#Bakotalks: How Progress Software is shaping the future of technology?

In the dynamic world of cybersecurity, staying ahead of threats and ensuring robust protection is a continuous challenge. Progress Software has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation to help organizations safeguard their digital assets. In an insightful interview with a representative from Progress Software – Jakub Andrzejewski, conducted by Bakotech, we explore how Progress aids its customers, the future directions of their product development, and their strategic expansion plans, particularly in the Polish market.

Identifying and reducing threats: The role of Progress

How does Progress help customers in identifying and reducing threats within the organization?

Looking specifically at the Progress Flowmon solution, we’re introducing a vital layer of security that helps cover the gaps left by traditional detection approaches. Some of these solutions cover, at best, 60% of network-connected devices in enterprise IT. We believe that accuracy matters, so our detection engine, developed over the last two decades, combines powerful AI with signatures, heuristics, and threat intelligence to help detect attacks in the earliest stages and support our clients in responding before their business is inevitably impacted.

Future directions and innovations

What are the key directions for Progress product development in the coming years? What innovations, in the case of products related to cybersecurity, are planned to meet the changing market requirements?

Nearly ten years ago, most companies needed more visibility. Today, they are overwhelmed with alerts. Therefore, we must invest in automation, especially AI, to improve security efficiency. For example, we have recently introduced an AI-based feature that automatically processes all detected events to pinpoint priorities, helping admins allocate their time more efficiently than analyzing a higher volume of events. We plan to build on this and provide even more AI-based functions, such as automated suggestions on detection engine tuning, turning average users into experts capable of maximizing detection accuracy without involving a third party or vendor consultants.

Research and new technologies

Are there new technologies or research areas in which Progress plans to provide higher product security?

Research and development projects and collaboration with major universities have always been and still are at the core of our product innovation. In the cybersecurity space, we are working on two major initiatives. The first is "Collaborative Threat Detection," where we build a central model describing different attacks on different networks and distribute this model back to the monitored networks. This will enable proactive detection of network threats that attackers have yet to attack. Another research direction is focused on using large language models to explain detected threats based on historical knowledge. The next initiative is "Assisted Analysis" for network security and network operations use cases through playbooks that provide built-in expert knowledge, automate the analysis process and recommend the next steps.

Strategic growth and acquisitions

Progress is known for acquiring smaller software producers and integrating their products with its solutions. Do you plan to add new solutions to your portfolio this calendar year?

Progress has a Total Growth Strategy to double the company's size every five years and is dedicated to reaching that goal. This means acquiring more companies that complement our technology and share our passion for driving innovation and customer success.

Focus on the Polish market

How does Progress assess the potential of the Polish market and what plans does it have regarding expansion or strengthening its presence in Poland? Are there any challenges specific to Poland that Progress wants to address in its solutions or product offerings?

The Polish market is an important market for Progress. We are continuously expanding in this market following our company acquisitions. We have recently cooperated with Bakotech regarding Progress WhatsUp Gold, Progress Kemp LoadMaster, Flowmon, and Progress MOVEit products. We expect to grow this engagement after adding more products. Regarding the challenges specific to the Polish market—we see high price sensitivity and strong competition. We will address these challenges in cooperation with Bakotech to tailor the solution and pricing to each project's specific needs.

AI: A Threat or an ally?

Is artificial intelligence a threat or an ally to the cybersecurity industry? How does Progress utilize artificial intelligence and automation in its products to increase their efficiency?

The only correct answer is both, as AI will enable attackers with new methods and attack vectors. However, AI also helps IT teams with much more powerful detection, analytics, and processing power. Unless some new paradigm like work-from-home or SaaS is coming our way, what works in our favor is that attackers (AI or no AI) still need to use the same old principles defined by how IT technologies work, which is a playground we know how to protect and we can succeed as long as we are diligent enough.

Ensuring regulatory compliance

What is your approach to ensuring regulatory compliance, such as NIS2? Which products, and in what way, can help meet the requirements posed by European directives to organizations?

As always, cybersecurity legislation is a process and policy question first, and once that is settled, technologies come to support those principles. With that said, no single solution covers the entire scope. NIS2 is about access control, activities logging, improved visibility, more thorough detection, backup and restore, accountability, transparency, and cooperation with authorities. Flowmon has been used by many organizations since the first NIS iteration to deliver better detection and response capabilities, as well as visibility and evidence for communication with authorities.

Progress Software stands at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation, leveraging advanced AI and comprehensive detection strategies to safeguard organizations against evolving threats. With a clear vision for the future, strategic growth through acquisitions, and a dedicated approach to addressing market-specific challenges, Progress continues to be a formidable ally in the realm of digital security. Their commitment to research and collaboration ensures that they remain well-equipped to meet the ever-changing demands of the cybersecurity landscape.