CISO Stories Podcast (Video)

In this episode, former FBI cyber leader Jason Manar joins us to unpack the state of critical infrastructure security and why small and medium-sized businesses are more connected to it than they realize. From power, telecom, healthcare, finance, and supply chains, Jason explains how hidden dependencies can turn "not our problem" into a business-stopping event. With his FBI perspective and CISO exp...

Identity and access management is often sold as a technical problem, but real-world deployments tell a different story. For MSSPs managing access across multiple client environments, IAM becomes a test of trust, accountability, decision fatigue, and human behavior. In this episode of CISO Stories, we explore why access reviews become rubber stamps, why least privilege is harder than it sounds, and...

Jess talks with Rich about what it takes to secure a cloud-first organization at scale. Rich explains how compliance as code helps teams build secure-by-default environments in AWS and Azure. He also shares why continuous monitoring gives organizations stronger visibility and a more reliable path to audit readiness. The episode closes with a look at how AI can help security teams work faster and f...

Threat intelligence too often arrives as a steady stream of alerts that don't translate into clear, timely decisions. This episode explores how public-sector intel flows today through channels like CISA, MS-ISAC, and CIS—and why changes in funding and distribution can reshape what organizations actually receive and when. We also imagine an all-in state approach, where states take a bigger role in...

CISO Jadee Hanson shares how Vanta "drinks its own champagne," running on NIST CSF with quarterly baseline reviews and using Vanta's GRC platform to turn every release into live UAT for privacy, governance, and compliance. We rethink third-party management—why point-in-time risk scores are fading and how AI drives continuous monitoring and outcome-based assurance. Bottom line: don't just audit—ins...

Title: Keys Without People" — John Heasman on Cleaning Up Non-Human Access Summary: John breaks today's non-human identity mess into three buckets: core tools your business runs on, old/one-off integrations that linger, and engineer tokens left behind. His playbook is simple: decide what's truly critical, assign a clear owner, keep access minimal, and review it on a schedule. With AI spawning even...

This episode was about agentic IAM—what it is and the risks that come with letting non-human agents act for customers. We defined external IAM, then traced how the industry moved from basic login and MFA to consent, delegation, and now agent-to-agent interactions. Along the way we unpacked key risks for CISOs and practitioners to consider. Segment Resources: https://www.loginradius.com/ https://cu...

CISO Sandy Dunn breaks down her blueprint for AI-ready defense—pairing MITRE ATT&CK v18 with MITRE ATLAS to move from policy to behavior-based detections. We hit practical AI governance, her early focus on defending and understanding AI, and how OWASP GenAI tools turn checklists into action. Segment Resources: Article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/attck-v18-atlas-blueprint-ai-ready-defense-sandy...

Jennifer Selby Long reframes security awareness as more than training—it's about earning trust and influence with executives and security teams. She shares leadership lessons on how to build stronger alignment and support for security initiatives. Show Notes: https://cisostoriespodcast.com/csp-217

Dawn Capelli, Head of OT-CERT at Dragos, unpacks the evolving risks to Operational Technology. From nation-state attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure to hacktivists targeting U.S. water systems, she explains the PIPEDREAM malware, the top five SANS critical OT controls, and how Dragos' OT-CERT program offers free resources to help organizations defend critical infrastructure now. Segment Resources:...

Kevin Nikkhoo joins the show to explore Security Operations Center as a Service (SOCaaS) and how it compares to traditional SOC models. He breaks down which organizations benefit most from this approach and how AI is reshaping modern SOC operations. Listeners will gain a clear understanding of how SOCaaS can enhance detection and response capabilities—and why embracing AI is key to the future of s...

From Diagram to Cloud: Rethinking Cloud Security in an Age of Uncertainty Episode Summary: In this month's episode of CISO Stories , we dive deep into cloud security with cybersecurity veteran and cloud innovator Yogi Parulekar, founder of InviGrid. Against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions and tightening budgets, we explore how organizations can move from reactive security to proactive r...

In this episode, we explore the crucial role of cultivating a strong security culture to drive change in AppSec, where training and collaboration are key. Our distinguished guest, Danielle Ruderman, discusses the importance of executive support in ensuring that application development isn't just about churning out apps on time, but also about adopting a secure-by-design approach. We also dive into...

In this episode, Erika Dean dives into the evolution of attack surface management (ASM) in financial tech. From foundational strategies to future-focused threats, she explores how shifts in the fintech landscape demand deeper organizational awareness, ongoing tabletop exercises, and proactive preparation. This segment is sponsored by Axonius. Visit https://cisostoriespodcast.com/axonius to learn m...

Mandy Andress joins our show to discuss leveraging cyber liability insurance for risk reduction. They explore the importance of strong broker relationships and key steps for selecting or renewing a policy—starting with assessing organizational needs. Learn strategies to lower premiums while increasing coverage. Segment Resources: https://www.elastic.co/ This segment is sponsored by Sophos. Visit h...

In this episode of the CISO Stories Podcast, we're joined by Mike Miller, a seasoned penetration tester and audit and compliance SME, to explore the real-world impact of incident response controls. From technical to managerial and physical safeguards, Mike shares eye-opening stories from the field—including how he once penetrated a network with nothing more than a dozen doughnuts. We dive into the...

In this episode, we sit down with author and AI expert Rock Lambros to explore the evolving landscape of AI governance. We discuss the risks of AI chatbots, comparing OpenAI and DeepSeek, and examine current and emerging governance frameworks. As AI adoption accelerates, organizations must determine the right guardrails and critical questions to ask. This conversation provides insights into how co...

In this episode, we sit down with experienced CISO Gavin Reid to explore the escalating online threats to privacy, focusing on adversaries and companies illicitly scraping website data for profit. We dive into the implications of such unauthorized data collection and its impact on individual and organizational privacy. Reid also shares insights from his team's involvement in dismantling BadBox, a...

In this episode of CISO Stories, Jess Hoffman and Sheena Thomas explore the challenges of cloud security in higher education. They discuss trust issues with cloud providers, the importance of understanding data sensitivity, and navigating regulatory compliance. Sheena highlights the vulnerabilities educational institutions face, the value of incident response playbooks, and the balance between tru...

Jessica Hoffman and Melina Scotto discuss the evolution of cybersecurity, focusing on cloud security, business responsibilities, and the importance of basic cyber hygiene. They highlight the role of communication, consulting, and integrating security into business operations, concluding with advice for future cybersecurity professionals. This segment is sponsored by Fortinet Cloud Security. Visit...

Jess and Adam discuss cloud security challenges for SMBs, emphasizing strategic planning, compliance with regulations like CMMC, and vendor due diligence. They highlight common pitfalls like the illusion of security and inadequate staffing while offering cost-effective solutions like virtual CISOs. Practical tips help SMBs secure their data, navigate legal concerns, and maximize available resource...

In this episode, we dive into the critical role of proper configurations in cloud environments and why misconfigurations remain the leading cause of security breaches. From overly permissive access controls to unencrypted data stores and default credentials left unchanged, we explore real-world examples that adversaries exploit. Learn how organizations can mitigate these risks through proactive mo...

Bertrum Carroll dives into the evolution of cloud service adoption, comparing early concerns—like data storage, access, and usage—to current apprehensions about AI. We explore how leadership can empower teams with the right training to harness technology effectively. Learn why understanding the shared responsibilities between providers and customers is critical for cloud security success. This seg...

In this episode, we're joined by Tammy Klotz, a 3x CISO in the manufacturing industry, to explore identity security challenges in manufacturing environments. Tammy discusses the differences in access management for frontline workers versus knowledge workers, touching on the unique devices and role-based training requirements. Tune in to learn how tailored security solutions are key to managing acc...

In this episode of CSP, we sit down with Dr. Sean Murphy, the CISO of BECU, one of Seattle's largest credit unions, to discuss the shifts in identity security brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Murphy highlights how Zero Trust architecture became crucial for verifying internal users, especially as remote work became the norm. He shares insights on the unique challenges of securing a remote w...