In this pre-RSAC 2025 episode, Akamai’s Rupesh Chokshi joins Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli to explore the evolving intersection of cybersecurity, AI, and enterprise resilience. From API protection to LLM-driven threats, they preview what Akamai is bringing to San Francisco—and why security must become an enabler in the hybrid digital world.
The RSA Conference has long served as a meeting point for innovation and collaboration in cybersecurity—and in this pre-RSAC episode, ITSPmagazine co-founders Marco Ciappelli and Sean Martin welcome Akamai’s Rupesh Chokshi to the conversation. With RSAC 2025 on the horizon, they discuss Akamai’s presence at the event and dig into the challenges and opportunities surrounding AI, threat intelligence, and enterprise security.
Chokshi, who leads Akamai’s Application Security business, describes a landscape marked by explosive growth in web and API attacks—and a parallel shift as enterprises embrace generative AI. The double-edged nature of AI is central to the discussion: while it offers breakthrough productivity and automation, it also creates new vulnerabilities. Akamai’s dual focus, says Chokshi, is both using AI to strengthen defenses and securing AI-powered applications themselves.
The conversation touches on the scale and sophistication of modern threats, including an eye-opening stat: Akamai is now tracking over 500 million large language model (LLM)-driven scraping requests per day. As these threats extend from e-commerce to healthcare and beyond, Chokshi emphasizes the need for layered defense strategies and real-time adaptability.
Ciappelli brings a sociological lens to the AI discussion, noting the hype-to-reality shift the industry is experiencing. “We’re no longer asking if AI will change the game,” he suggests. “We’re asking how to implement it responsibly—and how to protect it.”
At RSAC 2025, Akamai will showcase a range of innovations, including updates to its Guardicore platform and new App & API Protection Hybrid solutions. Their booth (6245) will feature interactive demos, theater sessions, and one-on-one briefings. The Akamai team will also release a new edition of their State of the Internet report, packed with actionable threat data and insights.
The episode closes with a reminder: in a world that’s both accelerating and fragmenting, cybersecurity must serve not just as a barrier—but as a catalyst. “Security,” says Chokshi, “has to enable innovation, not hinder it.”
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Keywords: RSAC 2025, Akamai, cybersecurity, generative AI, API protection, web attacks, application security, LLM scraping, Guardicore, State of the Internet report, Zero Trust, hybrid digital world, enterprise resilience, AI security, threat intelligence, prompt injection, data privacy, RSA Conference, Sean Martin, Marco Ciappelli
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Guest: Rupesh Chokshi, SVP & GM, Akamai
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupeshchokshi/
Hosts:
Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast [@RedefiningCyber] | On ITSPmagazine: https://www.itspmagazine.com/sean-martin
Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast & Audio Signals Podcast | On ITSPmagazine: https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/marco-ciappelli
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This Episode’s Sponsors
AKAMAI:
https://itspm.ag/akamailbwc
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Resources
Learn more and catch more stories from RSA Conference 2025 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsa-conference-usa-2025-rsac-san-francisco-usa-cybersecurity-event-infosec-conference-coverage
Rupesh Chokshi Session at RSAC 2025
The New Attack Frontier: Research Shows Apps & APIs Are the Targets - [PART1-W09]
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Catch all of our event coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/technology-and-cybersecurity-conference-coverage
To see and hear more Redefining CyberSecurity content on ITSPmagazine, visit: https://www.itspmagazine.com/redefining-cybersecurity-podcast
To see and hear more Redefining Society stories on ITSPmagazine, visit:
https://www.itspmagazine.com/redefining-society-podcast
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Sean Martin:
Marco.
Marco Ciappelli:
Sean.
Sean Martin:
Vroom. Vroom.
Marco Ciappelli:
Vroom, Vroom, it’s happening. You know the drill—we start early when it comes to RSAC coverage. This conference has its own traditions for us: the drives, the pit stops, the recordings, the stories. We’ve created a lot of memories, and we’re doing it again—not just for us, but for our audience. I’m excited about this conversation.
Sean Martin:
Exactly. RSAC has become a staple for us—and for the entire cybersecurity community. It’s where people come together to tackle the big questions. There’s innovation, collaboration, and a lot of “how do we fix this together?” vibes. Which is why I’m thrilled to have Rupesh on with us. Rupesh, good to see you again.
Rupesh Chokshi:
Same here—great to be back! It’s all happening so fast, right? Cybersecurity is all about speed.
Marco Ciappelli:
Too fast.
Sean Martin:
So you and your team will be there at RSAC, and there’s a lot happening leading up to the event too. But before we get into that, Rupesh, tell us a bit about your role at Akamai.
Rupesh Chokshi:
Sure. I lead Akamai’s Application Security business as SVP and General Manager. My team covers product, engineering, tech, data science, threat research, and operations. It’s all about delivering best-in-class solutions for our customers around the world.
Sean Martin:
That’s a big scope. Can you share what trends or pain points you’ve been hearing that drive your roadmap?
Rupesh Chokshi:
Absolutely. Each year, the volume and complexity of web and API attacks just keeps rising. But at the same time, we’re entering this AI era. Everyone’s trying to leverage GenAI to improve productivity, enhance differentiation, and drive innovation. It’s amazing—but also introduces new security challenges.
We look at it two ways:
So we’re doubling down on securing that next wave.
Marco Ciappelli:
And from a sociological perspective, it’s classic hype cycle. Something new like AI explodes onto the scene—people get excited, and then the reality sets in. We’re now in that phase where the tech is starting to deliver in meaningful, practical ways. Maybe not everything we dreamed of—but it works, and it’s good.
Rupesh Chokshi:
Totally agree. Some people want business as usual; others believe AI will change everything. I believe there’s massive productivity potential across industries—smart automation, contextual actions, and natural language interfaces that go beyond the “press one for this” type systems.
At Akamai, we want to enable that innovation by securing it. Trust and security have to be built in from the start, not bolted on later.
Sean Martin:
You mentioned the hybrid world—and I love that analogy. Just like businesses adapted from brick-and-mortar to e-commerce and eventually to hybrid models, we now need to rethink what our environments look like with AI baked in. It’s not just about new tools, it’s about mindset.
Rupesh Chokshi:
Exactly. My daughter is heading to college to study computer science, and her take is: “If AI can already do so much, I should use it as an enabler, not fear it.” That’s the mindset. It’s not about resisting the change—it’s about understanding where humans fit in the loop to guide, innovate, and shape outcomes.
At Akamai, we have teams working on AI security—from protecting against prompt injection and PII leakage to fighting AI with AI. Attackers are using these tools too, and we need to stay ahead.
One eye-opening stat? We’re now tracking over 500 million LLM-driven scraping requests per day—starting in commerce, but rapidly expanding into healthcare, gambling, streaming, and beyond.
Marco Ciappelli:
Wow. And people still think they can “opt out” of AI? Newsflash—you can’t.
Let’s shift to RSAC 2025. What can we expect at your booth?
Rupesh Chokshi:
We’re bringing the full team—executives, product leads, solution specialists—and setting up interactive demos, theater sessions, and 1:1 briefings. We’ll be covering everything from our App & API Protection Hybrid solution to updates on the Guardicore platform.
We’ll also unveil our latest State of the Internet (SOTI) report, with data like:
Sean Martin:
And what I love most is that you bring high-level research and insights down to the individual level. Whether someone’s in pharma, retail, or finance—they can come talk to you about their environment and leave with practical steps.
Rupesh Chokshi:
Exactly. Security is about speed and depth: being ready for real-time threats, but also having a layered strategy. Every vertical has unique needs, and we’re here to help people get the most out of their hybrid environments—whether that’s classic apps, GenAI tools, or both.
Marco Ciappelli:
These days, you can’t just plan a business for the next 50 years. You plan for right now—and prepare for change. That’s where strong partnerships come in. Excited to sit down again with you on location and share more.
Sean Martin:
We’ll definitely stop by the booth. For anyone attending, don’t miss the chance to connect with Akamai—and if you’re not attending, stay tuned. We’ll bring the stories to you.
Rupesh Chokshi:
Thanks, Marco and Sean. Looking forward to it. Booth 6245—see you there!