At a time when rising data breaches and scams enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI) are dominating headlines, it is more crucial than ever to go the extra mile to protect one’s data privacy and boost digital security.

From phishing scams that mimic a loved one’s voice to deepfakes, fabricated USPS texts, identity theft, and fraud, modern-day threats are far more frequent and sophisticated.

During AFROTECH™ 2024, Kunmi Akingbade of Deloitte, Anietie Umoh of Meta, and Cortney Worthy of Dropbox took the Cybersecurity Stage to share insights on navigating a high-stakes digital landscape where personal data is constantly collected, analyzed, and exploited.

The 40-minute panel warned of rising threats and offered tips for those looking to build or grow a career in cybersecurity, data privacy, and risk management.

“In cybersecurity, it is common that you wear multiple hats,” Umoh said, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing and juggling multiple tasks.

“Oftentimes you may have certain things that I would see, rubber balls that you have to have drop, and you catch it on the next round, and you have things that are glass balls, like regulatory requirements that you can’t drop,” he added. “So being able to balance and to keep the balls in the air and prioritize is really key for this field.”

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Cybersecurity isn’t just about building firewalls and encrypting data — it’s about navigating urgency, risk, and responsibility under increasing scrutiny.

“Cybersecurity is a team sport, so we have things that corporations can do, but we also have things that we need to do to also protect ourselves from a cyber hygiene perspective,” Umoh said.

Adding her perspective, Worthy noted that when it comes to reputational risk, data risk, and data leakage, companies “really only have one shot to drop the ball.”

“And once that’s dropped, your reputation with your customers, your regulators, the regulators are going to be knocking down your door, and they’re not just going to be there for the next year,” she said. “They’re going to be there years to come.”

Being vigilant in today’s digital landscape doesn’t stop at the corporate level — individuals must also do their part by being aware of their interactions with digital tools and platforms.

Worthy noted that you should be mindful when searching the web, feeding information into AI tools like ChatGPT, and accepting cookies — all used to make assumptions and tailor marketing accordingly.

Still, the pressure means careers opportunities for those ready to enter the field with both technical skills and a resilient mindset. For those looking to break into the field, the panelists stressed the importance of researching, building connections, and networking with intention.

“Cybersecurity is such a big field,” Umoh said.“…Know what you enjoy, what you’re passionate about. I know we always want to go for the Benjamins, but just think about what you’re passionate about. If you’re not passionate, it’ll show, right?”

Akingbade emphasized the importance of staying professionally curious and continuously learning in cybersecurity, especially as AI rapidly reshapes the threat landscape. While starting as a generalist helps, he encouraged finding a few focus areas to build expertise and a personal brand — reminding attendees that cybersecurity can be as broad and creative as their interests allow.

“There is enough room,” Akingbade said. “Make a name for yourself, build a brand, and you’ll do well.”

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