Nat Smith is a Senior Director security analyst in the Technology and Service Provider (TSP) division of Gartner, researching emerging technology and trends (ETT) for technology product leaders. Mr. Smith researches technology, markets and trends impacting network security especially artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). This focus includes secure access services edge (SASE), network detection and response (NDR), firewalls (enterprise and UTM), firewall-as-a-service (FWaaS), secure web gateways (SWG), zero trust network access (ZTNA), microsegmentation, IPS, advanced threats and cloud security. He has more than 20 years of high-tech experience in product leadership positions with security, networking and communications vendors including AT&T, Fortinet, Intel, McAfee, Palm, Riverbed, Symantec and T-Mobile.
Mr. Smith has previously worked in the fields of product management, product marketing and business development.
Fortinet
Director Management and Analytics
McAfee
Director Global Product Solutions
Symantec (Packeteer-Blue Coat)
Sr. Product Manager
Product Strategy and Launch for Tech CEOs
Messaging and Differentiation
Strategize Long-Term Growth
Infrastructure Security
Emerging Technologies and Trends Impact on Products and Services
M.B.A., Marriott School, Brigham Young University
B.S., Physics, Psychology and Chemistry, Brigham Young University
1Security product leaders - applying emerging technology into security product roadmaps and portfolios, especially SASE, NDR, ZTNA, firewall, IPS, SWG
2Security product leaders - go-to-market strategies and tactics, including target positioning and messaging, channel strategy, pricing strategy
3Security product leaders - product evolution, adjacent markets, partnering and OEM
4Security buyers - product and vendor evaluation, especially SASE, NDR, ZTNA, firewall, IPS, SWG
5Security buyers - key network security issues and trends to facilitate strategic planning and budgeting