Fix First: The Cyber Remediation Reimagined Podcast

Managed Service Providers are trapped in a cycle of running faster just to stay in place. In this episode, Katie and James explore why the break-fix model is collapsing under modern threat velocity and how MSPs can evolve into true strategic partners. They unpack how AI-driven malware, regulatory pressure, and rising client expectations are forcing a shift from reactive support to outcome-based se...

Vulnerability management is undergoing a fundamental shift. The old model of quarterly scans and CVSS-based patching is no longer just outdated. It is actively dangerous. In this episode, James and Katie explore the move to exposure-first security and why speed, accountability, and visibility are now the defining factors of modern defense. They break down how exploit velocity, new regulations, and...

The flood of vulnerabilities is never slowing down, but fixing everything is impossible. In this episode, Katie and James break down how modern security teams should prioritize what actually matters. They explain why CVSS scores alone fail, how EPSS predicts real-world exploitation, and why CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog should drive urgent action. The conversation walks through mo...

This episode unpacks the sweeping changes introduced by Executive Order 14306, a mandate that shifts security from reactive checklists to continuous, proactive defense. We explore how the order accelerates AI adoption, reshapes software supply chain security, raises the bar for cloud and IoT, and demands automated remediation as the new standard. Learn why this directive is more than compliance, i...

With vulnerabilities growing at record speed, manual patching can’t keep up. This episode dives into how AI and automation are transforming vulnerability management—scanning continuously, prioritizing intelligently, and triggering auto remediation. Learn how autonomous solutions reduce human error, accelerate response times, and shape the future of proactive cybersecurity.

Two Sides of the Same Shield: Integrating Vulnerability Management with Patch Management for Effective Remediation Security teams are drowning in vulnerabilities, but patching alone isn’t enough. This episode explores how integrating vulnerability management with patch management through risk-based patching, automation, and collaboration, turns reactive fixes into proactive remediation. Learn how...

The EU Cyber Resilience Act makes security a non-negotiable, lifecycle mandate, far beyond box-ticking. In this episode, Katie and James unpack CRA pillars (risk-based classification, SBOM transparency, secure-by-default updates) and show how Preemptive Exposure Management unifies discovery, prioritization, and remediation to build true resilience, not just compliance.

Those “update now” pop-ups are more than chores, they’re frontline defense. Katie and James break down why patching is essential yet hard (volume, downtime fears, fragmented tools) and how automation, risk-based prioritization, cross-platform coverage, and virtual patching turn updates into real resilience and compliance.

Security isn’t just finding vulnerabilities, it’s fixing them. Katie and James break down why remediation is so hard, the pitfalls that stall teams, and how automation and smart prioritization turn endless alerts into real risk reduction.

Is manual security remediation still cutting it? In this episode, Katie and James explore how automated cybersecurity remediation is transforming the way organizations defend against threats, moving from reactive firefighting to lightning-fast, proactive protection. Learn what it is, why it matters, and how to implement it safely at scale.

Traditional vulnerability scans just don’t cut it anymore. In this episode of The Deep Dive , Katie and James unpack the evolution from outdated vulnerability tools to Exposure Management Platforms (EMPs), the new essential for proactive, real-time cyber defense. Learn how EMPs help you prioritize real risk, automate remediation, and deliver measurable protection at scale. Whether you’re a CISO, s...

In this episode of Fix it first - remediation reimagined podcast , we explore a game-changing cybersecurity strategy: Preemptive Exposure Management (PEM) . With 40,000 new CVEs logged in 2024 and machine-speed attacks driven by AI, traditional vulnerability management is no longer enough. Join us as we break down how CISOs can move from reactive defense to proactive prevention, erasing risks befo...

In this thought-provoking episode, we explore why Asimov’s famous Three Laws of Robotics fall short in the real world of artificial intelligence. As AI shapes decisions in finance, healthcare, hiring, and content moderation, we dig into the unintended consequences, emotional harm, algorithmic bias, blind obedience, and lack of transparency. What does “harm” really mean in modern AI systems? How ca...

Security platforms promise visibility, but do they actually reduce risk? In this episode, we break down the 10 critical questions every CISO, security director, and IT leader must ask before investing in an Exposure Management Platform (EMP). Learn how to assess platform capabilities across visibility, prioritization, validation, and remediation aligned with the Continuous Threat Exposure Manageme...

AT&T Data Breach Exposes 86 Million Customers – What You Need to Know A bombshell breach has rocked the telecom world. In this episode, we break down the AT&T data leak exposing 86 million customer records — including 44 million unencrypted Social Security numbers and birth dates now circulating on the dark web. From the 2021 ShinyHunters attack to the Snowflake cloud misstep, we trace how...

What happens when a mid-tier MSP goes from sleepless nights and manual patching chaos to fully automated, AI-driven vulnerability remediation? In this episode, we tell the story of IT Shield Inc., an MSP that transformed its operations after integrating Vicarius vRx via the Atera App Center. Discover how the Atera-Vicarius partnership enables one-click agent deployment, autonomous patching (with n...

In this episode, we break down the stealthy, high-impact exploit behind CVE-2025-33053, a zero-day vulnerability abused by the APT group Stealth Falcon using nothing more than a weaponized URL. You’ll learn how a simple .url file exploited legacy WebDAV functionality in Windows to drop malware, evade detection, and inject custom spyware into browser processes. We walk through the infection chain,...

Episode 5: From Adversaries to Allies – The Birth of a Purple Team The battle is over, but the transformation is just beginning. In the season finale of The Purple Team Chronicles , Michelle and Alex sit down for a no-blame debrief—and end up rewriting the rules of cyber defense. What started as a clash ends in collaboration, as Red and Blue join forces to form a true Purple Team. With Vicarius vR...

Episode 4: Total Control – The Golden Ticket Coup In this explosive chapter of The Purple Team Chronicles , Red Team lead Alex escalates from lateral movement to full domain compromise, forging a Golden Ticket that grants him unlimited access across VictimCorp’s network. But Blue Team lead Michelle isn’t fooled. With Vicarius vRx’s telemetry and log forensics, she detects the anomaly, rotates the...

After a failed persistence attempt, Red Team lead Alex pivots fast dumping LSASS memory and launching a Pass-the-Hash attack to gain Domain Admin access. But Michelle isn’t far behind. With Vicarius vRx detecting the anomaly, she traces the misuse, hardens the registry, and deploys protections before more damage is done. It’s a cat-and-mouse game of tactics and telemetry as both teams escalate. Re...

The breach began, but the game is far from over. In this episode of The Purple Team Chronicles , the Shadow Syndicate’s initial access is cut short yet Alex, the Red Team lead, isn’t backing down. Using native Windows tools, he plants a stealthy, fileless backdoor. But Michelle, the Blue Team lead, isn’t fooled. With Vicarius vRx watching for behavioral anomalies, she spots the subtle registry cha...

Every breach starts somewhere and this one began with silence. In the debut of The Purple Team Chronicles , a forgotten VPN endpoint at VictimCorp gives the Shadow Syndicate their entry. Red Team lead Alex exploits the oversight with surgical precision, uncovering a dormant admin account. But Michelle, Blue Team lead and forensic sleuth, isn’t far behind. With Vicarius vRx surfacing anomalous acti...

Cybercriminals are using AI to develop and launch exploits in hours, so why are defenders still relying on manual patching workflows? In this episode, we explore the seismic shift from human-led vulnerability management to machine-versus-machine remediation. You’ll learn how the cybersecurity talent gap, the explosion of vulnerabilities, and the rise of AI-powered attacks are forcing organizations...

LockBit has redefined ransomware with modular payloads, rapid encryption, and precision targeting across Windows, Linux, ESXi, and even macOS. In this episode, we dissect the full LockBit kill chain, from initial access through double extortion, and break down a real 2025 case study of a $600K breach. More importantly, we share how security leaders and IT teams can operationalize defense using aut...

Vulnerability management isn’t just a technical task anymore it’s the foundation of modern compliance. In this episode, we explore how the Vicarius vRx Maturity Model transforms patching from a reactive chore into a proactive, compliance-aligned engine for security progress. Learn how each stage Deploy, Detect, Analyze, Remediate, Automate, maps directly to NIST CSF, ISO 27001, and CIS Controls. W...