Exclusive: Radware SVP Travis Volk discusses evolving cyber threats and defences

Radware's Senior Vice President of Service Provider Go-to-Market, Travis Volk, has been at the forefront of the evolving cybersecurity landscape for over 20 years.

Recently promoted in January 2024, Volk shared his insights into the increasing complexities of cyber threats, the role of AI in countering them, and Radware's efforts to protect its global customers.

Reflecting on his career, Volk explained how he transitioned from AT&T to Radware, where he initially served as an architect for business development.

"I was originally at AT&T and managed a lot of managed service designs," he said.

"I've been with Radware for 20 years—two Fridays ago was my anniversary. It's been a hell of a journey."

Radware, a leader in application protection, has continuously innovated to meet the demands of its enterprise and service provider customers.

Volk described the company as "the most advanced application protection platform in the industry" and credited its early integration of security into network equipment for its success.

In his new role, Volk focuses on educating customers and addressing their specific challenges. Internet Service Providers (ISPs), he noted, face unique threats from legacy security tools and sophisticated attacks.

"They struggle with static filter engines and a lack of adaptive protections," he said. "The sophistication of threats also means they lack comprehensive visibility, especially at layer seven."

The evolution of attacks
Volk highlighted the evolution of cyberattacks, which have grown more complex over the past two decades. He noted that denial-of-service (DoS) attacks have transformed from simple floods targeting bandwidth to intricate campaigns combining multiple techniques.

"Modern attack tools integrate web application firewall attack vectors, API attack vectors, botnets, and layer three and four attacks," Volk explained.

"They exploit cracks in infrastructure, infiltrating systems and exfiltrating data."

Layer seven attacks, targeting application-level resources, are particularly challenging.

"These attacks bypass zero-trust protocols through phishing, obtain credentials, and abuse resources," Volk said.

"The result is breaches, data loss, and a vicious cycle of accelerated hacking activity."

Despite the similarities between DoS and layer seven attacks, Volk observed that the latter has been more destructive in recent years. "Customers often have basic controls over traditional layer three, four attacks, but they lack the resilience to withstand layer seven attacks," he added.

Defending against nation-state threats
Radware's capabilities were put to the test during its pro bono support for Ukraine's State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection. Amid a surge in nation-state cyber activity following the Russian invasion, Radware deployed its cloud DDoS protection and web application firewall services to shield Ukraine's critical infrastructure.

"With nation-state actors targeting Ukraine's communication systems and web applications, our solutions provided comprehensive threat detection and mitigation," Volk explained.

This experience underscored the growing intersection of state-sponsored and private sector attacks. Volk emphasised that the tools and techniques used in warfare are now influencing broader cybersecurity strategies.

The role of AI
Radware integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning across its solutions to adapt to modern threats.

"Our AI engines detect live attack patterns in real-time and adapt policies to maintain service under attack," Volk said.

By automating event correlation and refining policies, Radware's systems reduce the burden on human analysts. "In our world, it's less about removing tedious tasks and more about tackling complex investigations," Volk explained.

For example, Radware recently defended a European bank against an encrypted web flood that peaked at 16 million requests per second.

The bank's legitimate traffic was just 80 requests per second. "The real magic is not just blocking the flood but preserving those legitimate requests," Volk said.

Collaboration and momentum
Radware collaborates extensively with technology and channel partners to extend its reach.

"We've worked with OEMs like Cisco, MSSPs, and GSIs to ensure our technology is accessible worldwide," Volk said.

With over 12,000 customers in 42 countries, Radware has established itself as a trusted partner for enterprises and carriers.

Volk attributed Radware's growth to increasing customer demand. "When I joined, we had very little brand recognition. Today, our technology is demanded by partners and customers globally," he said. "The proof of our momentum lies in the exponential growth of our pipeline and opportunities."

As cyber threats grow in scale and complexity, Radware's commitment to innovation remains steadfast. Looking to the future, Volk emphasised the need for continued vigilance. "It's an arms race," he said. "Attackers are evolving, but so are we."