Penilla, at the X Inspiring Women Leaders forum: Digital security is a key and strategic factor for the competitiveness of the industrial sector
Penilla, at the X Inspiring Women Leaders forum: Digital security is a key and strategic factor for the competitiveness of the industrial sector
The director of ZIUR addressed the challenges of cybersecurity in the era of the quantum revolution and the rise of Artificial Intelligence before 400 professionals.
As part of the 10th edition of the international forum 'Inspiring Women Leaders in the Digital Era', held on February 4th and 5th at the University of Deusto, María Penilla, CEO of ZIUR (Gipuzkoa Industrial Cybersecurity Center), participated in a roundtable discussion on the challenges of industrial cybersecurity before 400 professionals, solidifying her position as a leading figure in this field for women professionals in technological and strategic sectors.
Penilla shared her perspective on the biggest real-world challenges facing companies in cybersecurity, alongside leading experts such as Maite Carli from the Industrial Cybersecurity Center (CCI), who moderated the panel, and Nekane Muguruza from Ironchip, Pilar Prieto from MasOrange, Óscar Villanueva from NYMIZ, and Carlota Escolano from World Alerts.
During her participation in the event organized by ‘W Startup Community’, María Penilla emphasized the importance of understanding digital security not only as a technical barrier, but as a key and strategic factor for the competitiveness of the industrial sector. As head of ZIUR, a public foundation under the auspices of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, Penilla stressed that its mission is to support companies, especially SMEs, in secure and practical digitalization processes.
Penilla also presented an analysis of the impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence and the need for robust governance. In this regard, she warned that AI is a "wave" sweeping over many organizations and that leaders must be able to "stop and rethink" the use of these tools to protect data integrity. "The great challenge is being able to govern all of this... bearing in mind that AI represents an exponential increase in risk for the organization," Penilla stated, urging management committees to align cybersecurity with business strategy to deliver real value.
Penilla also warned about the arrival of quantum computing, describing it as a "before and after" that could materialize before 2030. Her focus on measurement through quantifiable KPIs to assess companies' security posture offers a clear and professional methodology for future leaders seeking rigor in technology management.
Finally, María Penilla delivered a message of empowerment regarding companies' technological sovereignty. She argued that, even with trusted external providers, strategic cybersecurity decisions must be made internally, as they need to be deeply aligned with business knowledge.
Through her participation in this international forum, María Penilla not only contributed high-level technical expertise on topics such as Cybersecurity and Good Governance, but also demonstrated that female leadership is essential for managing the disruptive risks of our time and effectively building a shared future.