David Spark, Mike Johnson, and Andy Ellis

CISO Series Podcast

Discussions, tips, and debates from security practitioners and vendors on how to work better together to improve security for themselves and everyone else.

Author

David Spark, Mike Johnson, and Andy Ellis

Category

Technology

Podcast website

cisoseries.com

Latest episode

Jul 7, 2026

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Episodes

I Support Open Source as Long as I Don't Have to Invest in It 14.01.2025

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Steve Zalewski . Joining us is our guest, Brett Perry , CISO, Dot Foods . In this episode: A new MDR policy Staying on top of the technical debt cycle Beating retention struggles In the gully of SOAR Thanks to our podcast sponsor, Tines! Buil...

Ewww! How Long Has This Router Been in the Fridge? 07.01.2025

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Andy Ellis ( @csoandy ), partner, YL Ventures . Joining us is Yabing Wang , VP and CISO, Justworks . In this episode: Building a path to action Cracking the EOL conundrum The burning platform question Uncertainty is our only constant Thanks t...

Why Bother Helping Users When We Can Complain About Them? 17.12.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Mike Johnson , CISO, Rivian . Joining us is our sponsored guest Daniel Daraban , senior director of product management, Bitdefender . In this episode: Practice makes perfect Shaming doesn't help anyone Cybersecurity is a flat circle Building...

Can't Our Employees Just Go Back to Stealing Pens? 10.12.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Mike Johnson , CISO, Rivian . Joining us is our sponsored guest, Itzik Alvas , co-founder and CEO, Entro . In this episode: What to expect when you're offboarding The threats are coming from inside the organization The risk of stale identitie...

We Take Software Security Seriously, As Long As It Ships on Time 03.12.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Mike Johnson , CISO, Rivian . Joining us is our sponsored guest Jeremy Epling , chief product officer, Vanta . In this episode: What is the future of cybersecurity? Designing the outcomes we want The promise and peril of AI Is open-source ope...

Aww, Your Cybersecurity Concerns Are So Adorable (LIVE in La Jolla) 26.11.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Gary Hayslip , CISO, Softbank Investment Advisors . Joining us is Keith McCartney , VP, Security and IT, DNAnexus . In this episode: Closing the Credibility Gap Clarifying the Role of Security Engineering Building Resilience at Scale AI Frame...

Once You Show Me Your Diploma, I'll Explain Why We Don't Gatekeep 19.11.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on  CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Andy Ellis ( @csoandy ), partner, YL Ventures . Joining us is Jimmy Benoit , vp, cybersecurity, PBS . In this episode: Starting early on security awareness The limits of gamification Technically qualified Understanding your risk tolerance Th...

Wait, We Can Prioritize Data Privacy Before an Incident? (LIVE at Stanford University) 12.11.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark (@dspark), producer of CISO Series and Amy-Steagall-Hess , CISO, Stanford University . Joining us is Michael Tran Duff , CISO, data privacy officer, Harvard University . In this episode: Turning a mirror on zero trust Is AI coming for our jobs? Responding to skepticism about CISOs A...

Luckily, We Haven't Had to Adapt to Any New Technologies Before AI 05.11.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Andy Ellis ( @csoandy ), partner, YL Ventures . Joining us is our sponsored guest Jadee Hanson , CISO, Vanta . In this episode: Embracing BYOAI The changing government contractor landscape Creating better security outcomes Automating supply c...

We Need to Hire a Unicorn But We Only Have Budget for a Donkey 29.10.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series. This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Andy Ellis ( @csoandy ), partner, YL Ventures . Joining us is Jason Shockey , CISO, Cenlar FSB . In this episode: Ground the SOC in communication Training and mentoring talent Nailing a first security hire A case for optimism Thanks to our pod...

Who Knows What Evil Lurks in the Heart of Low Code/No Code? (LIVE in Los Angeles) 22.10.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Sasha Pereira , CISO, WASH . Joining us is Cyrus Tibbs , CISO, PennyMac . This episode was recorded live at ISSA-LA. In this episode: Building the foundation for data minimization No-code needs to be no problem Seeking alignment in a SOC care...

Once the Panic Subsides You'll Appreciate This Phishing Test (LIVE in Houston, TX) 15.10.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Jerich Beason, CISO, WM. Joining us is Teresa Tonthat, vp, associate CIO, Texas Children's Hospital. This episode was recorded live at HOU.SEC.CON . In this episode: Connecting with the business   Keep the users in mind Ground security in rea...

Does Burying Your Head in the Sand Count as a Security Posture? (LIVE in Boca Raton, FL) 08.10.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Eduardo Ortiz , vp, global head of cybersecurity, Techtronic Industries . Joining us is Adam Fletcher , CSO, Blackstone . In this episode: Keeping our eyes on new risks The hiring disconnect Mental health in incident response Moving on from C...

We're Lowering the Requirement for Entry Level to Just 8 Years of Experience 01.10.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Andy Ellis ( @csoandy ), partner, YL Ventures . Joining us is Steve Person , CISO, Cambia Health . In this episode: The changing CISO landscape Rethinking the cybersecurity talent shortage Sharpening your CISO skills Do CISOs need to go back...

… And the Business Listened to the CISO and Everyone Lived Happily Ever After 24.09.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Mike Johnson , CISO, Rivian . Joining us is Stephen Harrison , CISO, MGM Resorts International . In this episode: Understanding the AI attack surface Low code, low security? Chief information storytelling officer Finding the right partners Th...

Our Guardrails Only Fail When You Try To Go Around Them (LIVE in Seattle) 17.09.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode was recorded in front of a live audience in Seattle as part of the National Cybersecurity Alliance's event Convene. Recording is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Nicole Ford , SVP and CISO, Nordstrom . Joining us is guest, Varsha Agrawal , head of information security, Prosper...

Our Cybersecurity Journey Starts With a Single Overworked Staffer 10.09.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Andy Ellis ( @csoandy ), operating partner, YL Ventures . Joining us is Kush Sharma , Director Municipal Modernization & Partnerships, Municipal Information Systems Association, Ontario (MISA Ontario). In this episode: Your first security hir...

Red Flag? My Vendor Just Asked for My Mother's Maiden Name 03.09.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Andy Ellis ( @csoandy ), operating partner, YL Ventures . Joining us is Bethany De Lude , CISO, the Carlyle Group . In this episode: CISOs as storytellers Grinding a CISO's gears An evolving role Earning trust with vendors Thanks to our podca...

Well, I Think My Relationship With the CIO Improved When I Took Their Job 27.08.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Andy Ellis ( @csoandy ), operating partner, YL Ventures . Joining us is Ty Sbano , CISO, Vercel . In this episode: Perception is the reality for insider threats Coaching rather than shaming Working to make DevOps redundant Fixing a strained r...

I Said I Was Technically a CISO, Not a Technical CISO 20.08.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Andy Ellis ( @csoandy ), operating partner, YL Ventures . Joining us is Fredrick Lee (Flee), CISO, Reddit . In this episode: The case for the technical CISO Making Recall safe for business The aches and pains of cybersecurity hiring Leveling...

Why Are Fortune 500 Companies Swiping Right on 3-Person Startups? 13.08.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Andy Ellis ( @csoandy ), operating partner, YL Ventures . Joining us is Justin Somaini , partner, YL Ventures . In this episode: The startup balancing act Giving back is its own reward When to pen test Getting ahead with generative AI policy...

We Make Threat Actors Read Our Resiliency Policy Before Attacking Us 06.08.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Andy Ellis ( @csoandy ), operating partner, YL Ventures . Joining us is Patti Titus , CISO, Booking Holdings . In this episode: Defense vs. Resilience Communication is on par with mitigation Preparing like its post-quantum The challenges and...

Incident Response Is So Important We Might Try Getting Good At It 30.07.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Steve Zalewski . Joining us is our sponsored guest, Amir Khayat , CEO and co-founder, Vorlon Security . In this episode: The evolving challenges of incident response Repetition isn't always the mother of automation Third-party APIs, first-par...

Everyone Has a Zero-Trust Plan Until They Get Punched in the Face 23.07.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Mike Johnson , CISO, Rivian . Joining us is our sponsored guest, Danny Jenkins , CEO, ThreatLocker . In this episode: The limits of zero-trust Pentesting for SMBs An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of response The cream of the security c...

I Don't Want Insider Risk. You Take It. 16.07.2024

All links and images for this episode can be found on CISO Series . This week's episode is hosted by me, David Spark ( @dspark ), producer of CISO Series and Andy Ellis ( @csoandy ), operating partner, YL Ventures . Joining us is our sponsored guest, Abhishek Agrawal , CEO and co-founder, Material Security . In this episode: What does defense in depth look like in the cloud? Collaborating on insid...

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