, automated patching and remediation to protect endpoints without overwhelming security teams.

By implementing autonomous endpoint security solutions, security leaders can proactively close vulnerabilities, reduce risk exposure, and ensure their organizations stay ahead of evolving cyber threats.

Security magazine: While security leaders work to stay ahead, how can they avoid burning out? How can they help to prevent burnout in their teams?

Kumar: The constant evolution of cyber threats, coupled with increasing workloads and pressure to protect organizations, can put security leaders and their teams at high risk of burnout. To avoid this, leaders should prioritize automation and a culture of collaboration.

First, leveraging automation to handle repetitive and time-consuming tasks, like vulnerability scanning, patch management, and remediation, can significantly reduce the burden on security teams. This allows professionals to focus on strategic initiatives rather than constantly playing defense.

Second, fostering a culture of collaboration between IT, security, and business teams is crucial. When teams work in silos, misalignment creates inefficiencies and unnecessary stress. Establishing clear communication channels, aligning priorities, and ensuring executive support for security initiatives can help ease the pressure on security teams.

Cybersecurity is a high-stakes field, but with the right mix of technology, teamwork, and leadership, security professionals can stay ahead of threats without sacrificing their well-being.