Fusion Live 2025: The Cyber Security Zone

Seeing Isn’t Believing: Deepfakes, AI & Social Engineering

How AI deepfakes are transforming digital identity security

Deepfake technology is rapidly emerging as one of the most dangerous trends in cybersecurity. In this session, Trustmarque experts revealed how AI-generated synthetic media can be used to impersonate individuals, manipulate trust, and compromise sensitive data. To show the scale of the risk, our team created an AI clone of CEO Simon Williams, demonstrating just how realistic and threatening deepfakes have become, with just 30 seconds of his voice and a still image found online.

With the support of Proofpoint, the session highlighted the urgent need for stronger digital identity protection and advanced detection strategies. Attendees left with practical insights on how to recognise AI-powered attacks, protect against social engineering, and build resilience against the next generation of cyber threats.

The State of Ransomware

What 3,400 Global Ransomware Victims Reveal About Today’s Cybersecurity Threat Landscape

Sophos delivered a standout session on the state of ransomware, drawing on insights from a global survey of 3,400 organisations across 25 countries. The session went beyond the headlines to share the real-world experiences of ransomware victims, highlighting the latest tactics, trends, and weak spots that attackers continue to exploit.

Key insights included:

Exploited vulnerabilities remain the number one entry point for ransomware.
Resource gaps like short-staffed teams and poor-quality protection leave organisations exposed.
The sharp rise of extortion-only attacks, where data isn’t encrypted but ransom is still demanded.
The growing power of organised ransomware cartels, such as DragonForce.

Sophos closed with a clear call to action: organisations need to combine AI-powered security tools with human-led threat hunting to stay ahead of today’s highly organised cybercriminals.

Pre-empting your attacker

Taking the audience inside the world of industrial cyber warfare, this session revealed how hackers are now targeting operational technology (OT) with the same cunning and force as IT systems: breaking into factory networks, bypassing weak defences, and unleashing ransomware that can halt production in its tracks. Through gripping real-world case studies, Trustmarque Penetration Tester, Rob McLellan demonstrated how attackers exploit every gap, from outdated gateways to unpatched devices, and why traditional defences just aren’t enough.

The real game-changer? Proactive, AI-powered security platforms like Armis Centrix that give defenders the upper hand - spotting threats early, prioritising the most dangerous vulnerabilities, and stopping attacks before they can even begin. The message was clear: in today’s cyber battlefield, only those who move from reactive to pre-emptive security will stay ahead of the attackers.

10:00AM

Seeing Isn't Believing: Deepfakes, AI & Social Engineering - Proofpoint

11:00 AM

From the Frontlines - WithSecure

12:00 AM

Zero Trust and Beyond: The Future of Security Leadership - Microsoft