ThreatLocker CEO Danny Jenkins Leads Cybersecurity Innovations at Zero Trust World 2026
Hundreds gathered at ThreatLocker’s Zero Trust World event in Orlando, Florida, last week, drawn by a variety of motivations. Attendees included Managed Service Providers (MSPs) eager to learn about ThreatLocker’s latest developments and network with peers, while others took the opportunity to enjoy the resort atmosphere.
For Danny Jenkins, CEO and co-founder of ThreatLocker, the focus remains clear: safeguarding businesses and their data from an ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats. Jenkins, who has been in the cybersecurity sector since 1997, co-founded ThreatLocker with Sami Jenkins in 2017. During the opening keynote, he shared a poignant anecdote from his past, illustrating the critical stakes involved in cybersecurity.
Years ago, Jenkins assisted an Australian company recovering from a ransomware attack. He recounted the emotional toll of the incident, stating, “Out of every other piece of malware I’ve dealt with before … I’ve never seen a piece of malware that could bring a 60-year-old man to tears. This man was losing his business because someone opened an email they shouldn’t have.”
The Evolving Cyber Threat Landscape
Jenkins emphasized the increasing complexity of cyber threats during his address. He discussed the implications of geopolitical conflicts, particularly referencing the recent tensions in the Middle East. He noted a significant uptick in state-sponsored attacks on U.S. companies following military exchanges. “There’s a very short exchange of missiles, and after that – within weeks and then months – there was a large increase of state-sponsored attacks on US companies,” he explained.
Despite the challenges posed by these threats, Jenkins pointed out that government agencies are relatively secure. “Not as locked down as they could be,” he remarked, “but secure enough to be a very difficult target.” In contrast, critical infrastructure, including hospitals and local municipalities, remains vulnerable. “These are very soft targets, very easy to get into. And this can cause chaos and disruption,” he added.
ThreatLocker’s Mission
While the threat landscape is daunting, Jenkins reaffirmed ThreatLocker’s commitment to protecting organizations from ransomware and data breaches. He articulated the company’s mission: “We know you cannot detect every piece of bad behavior in the world – so how do we change security without upsetting the company, the user, the business?” The objective is to simplify the implementation of zero trust security, making it user-friendly while ensuring robust defenses against cybercriminals.
“We want to help you get to a point where your users can’t be hacked … But not interfere with how they do their work,” Jenkins stated.
Educational Opportunities at Zero Trust World
Zero Trust World served as a platform for both education and product announcements. The event featured a main stage that hosted a range of speakers, including Apollo program legend Gene Kranz, whose motto, “Failure is not an option,” resonated throughout the conference. Additionally, attendees had access to hands-on hacking labs and breakout sessions designed for more intimate learning experiences.
Jenkins, who is as much a coder as he is a business leader, shared insights into the development of ThreatLocker’s new device-based cloud and network access controls. He revealed that he had scrapped the code base multiple times during production, underscoring his commitment to excellence. “I really do believe that ‘failure is not an option,’” he remarked, emphasizing the high standards he sets for himself and his team.
The Importance of Innovation
Addressing the challenges posed by rising ransomware threats, Jenkins expressed a bullish attitude. He stated, “If you do not worry that you are not keeping up in this, in any industry, then you probably should not be an entrepreneur.” He acknowledged the necessity of continuous innovation in the cybersecurity sector, citing the decline of once-dominant companies like Symantec as a cautionary tale.
“There’s an expectation that you’re always going to innovate, you’re always going to deliver,” he said. “If you don’t set that standard so high, you’re never going to get where your customers want you to be.”
As reported by www.cyberdaily.au.
