Speed Data: Quick Conversations With Cybersecurity Leaders

Kerissa Varma, African Chief Security Advisor for Microsoft, shares her journey into cybersecurity, the importance of female role models in tech, and how AI is reshaping the threat landscape. 💖 Explore more Speed Data: https://www.varonis.com/speed-data ✨ Visit our website: https://www.varonis.com 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE9xUuH4lhIUDOFR1OHlNNg 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linke...

In this episode, Jesse Magenheimer, State Farm's CISO, discusses his journey from high school intern to cybersecurity leader. He shares insights on emerging threats, the importance of reducing attacker dwell time, and how evolving regulations are shaping cyber insurance. 💖 Explore more Speed Data: https://www.varonis.com/speed-data ✨ Visit our website: https://www.varonis.com 🎥 YouTube: https:/...

In this episode of Speed Data, JR Williamson, SVP & CISO at Leidos, shares his insights on leadership, resilience, staying ahead of the adversary, and introduces his concept of “risk-tasy”—the elasticity of rigor based on risk. 💖 Explore more Speed Data: https://www.varonis.com/speed-data ✨ Visit our website: https://www.varonis.com 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE9xUuH4lhIUDOFR1O...

John Barrow, the Chief Information Security Officer for JB Poindexter & Co. joins us on Speed Data this week to discuss the shared responsibility model, data loss prevention, and why it's so important to have a people-first mindset when working in IT. 💖 Explore more Speed Data: https://www.varonis.com/speed-data ✨ Visit our website: https://www.varonis.com 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/cha...

This week, our guest is J.D. Whitlock, the Chief Information Officer at Dayton Children's Hospital. With a background in the military, healthcare administration, and IT, J.D. offers an in-depth perspective on the importance of cybersecurity in healthcare. Read on to learn how he minimizes the damage at his hospital when ransomware rears its ugly head. 💖 Explore more Speed Data: https://www.varoni...

In a special episode of Speed Data, Arconic CISO Eris Symms joins us live from RSAC 2025 to explain how AI will help organizations keep pace with the bad guys. 💖 Explore more Speed Data: https://www.varonis.com/speed-data ✨ Visit our website: https://www.varonis.com 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE9xUuH4lhIUDOFR1OHlNNg 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/varonis 💬 X/Twi...

Corey Reed, the Senior Manager of Information Security for HD Supply, talks with host Megan Garza about security budget restrictions, fine art, and what governance, risk, and compliance have to do with interior design. 💖 Explore more Speed Data: https://www.varonis.com/speed-data ✨ Visit our website: https://www.varonis.com 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE9xUuH4lhIUDOFR1OHlNNg 👥...

Hal Wing, the Cybersecurity Manager at Centuri, joins host Megan Garza to talk about common cybersecurity misconceptions and emerging technologies. 💖 Explore more Speed Data: https://www.varonis.com/speed-data ✨ Visit our website: https://www.varonis.com 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE9xUuH4lhIUDOFR1OHlNNg 👥 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/varonis 💬 X/Twitter: https:...

This week, Ralph Severini takes a seat on Speed Data. The Global Leader of Insurance Alliances and Commercial Insurance at Amazon Web Services discusses how generative AI will shape the future, shares his passion for jazz, and recounts how his group of former colleagues helped thwart the first-ever cybercriminal. 💖 Explore more Speed Data: https://www.varonis.com/speed-data ✨ Visit our website:...

Aaron Ansari, the virtual CISO for Exela Pharma Sciences, has an impressive background in global management and security solution development. His expertise extends to risk management, both in cybersecurity and mental fortitude, as evidenced by his most recent Ironman completion in 2022. Hear Aaron’s take on the importance of proactive planning and why he says your organization may not have as muc...

The importance of teamwork is prevalent when you’re talking to Michelle Griffey, Chief Risk Officer for Communisis. It’s that focus Michelle relies on when hiring new team members and when faced with the biggest challenge in her role — securing clients’ critical information. Michelle chatted with Speed Data host Megan Garza about why it’s so crucial to lean on others for help, how the widespread a...

This week, Dr. Dalal Alharthi, an Assistant Professor in the Cyber, Intelligence, and Information Operations Department at the University of Arizona, joins us to talk about the importance of organizations anticipating a breach and why you should see the world through the eyes of an attacker. 💖 Explore more Speed Data: https://www.varonis.com/speed-data ✨ Visit our website: https://www.varonis.co...

Bryan Chnowski, Deputy Chief Information Security Officer for Nuvance Health, is one of the most personable cybersecurity leaders you’ll ever meet. His passion for providing security awareness education to his staff, combined with his 25-plus years of experience across the education, financial, healthcare, and insurance industries, makes him ideal for leading the cybersecurity strategy at the not-...

This week’s guest is Leah McLean, former Vice President and Cybersecurity Specialist for Mastercard Data and Services and cofounder of the nonprofit Whole Cyber Human Initiative. Leah shared her advice for recruiting teams looking for the next big cybersecurity superstar and explained why it’s so important for women to feel like they have a seat at the tech table.  💖 Explore more Speed Data: http...

This week, we welcome Shesh Kondi, Salesforce Director of the Americas Security Architects, to Speed Data. Shesh shares his take on the evolution of security over time, why many leaders have fickle feelings about data, and the surprising characteristic unique to the cybersecurity field.  💖 Explore more Speed Data: https://www.varonis.com/speed-data ✨ Visit our website: https://www.varonis.com 🎥...

Our guest this week is Doug Cox, Principal Security Architect for Salesforce. Doug reflected on the beginnings of cybersecurity with host Megan Garza, recounting how a youthful prank sparked his interest in technology. He also discussed the future of tech, particularly with the rising influence of AI, and shared why it’s so crucial to safeguard sensitive healthcare data.  #Cybersecurity #Salesforc...

This week, we welcome Avi Yoshi, CTO and Solution Sales Leader for Microsoft Israel. With over two decades of experience in IT, Avi’s passion lies in harnessing technology to drive innovation and foster positive change.  In this episode of Speed Data, Avi discusses the biggest threats on the horizon, including AI-enabled attacks and data poisoning, why migrating to the cloud is more challenging th...

Mark Wigham, Director of Technical Architects at Salesforce, works with the world’s largest companies to tackle complex security, data, and AI challenges. He joins us for this week’s episode of Speed Data to talk about data loss prevention, how to help overburdened security teams, and the fundamentals of cybersecurity. #Cybersecurity #AI #Salesforce 💖 Explore more Speed Data: https://www.varonis....

In this special Speed Data episode, Mike Taylor, Hospital Ship Joint Task Director for the U.S. Department of Defense, discusses his role in information security for USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort. He shares insights with host Megan Garza on managing security for floating healthcare facilities and challenges traditional perceptions of military ships. 💖 Explore more Speed Data: https://www.varonis.co...

Generative AI is the golden child of technology these days, and in this week’s episode of Speed Data, Yohan Kim, Distinguished Security Technical Architect for Salesforce gives insight into AI functionality and customer sentiments. He joined host Megan Garza to discuss the trends he sees in AI use, what his customers are looking for in machine learning capabilities, and how an innocuous phone call...

In this week’s episode of Speed Data, we sit down with Tim Callahan, SVP and Global CISO for Aflac, the world’s leading provider of voluntary insurance. Tim talked with host Megan Garza about his favorite aspects of cybersecurity, what challenges him the most, and why he’d be happy to have a farm… so long as someone else manages it. 💖 Explore more Speed Data: https://www.varonis.com/speed-data ✨...