Unmasked

What happens when passion, talent, and opportunity collide in the university's tech scene? Meet David Nathanson and Daniel Garay, the freshmen duo who took the University of Richmond's Capture the Flag (CTF) competition by storm. With David bringing his coding journey from Nicaragua and Daniel harnessing his self-taught skills in AI and machine learning, they crafted a strategy that high...

Unlock the secrets to navigating the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity and commercial insurance with expert insights from Alan Delahunty of McGriff Insurance. Discover how the complexity of cyber threats is reshaping insurance policies and learn why multi-factor authentication and other security measures are now industry standards. We promise you'll walk away with a deeper understanding of...

Unlock the secrets to revolutionizing your cybersecurity strategy with insights from Bill McInnis of Nucleus Security. Journey through Bill’s extensive career, spanning over two decades and multiple sectors including email security and threat intelligence, and learn how he spearheaded groundbreaking changes since joining Nucleus in 2021. Discover the innovative model Nucleus employs to shift vulne...

Ever wondered what it takes to transition from a routine job to leading a successful company? Join us for a compelling conversation with Greg Samuels, CEO of Salveria, as he shares his extraordinary journey from an application developer at Circuit City to founding his own thriving business. Greg opens up about the hurdles of frequent travel, the balance between career and family, and the serendipi...

Ever wondered how a young entrepreneur juggles the fast-paced world of tech sales and the demands of higher education? Meet Will Melton, the dynamic CEO of Exponent 21, who shares his fascinating journey from childhood ventures to helming a thriving company by the age of 20. Will's knack for marketing and creativity shines through as he discusses his early business endeavors, the challenges h...

What happens when a Marine Corps veteran with extensive careers in telecom and construction decides to pivot to non-profit work? Jack Raymondson's joins us on Unmasked to share his incredible journey from military life to becoming the passionate business development manager at Tech for Troops. Jack's commitment to giving back shines through as he discusses his involvement with veteran or...

Curious about how a 23-year Air Force veteran transitions into a leading role in network security? Join us as we chat with Dave Mizell, the Managing Director of Defensive Cybersecurity at Assura, Inc. Cybersecurity. Dave opens up about his initial experiences in a Security Operations Center (SOC) and the rapid learning curve he faced. You'll hear firsthand about the day-to-day operations and...

Discover the thrill of victory and the fascinating challenges faced in the world of cybersecurity competitions with the Lovely Ladies, an all-female champion team from the University of Richmond. Maggie and Leah join us to share their journey through the Capture the Flag event, providing rare insights into what drives a team to success in this high-stakes arena. They shed light on the camaraderie...

Discover the transformative power of AI in cybersecurity as I, Paul Blacker, engage with Assura's Nick Berrie in a revealing conversation about the future of online safety. Be prepared to have your notions of AI challenged as we unravel its multifaceted role in both advancing and undermining cyber defenses. From our lively experience at CyberCon, we delve into the realities of automated secur...

Discover the ins and outs of cybersecurity compliance as Bryan Carnahan joins me, Paul Blacker, to dissect the transition to Virginia's SEC 530 standard, a critical move for state agencies and their vendors. As the March 31st deadline approaches, we reveal how falling behind can result in more than just cyber vulnerabilities; it could lead to nightmarish audits and shaky cyber insurance. With...

Get ready for a very special Unmasked. Joining us in this episode is Nick Serfass, CEO of RVATech. For those not in the Richmond area, RVATech is on a mission to ignite the growth of the technology sector, the success of technology companies, and the vibrancy of the technology community within the greater Richmond region. Listen in as we dive into Nick's intriguing journey, discuss initiative...

Join us for another riveting episode of Unmasked to close out November. Get ready to dive into recent cybersecurity events and hot topics. We dissect AI's use across multiple industries, examining how it's trained for specific tasks and discussing its limitations. And for those of you who are looking to break into or progress in the cybersecurity job market, we share insights on the crit...

Join us for this very special episode as we sit down with the IT and Security experts from the University of Richmond. John Craft (Director of Information Security), Keith McIntosh (Chief Information Officer), and Svetla Walsh (Information Security Analyst) discuss their upcoming Capture the Flag (CTF) event. Get to know them beyond their professional titles as we break the ice with fun tidbits on...

Welcome to another captivating episode of Unmasked! Join us as we embark on a thrilling journey into the dynamic realm of cybersecurity, led by the always entertaining and insightful Paul Blacker and Mark Harvey. In this episode, we're excited to discuss Assura's involvement in Brightpoint Community College's IT Spirit Week. In this remarkable event, our expert team shared valuable...

Ever wondered what it's like to infiltrate a ransomware gang? Well, you're about to find out. We're joined by Jon DiMaggio, Chief Security Strategist at Analyst1 and author of the Art of Cyberwarfare, who takes us on a thrilling journey into the perilous world of ransomware. This episode is a fusion of intriguing narratives from Jon's gripping investigative series, the Ransomwa...

Welcome back for episode six of Unmasked! This week, we take a deep dive into the headlines of September, providing you with valuable context and insights into the latest cybersecurity events. The reverberations of the MOVEit disaster are still keenly felt, and this time, they've led to a class-action lawsuit against Progress Software, with over 600 organizations seeking answers. The pivotal...

In this thrilling episode of Unmasked, our cybersecurity superheroes plunge headfirst into the late August headlines to uncover the most cutting-edge and formidable cyberattacks. Fasten your seatbelts and ensure your hands remain securely inside the vehicle as we embark on an exhilarating journey through the world of cybersecurity.  Along our path, we'll make intriguing stops, including a det...

In the latest Unmasked episode, we're taking a deep dive into August headlines, unpacking all the threats and vulnerabilities that lurk in our digital realm. We're covering some major ground, from the Burger King data breach to unsettling cyber attacks on hospital EMR systems. Join us as we also get into the nitty-gritty of credential-stuffing attacks, exploring the quirky world of threa...

Welcome to the latest episode of Unmasked. In this episode, we dive into the end of July headlines, covering a class action lawsuit against John Hopkins following a major data breach, emphasizing the need for better data handling and security practices. We also explore the complexities of IoT device regulation, questioning the absence of tech giants like Apple and Microsoft in this area. The episo...

Ever wondered how safe your digital life really is? Prepare to open your eyes to the unseen dangers lurking in your inbox and online transactions. Welcome to our latest episode of Unmasked, where the superheroes of cybersecurity provide a clearer understanding of the threats we face in our digital world.  In this compelling episode, we dive deep into the ever-present threats of phishing attacks, r...

Welcome to our inaugural episode of Unmasked brought you by Assura, where the superheroes of cybersecurity provide a clearer understanding of the threats we face in our digital world.  Promise us you're not accepting any unscreened USBs or clicking on suspicious links while you read this, because cybersecurity experts Mark Harvey and Paul Blacker have a hair-raising tour planned through the d...