Wandile Mncanyana
Profile Summary
Wandile is a Security Delivery Director with Accenture Security. Before rejoining Accenture, Wandile worked as an independent security consultant and was previously a Partner in a management consultancy’s cybersecurity and privacy practice. Wandile has 12 years of experience in Financial Services, including seven years in banking and five years in insurance. During this time, he was responsible for defining security strategies, overseeing transformation initiatives, and managing operations to reduce cybersecurity risk to acceptable levels. He has also provided information security assurance services across several industry verticals with two other "big four" advisory firms and a global security consulting company.
Wandile has a proven track record of delivering information security initiatives, programs, and solutions, including managing security functions. He holds a postgraduate degree in Information Security and has obtained ISC2 CISSP and CSSLP certifications. Wandile's extensive experience and qualifications make them a valuable asset in the field of cybersecurity. With a strong background in both consulting and hands-on security management, Wandile is well-equipped to lead and support security initiatives that protect organizations from evolving threats. His expertise and dedication to cybersecurity ensure that they can effectively contribute to the success of any security program.
Session Description
Panel Discussion: Cybersecurity in the Age of Data & AI - Challenges and Opportunities
As AI and data become central to modern business operations, they introduce new cybersecurity risks and challenges. The integration of AI technologies creates vulnerabilities, such as AI-driven cyberattacks, deepfakes, and automated exploits that - left alone - can outpace traditional security measures. Additionally, the vast amounts of sensitive data being collected and processed heighten concerns about privacy, potential data breaches, and compliance with global regulations. A growing issue is data sovereignty, as the development of widely available AI models is often geographically concentrated, with the applications and systems into which said AI models are integrated typically hosted in geographically dispersed data centers (often in a different country from the deploying company and users). This raises questions around jurisdiction, ownership, and the security of cross-border data flows.
At the same time, AI presents significant opportunities to strengthen cybersecurity. AI-powered systems can enhance threat detection, automate incident response, and predict potential vulnerabilities before they are exploited. These innovations allow businesses to proactively safeguard their systems while improving efficiency and minimising risk. This panel will explore the balance between addressing the evolving challenges and harnessing AI's potential to build stronger, more resilient security frameworks. Experts will share insights on practical solutions, new technologies, and the regulatory landscape, providing valuable perspectives on how organizations can navigate the complex cybersecurity terrain in an age dominated by data and AI.
