Stoyan Popov, Chief Information Security Officer at Amusnet, joined a high-impact panel discussion at Digitalk 2025, held on May 27 in Sofia, Bulgaria. The event gathered over 40 speakers and more than 800 attendees, including industry leaders, innovators, and technology visionaries. This year’s Digitalk Conference centered on AI's transformative impact across industries, business models, and value creation.
Popov participated in the "How to Turn AI into Growth Power for the Business" panel, alongside Ivan Katsarski and Daniel Minchev. The discussion focused on AI's practical challenges and strategic opportunities, emphasizing innovation, scalability, and security. Amusnet's CISO highlighted the necessity of pairing AI adoption with a robust cybersecurity foundation for secure and sustainable value realization.
"Every company's growth is driven by pushing boundaries, including through AI," Popov stated. "However, this progress also introduces risks. AI is dually used by companies and malicious actors. We've observed phishing attacks generated and deployed in under an hour, necessitating equally rapid detection and response capabilities."
Popov emphasized Amusnet's current AI integration within its cybersecurity ecosystem to enhance threat detection, support ISO certification processes, and bolster risk assessments. "We are investing in the right skills and tools to scale securely," he explained. "AI is embedded in our security operations, enabling faster, smarter decisions and proactive actions, protecting both the company and our clients globally."
A key discussion point was securing AI itself and ensuring its responsible and effective usage. "The goal is to not only use AI, but to secure it," Popov noted. "This involves clear internal policies, governance, and empowering employees with critical thinking skills." He also emphasized the Zero Trust approach. "We can't assume anything is safe. Don't trust, verify. A Zero Trust model requires top-down leadership, robust frameworks, employee training, and a culture of constant awareness," he added.
Looking ahead, Amusnet is exploring autonomous AI agents capable of real-time threat detection and response. "We are just at the beginning of what's possible," Popov concluded. "Let's ensure we shape this future deliberately, by using AI securely, responsibly, and with purpose."
