The Perfect Storm

In this episode of The Perfect Storm , Michael Markulec talks with Darek Hahn of AffinIT about how IT is evolving from a support function into a strategic business advantage. They explore the growing impact of AI, the need for stronger security and employee training, and why SMB leaders need to take a more active role in managing technology and cyber risk. The conversation also looks ahead at how...

In this episode of The Perfect Storm , Michael Markulec sits down with Joan Stevens, IT Director at Phillips Distilling, to discuss the realities of managing cybersecurity in a manufacturing environment. They explore balancing AI adoption with emerging risks, protecting legacy and operational technology, managing third-party access, and building a strong security culture with a small IT team. Joan...

Michael Markulec talks with Adam Austin, Co-Founder and President of Totem Technologies, about the Department of Defense's suspension of CMMC Phase 2 and what it means for organizations across the Defense Industrial Base. They discuss why contractors should continue building toward NIST SP 800-171 compliance, the future of third-party assessments, how CMMC could evolve into a more practical and af...

Michael sits down with Arthur Neumann, Director of IT and Cybersecurity Delivery at IMRI, to explore key trends in the cybersecurity landscape—particularly within the defense contracting space. The conversation dives into the evolving CMMC framework, the growing reality of audits, and why many organizations struggle more with policy and documentation than technical controls. Arthur shares practica...

In this episode of The Perfect Storm , Michael speaks with Josh Zweig, CEO and co-founder of Zip Security, about the cybersecurity challenges facing today’s small and medium-sized businesses. Josh shares how Zip Security is helping organizations simplify security operations, reduce implementation complexity, and make cybersecurity more accessible for companies without large internal IT or security...

Matt sits down with Sara Mirsky-Terranova of AE Consulting LLC to explore the growing demand for Fractional Compliance Officers and how small to mid-sized businesses—especially fintechs and banks—can leverage the fractional model to build strong, scalable compliance programs. Sara shares insights into how a fractional compliance role differs from a full-time hire or other outsourced solutions, hig...

In this episode, Michael and Matthew discuss the evolving cybersecurity landscape and the growing challenges organizations face as threats continue to increase. They highlight how many businesses remain unprepared for modern cyber risks, despite the rising frequency and impact of attacks. The conversation focuses on how security frameworks and compliance requirements are becoming more standardized...

n this episode, Michael speaks with Care Report founders Craig Sekowski and Ralph Pasquariello to examine the evolving role of cybersecurity insurance in today’s business landscape. Care Report specializes in converting cyber risk data into actionable financial intelligence , enabling organizations to make informed decisions about their exposure and resilience. The discussion explores the key thre...

In this episode of The Perfect Storm, Matthew sits down with cybersecurity veteran Steven Laino, founder of Expert Infosec and former AWS consultant to Fortune 500 companies. They dive into the evolving world of cloud security, with a focus on how startups and SMBs can protect their environments through Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM). Learn how CSPM helps prevent misconfigurations, stren...

This episode dives into the latest shifts in their own business, exploring the power of compliance automation tools and the importance of continuous risk. They also offer advice to small business owners navigating the complex tech world.

Michael meets with VP of Hub International, Jeremy M. Deck, MBA, on this episode of The Perfect Storm. With Jeremy’s vast experience as a Veteran, Consultant, Advisor, and Subject Matter Expert, he discusses risk management and how his company, Hub International, helps clients manage risk across commercial, benefits, and personal risk insurance products. They also talk about cybersecurity insuranc...

Matthew talks with Mary, the CEO of Paynela, a company determined to stop the cost of medication from being a barrier of access for patients. Being a company founded just under a year ago, they discuss challenges and tips for starting a company in the cybersecurity sector, including the importance of finding a good partner to team up with and rely on.

Michael meets with Chris Hale, an IT expert and co-founder of Technology Response Team in Colorado. They discuss the importance of SMBs taking the steps to transition from managed services to managed security services. They also talk about staying ahead of emerging technologies being implemented by bad actors and Chris shares his thoughts on some tips to follow during October’s Cybersecurity Aware...

Michael and Matthew meet to talk about the 20th year of Cybersecurity Awareness Month coming in October. They mention four simple steps both individuals and businesses can take to stay cyber-safe. They discuss recommendations including using multi-factor authentication, implementing a password manager, and give tips on how to create strong passwords.

Michael talks with David Abodunrin, who is the Cybersecurity Project Manager/Enterprise Agile Coach at Cybarik in Manchester, UK. They discuss all things information security, such as the cost of security, but also how essential it is to a business and how important awareness training is for every single employee at a company. They also explain why it’s not solely businesses that are susceptible t...

Michael talks with Laura Bell Main, an Application Security Specialist and the CEO of Safestack Academy. Safestack Academy works to educate software developers on how to incorporate security into their systems. In this episode, Michael and Laura discuss how often software teams should be testing their security and how implementing security can protect and benefit companies, individual employees, a...

In this episode, Michael talks with Kingsley Hill, the Regional Director at Freeman Clarke. They delve into the role of fractional CIOs and CTOs in mid-market companies. They discuss how these technology experts provide valuable insights into understanding technological challenges and the emergence of new technologies like AI and increased computing power. They also talk about how to mitigate cybe...

In this episode, Matthew is joined by Nishat Azam, Director of Compliance at Cypher LLC. They discuss a small business' journey to achieving CMMC compliance and becoming a C3PAO. Nishat provides valuable insights into the steps businesses must take to prepare for a CMMC audit and achieve certification, as well as general advice on navigating cybersecurity compliance.

In this podcast, Matthew interviews Nathan Hamiel, the Senior Director of Research at Kudelski Security, where they discuss various topics surrounding AI. They cover the areas of security, LLMs, and the social language of ChatGPT. Their discussion also includes privacy concerns such as intellectual property versus personal property, as well as Nathan's thoughts on how AI technology can be utilized...

Michael meets with Mark Phander, the Risk Adviser at CBIZ Borden Perlman. They talk about the rise in cyber insurance coverage for businesses, how cyber insurance and cybersecurity practices have evolved at CBIZ, and how clients and businesses have reacted in recent years to cyber policy changes. Mark describes why Multi-Factor-Authentication (MFA) is essential nowadays and which types of devices...

Matthew talks to Nicholas Blank, the CEO of NBConsult, and Chris Goosen, Technology Consultant and Microsoft MVP about Zero Trust. They discuss its guiding principles, including what to do if a vendor contacts your business regarding Zero Trust. They also talk about the importance of using complex passwords, enabling MFA for Cloud Services, and Privilege Account Management as a business.

Michael and Matthew are back after a holiday break to continue The Perfect Storm Podcast in 2023. They discuss possible upcoming trends in cybersecurity this year and current news circulating in the cyber field. They give advice about how to best protect your business’s data by choosing the right companies for insurance and third-party risk management. They also bring up AI chatbots becoming more...

Matthew meets with security expert Lisa Lorenzin, a former Field CTO-AMS at Zscaler. They discuss the evolution of the modern workplace over the last few years, especially with the increase in remote workers. They focus on a variety of topics in the history and current state of remote work, including cloud-based security services, secure web gateway and proxy, and firewall and remote access VPNs,...

Matthew talks with Richard Shapiro, the Chief Financial and Operating Officer at Sierra Canyon School in California. They discuss why it is vital to educate students and teachers on security practices and describe a class offered at Sierra Canyon that teaches students how to be cyber-safe. They also talk about how cybersecurity differs at schools from other organizations as well as the cost and be...

Matthew meets with David Lennon, the Director of Enterprise Solutions at FireMon. They talk about managing firewall rules, cyber threat maps, and the importance of having good cyber hygiene. They also discuss Firemon’s move to cloud security operations, specifically focusing on access control for users.