Summary Bullets:

• The nature of the problems changed from local to network, requiring expensive network support rather than using PC technicians.

• It’s important to remember that many concepts in modern enterprise IT come up again and again cyclically, only to be characterized as ‘paradigm-changing’ by enthusiastic marketing teams.

The idea of remote desktops or streaming an employee’s Microsoft Windows desktop to a more affordable device or even in a window on a remote employee’s self-owned hardware has been around for a long time. The reasons were simple – less spending on desktop computers, easier support both on-site and particularly for remote, better security, and remote desktops worked particularly well for temporary or project-based access for outsiders. Citrix and VMware both made hay with remote desktops, especially in the era where PC hardware and Microsoft Windows itself were considerably less reliable than today.

Summary Bullets:

• Agentic AI could have been rolled out more gradually, with actual cybersecurity protection, including data protection, regulatory compliance, and responsibility tracking.

• AI and agentic AI are here to stay, but it’s up to customers to pump the brakes and ensure they don’t implement a technology that leaves them vulnerable to attack in ways that even AI’s creators can’t fully envision.

RSAC 2026 concluded last week, and it was a firestorm of AI and agentic AI announcements, products, services, and marketing. The mood on the show floor was positive, the majority of people crowding around interesting demos and informational sessions. And of course, good booth prizes and tchotchkes. Cybersecurity vendors and service providers paid out for lavish booths and even the smaller booths were mostly cleverly decorated/marketed.