MSCC Developers Conference 2025 – Panel Discussion

Covering topics such as software development, AI & machine learning, cloud computing, DevOps, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, the Developers Conference offers a unique platform for learning, networking, and sharing ideas within the island’s vibrant tech ecosystem.

Among the many sessions and daily keynotes, I had the opportunity to host and moderate a panel discussion titled “How Much Cybersecurity is Enough?”, a timely topic given the rapidly evolving threat landscape and the growing role of AI, cloud, and regulatory frameworks in shaping security strategies. With a diverse panel of industry experts and a highly engaged audience, the session turned into a dynamic exchange of ideas, experiences, and practical insights.

I totally enjoyed hosting and sincerely hope that everyone who attended the session enjoyed as much.

The panelists were:

• Didier Samfat, PhD
  Cybersecurity Specialist | CISSP | CEH | CMNA
• Zeimm Auladin-Suhootoorah
  IT Manager at Gamma Civic Ltd
• Joe Van der Walt
  Founding Director at Kohde
• Sebastien Stormacq
  Principal Developer Advocate at Amazon Web Services

Dr Samfat emphasized the need to foster a strong culture of security awareness within organizations, supported by regular maturity assessments to uncover potential blind spots. Building on this, Zeimm provided practical, real-world perspectives on securing complex infrastructure while striking the right balance between innovation and budget constraints.

Joe highlighted the developer’s critical role in embedding security from the outset and the growing responsibility of AI builders to protect user data and privacy.

Adding a broader lens, Sébastien explored cloud-native security, the shared responsibility model, and the impact of evolving regulatory frameworks such as GDPR and the Cyber Resilience Act.

The room was filled to capacity, with an engaged and enthusiastic audience that actively participated by asking questions throughout the discussion. It's a shift from previous years’ format, as I invited audience interaction during the session rather than reserving all questions for a Q&A at the end.

Didier Adrien, IT Manager at SWAN, while commenting about security incidents in Mauritius, highlighted the importance of openly disclosing security incidents, stressing how such transparency benefits the broader community by fostering awareness, encouraging collaboration, and enabling collective learning to prevent similar threats.