What does enterprise security really look like in 2025, especially as AI, cloud-first architecture, and hybrid work models converge to reshape the perimeter? In this episode of Consulting the Future, recorded live at IGEL Now & Next 2025 in Miami, I am joined by Marissa Schmidt, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner, for a grounded conversation that cuts through the noise.

Marissa brings deep insight into the evolving role of endpoint security in today’s distributed enterprise. With responsibilities spanning cloud networking, application security, and generative AI, she offers a rare vantage point into how these threads are coming together and where businesses need to refocus.

Together, they explore the growing complexity of multi-cloud environments, the operational challenges of managing dozens of disconnected security tools, and why visibility, segmentation, and zero trust architecture are no longer optional.

Marissa explains how the operating system layer is quickly becoming a strategic linchpin in endpoint resilience and why preventive security needs to move closer to the edge.

The discussion also covers how AI is being used not just for threat detection, but for integrating disparate security signals and automating next-step actions in complex environments. Marissa shares what Gartner is seeing in the field, from the practical challenges of implementation to the cultural shifts required to adopt scalable security strategies.

Beyond the technology, we hear about her keynote reflections, the importance of authenticity and adaptability in leadership, and how research-backed guidance can empower IT decision-makers to move from theory to execution.

For business and technology leaders navigating cloud transformation, endpoint strategy, or zero trust implementation, this episode offers clear, research-informed direction.

Are your endpoint and cloud strategies designed for the future or still solving yesterday’s problems?