Anri Amir David, CEO Of Black Wall Global, On Current Cyberthreats

By Christine Odera

In the maze of today’s global business landscape, digital threats loom large. Access to and control of information has become a primary battleground, and more often than not, private sector organizations have emerged to provide the capacity needed to be one step ahead of the threat environment, taking these on with finesse and resilience. At the forefront of this still burgeoning threat arena stands Anri Amir David, CEO of Black Wall Global, who have become leaders for many in the realms of cybersecurity and business intelligence, providing support for governments and private sector entities on issues as diverse as terror financing and providing supporting material in some of the world’s most impactful legal proceedings.

With a well-rounded background which included serving as Senior Executive Assistant to the President of the International Bureau of Criminal Investigation CYBERPOL, alongside being an expert on both counter-terrorism and issues of national security, David is also a fellow of the International Academy of Technological Sciences. He sat down with Forbes to offers a series of insight to business leaders in both the cyber and business intelligence spheres.

The Imperatives of Today’s Global Threat Environment

In a world where the digital realm knows no borders, David, provided a number of insights into the critical imperatives which business leaders must pay attention to in today’s global environment. “Cybersecurity resilience and intelligence collaboration are paramount,” he asserts. “Business leaders must fortify their defenses against the escalating sophistication of cyber threats while fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors.”

How to best accomplish this with the help of the private sector was explained through David’s perspective, forged with the help of his extensive personal experience, resonating with the evolving dynamics of cyber warfare, in which state actors areincreasingly turning to the private sector for specialized expertise, innovative solutions, and the intelligence needed to stay ahead of the game. “The phenomenon of state actors outsourcing cyber and intelligence needs to the private sector is on the rise,” he notes. “Private companies such as Black Wall Global bring agility, cutting-edge technology, and specialized skills to complement government agencies’ capabilities effectively.”

Insights into The Challenges

Drawing from his tenure as a General Secretariat Executive & SEA to the President of the International Cyber Police, David elucidates the primary challenges facing business leaders today. “Ransomware attacks, supply chain vulnerabilities, and cloud security are among the top concerns,” he reveals. “Additionally, insider threats, phishing attacks, and the proliferation of IoT devices pose significant risks to organizations.”

The threat of such attacks is as high as it’s ever been, leading IT security provider Check Point to deem 2023, “the year of mega ransomware attacks”. According to a recent report, a staggering one in ten organizations worldwide was hit by a ransomware attack in 2023, up 33% year on year. On the cyber front, organizations globally experienced an average of 1158 cyber-attacks each week, with the cyber threat landscape becoming far more sophisticated than we have seen to date.

In the face of these challenges, David underscores the imperative for proactive cybersecurity measures. “Business leaders must prioritize cybersecurity awareness, invest in advanced threat detection capabilities, and implement robust security measures,” he advises. “By doing so, organizations can mitigate the evolving threats effectively and safeguard their digital assets.”

What CEOs Must Know To Build A Cyber Strategy

With a wide range of companies globally offering services to address existing challenges David illustrated a case where Black Wall Global’s services provided real time solutions to concrete challenges. CEOS must build their strategies around such an approach.

“Quite recently” said David, “we uncovered the actions of a Russian hacker who successfully breached the security of INTERPOL’s website, showcasing his exploits on the darknet and even providing replication tutorials. One particularly concerning aspect of this breach was the potential manipulation or even cancellation of “Red Notices,” a critical tool used by INTERPOL in international law enforcement to locate and apprehend individuals wanted for serious crimes.”

To elucidate the severity of these breaches, consider the ramifications: the ability to cancel or manipulate Red Notices could indeed severely impede global efforts to combat transnational crime, terrorism, and other serious offenses. It could even see law enforcement officials impersonated, jeopardizing the integrity of international law enforcement and with it, public trust.

“In another recent case our team was asked to help provide supporting evidence in a large sale, and very current, terror financing related lawsuit. Cases such as these highlight the pressing need for enhanced cybersecurity measures and the type of preventative or post-facto intelligence that companies the calibre of Black Wall Global can provide. Of course, having the right tools at your disposal is instrumental in facilitating the international cooperation needed to mitigate the ever-evolving threat landscape posed by malicious state and non-state actors”, added David.

Responsible and Ethical Leadership Is More Important Than Ever

In light of the cornucopia of challenges facing business leaders, some of which are quite literally changing on a daily basis, David underscored the need to remain committed to responsible and ethical solutions. Indeed, at the forefront of many of the solutions provided, made available to business leaders by companies such as Black Wall Global, lies the integration of cutting-edge technologies and advanced data analytics tools. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and predictive analytics, businesses can uncover valuable patterns, trends, and correlations that were previously inaccessible, empowering them to make informed strategic decisions with greater precision and agility.

“However, amidst this wave of innovation, it is imperative for organizations to remain vigilant and uphold ethical standards, regulatory compliance, and privacy protection principles” cautioned David. As corporate intelligence capabilities expand, so too do the ethical considerations surround data collection, usage, and dissemination. Safeguarding sensitive information, respecting individual privacy rights, and assuring the adherence to applicable laws and regulations should benon-negotiable, and companies’ commitment to these should be the guiding light when deciding who in the private sector they would like to partner with.

Strategies for Future-Proofing Organizations

As our conversation draws to a close, David offers strategic insights for business leaders on future-proofing their organizations against emerging threats. “Business leaders should prioritize investments in cybersecurity talent and training, advanced threat detection capabilities, and cloud security solutions,” he advises. “Additionally, implementing a Zero Trust architecture, enhancing data protection measures, and staying informed about regulatory compliance requirements are essential.”

In David’s vision, proactive measures and strategic investments should be the cornerstones of resilience for CEOS in the face of evolving cyber threats. “By focusing on these key areas,” he concludes, “organizations can build resilience, mitigate risks, and adapt to the ever-evolving threat landscape effectively.”