CyberSound™

Send us Fan Mail What happens to your business when the AI model you depend on disappears overnight? In our 150th episode of CyberSound, Jason Pufahl is joined by Dylan Marquis, lead of Vancord's penetration testing practice, to discuss the Anthropic Fable 5 takedown, a frontier AI model that was globally pulled just days after its release under a novel application of U.S. export control auth...

Send us Fan Mail Will AI eliminate jobs, or is the bigger challenge preparing workers for a workforce that is changing faster than ever? In this episode of CyberSound, Jason Pufahl and Jeff Auker, Director of Development Services for the City of Hartford, discuss how AI is reshaping workforce development, education, and economic growth. The conversation covers the future of work, the growing impac...

Send us Fan Mail Is ISO 42001 becoming one of the most important new standards in cybersecurity and AI governance? In this episode of CyberSound, Jason Pufahl is joined by Walter Haydock, Founder of StackAware, to discuss ISO 42001, the international standard for AI management systems and governance. They explore what ISO 42001 certification requires, how it compares to frameworks like SOC 2 and I...

Send us Fan Mail Can AI find software vulnerabilities faster than security teams can fix them? In this episode of CyberSound, Jason Pufahl and Dylan Marquis discuss Claude Mythos, Claude Code, and the growing role of AI in vulnerability discovery. They explain how AI may speed up bug discovery, exploit development, and security testing while also increasing pressure on defenders. The conversation...

Send us Fan Mail When global conflict escalates, cyber threats often follow. But what does that mean for businesses that are not directly involved? In this episode of CyberSound, Jason Pufahl, Michael Grande, and Patrick Wallenhorst discuss how geopolitical events can shape cyber threats, from hacktivist activity and DDoS attacks to ransomware, social engineering, and critical infrastructure risk....

Send us Fan Mail What's the difference between fully managed and co-managed IT, and how do you know which model is right for your business? In this episode of CyberSound, Jason Pufahl, Michael Grande, Dan Kaupp, Jim Riley, and Lou Ardolino break down how managed IT services have evolved into security-first models. They explain the differences between fully managed and co-managed IT, what a se...

Send us Fan Mail AI is rapidly entering the classroom, but how should schools approach adoption, governance, and student use? In this episode of CyberSound, Jason Pufahl is joined by Steve Maresca and John Madura, a technology education teacher at The Morgan School in Clinton, Connecticut, to explore how AI is shaping education today. They discuss AI in the classroom, student concerns about future...

Send us Fan Mail What actually happens during a penetration test, and how does it reveal real security risks? In this episode of CyberSound, Jason Pufahl is joined by Dylan Marquis, lead of Vancord’s penetration testing practice, to break down how penetration testing works and why organizations are relying on it more than ever. They discuss the difference between vulnerability assessments and pen...

Send us Fan Mail What will actually challenge organizations in 2026? In today’s episode, we break down evolving Zero Trust strategies, smarter security awareness, major SaaS and infrastructure outage risks, and the real impact of quantum computing. Tune in for insights IT and business leaders can act on today. ______________ Stay up to date on the latest cybersecurity news and industry insights by...

Send us Fan Mail Jason Pufahl is joined by Michael Grande and Steve Maresca to check their 2025 cybersecurity predictions and reveal what’s coming in 2026. They dive into AI-driven phishing, voice cloning, misinformation, MFA fatigue, and third-party risks, showing how the threats we face are more clever and supercharged than ever. Part 1 covers the early trends and eye-opening risks, with Part 2...

Send us Fan Mail Wearables, fitness apps, and wellness platforms collect massive amounts of health data. But how is it actually protected? In this episode of CyberSound, Jason Pufahl is joined by Alex Cox of Troutman Pepper Locke to break down the realities of consumer health data privacy. They discuss why most health data is not protected by HIPAA, how state privacy laws apply, and what happens w...

Send us Fan Mail CMMC Level 2 compliance is here, and many organizations are not as ready as they think. In this CyberSound episode, Jason Pufahl is joined by Mark Jennings from Vancord’s vISO team to discuss the most challenging aspects of compliance. They cover CUI scoping, access control, documentation requirements, and common self assessment gaps, providing practical insight on where to start...

Send us Fan Mail In this CyberSound episode, we explore how fractional CFOs are transforming financial strategy for technology and cybersecurity companies. Jason Pufahl and Michael Grande speak with Steve Bernet, Partner at Fintelos, about why growing tech organizations benefit from strategic finance earlier than they realize. The conversation dives into the rise of fractional CFO services, data-d...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of CyberSound, Jason Pufahl is joined by Michael Grande, Steve Maresca, and special guest Eric Levesque, owner of EDL Creative. They explore how AI tools are changing audio and video production, including streamlining workflows, improving sound quality, and enhancing storytelling and creativity. Hear firsthand how AI helps creators work smarter while staying authen...

Send us Fan Mail OpenAI’s Sora 2 is taking video generation to a new level, making synthetic video nearly indistinguishable from reality. In this episode of CyberSound, Jason Pufahl and Steve Maresca explore how tools like Sora 2 could enable deepfake scams, social engineering, and large-scale disinformation. The conversation also covers how businesses can verify content authenticity, protect exec...

Send us Fan Mail Cybersecurity is stressful. Your health doesn’t have to suffer. Jason, Dan, and Lou talk with Anthony Mini, President & CISO of Pearl Technologies, about hacking energy, beating stress, and building habits that stick.  ______________ Stay up to date on the latest cybersecurity news and industry insights by subscribing to our channel and visiting our blog at https://www.vancord...

Send us Fan Mail AI isn’t just changing the game — it’s rewriting the rules. On this episode of CyberSound, Jason Pufahl and Michael Grande are joined by Rick Gouveia, CEO of SellBigger, for a candid conversation on the future of agentic AI. From automating complex decisions to reshaping how companies compete, they break down what’s hype, what’s real, and how leaders can harness AI to drive growth...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of CyberSound, Jason Pufahl and Steve Maresca sit down with Greg Otto, Editor-in-Chief of CyberScoop, to talk about cutting through the noise in cybersecurity journalism. From resisting sensational headlines to ensuring stories are grounded in fact, Greg shares how his team covers breaches, vulnerabilities, and policy developments in ways that help the cybersecurit...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to turn a post-industrial city into an AI-ready innovation hub? In this episode of CyberSound, we’re joined by Jeff Auker, Director of Development Services for the City of Hartford, to talk about how the city is reshaping its future, one workforce investment at a time. From transforming a decaying facility into a collaborative AI center to designing programs that...

Send us Fan Mail Colleges and universities face unique cybersecurity challenges, especially when IT is decentralized. In this CyberSound episode, Eric Baumgart, Director of Cybersecurity at Columbia University, shares how his team manages risk across a complex academic environment. From handling shadow IT and enclave networks to building trust across departments (sometimes with cookies), Eric offe...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of CyberSound, Connecticut’s Chief Manufacturing Officer Paul Lavoie joins Jason Pufahl, Steve Maresca, and Michael Grande to discuss the urgent need for cybersecurity adoption among manufacturers. They explore the state’s approach to workforce development and the critical role of innovation in maintaining a competitive edge. From new funding initiatives supporting...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of CyberSound, Jason Pufahl and Steve Maresca sit down with John Madura, Technology Education Chair at The Morgan School, to explore how cybersecurity is being taught (or overlooked) in high schools. They dive into why students often see digital behavior differently from real-world ethics, how hands-on learning can close that gap, and the growing interest in course...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of CyberSound , Jason Pufahl, Steve Maresca, and Michael Grande cut through the AI hype to explore how businesses can use tools like large language models for real-world impact. From model selection and prompt engineering to integrating with existing systems and avoiding inaccurate or misleading outputs, they offer a practical look at applying AI effectively—well b...

Send us Fan Mail Step inside the chaos of a real ransomware attack. In this episode of CyberSound, Vancord's experts break down the timeline of a ransomware incident—from initial compromise to full recovery. Discover how threat actors move, what response steps matter most, and what it really takes to manage the disruption. This isn’t theory—this is a behind-the-scenes look at what actually ha...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of CyberSound, Jason Pufahl, Steve Maresca, and Michael Grande revisit foundational cybersecurity practices—what’s still essential, what’s evolved, and what’s next. From patching and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to security awareness training, backups, and endpoint detection and response (EDR), the trio discusses what has become the baseline for today’s securi...