Cyber threats are evolving faster than ever. At AXA XL, we aim not just to keep pace but to empower clients with resilient cyber defenses, enabling confident navigation of the digital landscape. To achieve this, we’re expanding our cyber risk consulting team to serve clients better and stay ahead of emerging threats.
Rébiah Bardot-Girard, with over 20 years of experience in IT, security, and risk consulting, leads our Cyber Risk Consulting Services. She develops strategies to help clients manage complex cyber risks and is instrumental in shaping our future approach to cyber risk management.
Rébiah’s firsthand cybersecurity experience, previously serving as AXA headquarters’ Chief Security Officer, gives her unique insight into security challenges. She advised senior management on security strategies across information systems and physical security, led initiatives to foster a security-conscious culture, and played a key role in building business continuity and crisis plans to ensure AXA’s resilience.
Today, Rébiah applies her expertise in cybersecurity, risk mitigation, and resilience to expand AXA XL’s cyber risk consulting capabilities. Here she shares her plans for finding ways to help our clients tackle today’s toughest cyber security challenges.
What are your main goals for growing the Cyber Risk Consulting team? How do those fit with the company's overall approach to risk management and serving clients?
My primary goal is to continue to strengthen AXA XL’s Cyber Risk Consulting team by expanding our technical expertise and enhancing our consulting capabilities across the full cyber resilience lifecycle — Prevent, Prepare, Protect, and Prevail. This approach ensures that our clients receive end-to-end support, from proactive risk identification to rapid recovery after an incident.
With over 20 years of experience in IT and business continuity, I am continuing to build out a consulting team that blends deep technical knowledge with strategic insight, helping clients translate complex cyber risks into actionable resilience strategies. We will continue to support our underwriters with precise cyber risk assessments that drive more accurate pricing and tailored insurance solutions, while helping clients strengthen their overall cybersecurity maturity.
Our vision is to position AXA XL Risk Consulting as a trusted partner in cyber resilience by:
- Preventing cyber incidents through risk assessments, compliance analysis, and cybersecurity governance aligned with frameworks such as NIST, ISO 27001, IEC 62443, and DORA.
- Preparing clients via tailored training, penetration testing, and threat intelligence programs developed in collaboration with partners like S-RM, Deloitte, and KnowBe4.
- Protecting critical assets through advanced monitoring, identity management, and vulnerability assessments using technologies from partners such as Silverfort, and CybelAngel.
- Prevailing after incidents by providing expert-led incident response, crisis management, and fast recovery services — ensuring our clients emerge stronger and more resilient.
These objectives align directly with AXA Group’s broader risk management philosophy: proactively identifying vulnerabilities, fostering resilience, and delivering thought leadership. By integrating consulting, technology, and insurance expertise, we aim to deliver measurable value to our clients — reducing exposure, enhancing compliance, and reinforcing trust.
Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that AXA XL remains at the forefront of cyber risk consulting — bridging technical excellence with business strategy to help clients anticipate, withstand, and recover from evolving cyber threats.
How do you see this team helping clients better understand and manage cyber risks, and what added value can they expect to receive?
Our team is here to help clients better understand their cyber risks through personalized threat briefings, in-depth assessments, and practical operational advice. We want to make the complex world of cyber threats easier to grasp, not just from a technical perspective but also in terms of regulatory requirements—like staying compliant with regulators. Each member of the team brings expertise in each area – from threat anticipation to regulatory compliance.
When clients work with us, they can expect to see real results, like stronger cyber resilience, clearer priorities around risks, and actionable steps to boost their defenses. For example, our incident management training prepares teams at all levels -- whether operational staff or executives -- to respond swiftly and effectively when needed.
We also provide thought leadership and guidance on regulatory changes, so clients stay ahead of evolving compliance demands. Ultimately, our goal is to help clients improve how they manage cyber risks, minimize potential losses, and foster a resilient, security-minded organizational culture.
By integrating consulting, technology, and insurance expertise, we aim to deliver measurable value to our clients — reducing exposure, enhancing compliance, and reinforcing trust.
Which cyber risks or threats are you prioritizing for assessment and mitigation, and how will your team tailor solutions for different client industries or sizes?
We prioritize threats such as ransomware, OT vulnerabilities, critical infrastructure risks, and regulatory compliance due to their potential impact on business continuity and regulatory standing. For example, ransomware can severely disrupt organizations in sensitive sectors like utilities and manufacturing.
Our approach involves tailored solutions based on client industry and size. Smaller companies benefit from a comprehensive profile on AXA’s Digital Commercial Platform (DCP), offering tools and controls suited to their scale. Larger organizations require advanced risk assessments, incident management simulations, and targeted control implementations.
Additionally, we provide incident management training at various levels -- tabletop exercises for operational teams and strategic sessions for senior management -- to ensure mitigation strategies are relevant and effective across all client profiles.
How will this team collaborate with departments like underwriting, claims, and product development to ensure a comprehensive cyber risk management approach?
Collaboration is really at the heart of what we do. We team up closely with underwriters early on, during the pre-bind stage, to share risk assessments that help shape policy terms. Our insights also influence underwriting guidelines, making sure they stay aligned with current threats and client vulnerabilities.
We also work hand-in-hand with the claims team to analyze incidents and use what we learn to improve our risk strategies. For instance, we collaborate with the pricing team to identify controls that can reduce risk, which then get factored into premium calculations.
On the product side, we partner with AXA XL’s Global Chief Underwriting Officer (GCUO) to develop and refine guidelines, ensuring they stay ahead of emerging threats, and we are co-building, with GCUO & data innovation/analytic teams, AI-driven tools to analyze questionnaires and risk data, helping us assess our clients’ maturity levels across key risks. This integrated approach allows underwriters to recommend the most effective controls and services tailored to each client’s unique risk profile.
What are your key initiatives or milestones for the Cyber Risk Consulting team next year? How do you see our capabilities evolving to address emerging cyber threats and client needs
Looking ahead, AI and automation will play a pivotal role in scaling our capabilities. We plan to incorporate advanced AI tools to enhance our threat detection, risk assessment, and client advisory processes, making our services more proactive and data driven.
We will also expand the use of our DCP platform, enabling clients, especially smaller ones, to access tailored tools and insights to manage their cyber risks independently. Our goal is to create a seamless, integrated experience where clients can profile their organization, identify gaps, and access targeted controls and training resources.
We’ll also focus on developing thought leadership around emerging threats like AI-driven attacks and sophisticated ransomware campaigns. Our team will continue to evolve by integrating the latest technology, fostering internal expertise, and maintaining close collaboration with external partners and regulators. Ultimately, our aim is to position AXA as a leader in cyber risk management, providing innovative, scalable solutions that meet our clients’ evolving needs.
Contact us: CyberRiskConsultingServices@axaxl.com
