ISF Podcast

Today’s episode is the first of three conversations with ISF CEO Steve Durbin around the coming impact of technological development on society and business. We know that new technologies have always tested organisations, and technological innovation and integration into our lives and enterprises — it’s only accelerating. We offer an analysis of potential future scenarios, as well as practical tips...

Today, BBC journalist Nick Witchell interviews Steve about the threat landscape in light of a number of damaging hacks that have recently been made public. They consider the challenges regulators face given the current geopolitical situation and discuss how organisations can create a thorough cyber defense and response plan. Key Takeaways: 1. Organisations cannot abdicate responsibility for data s...

Today’s conversation is a fascinating discussion on the nature of data with Jannis Kallinikos , professor of Information Systems at the London School of Economics. Jannis co-wrote the recently published book Data Rules: Reinventing the Market Economy , in which he and co-author Cristina Alaimo posit that data are a fluid cultural record, rather than a static statistical entity. He and Steve discus...

For our special Summer Listening series, we revisit some favorite listens: episodes that cover some of the most important, and current, issues in cyber. In today’s episode, Steve speaks with actress, voice coach, leadership consultant, and expert in core energetics, or body-led psychotherapy, Kate Montague. Kate discusses the effectiveness in taking time to reset, what happens when you stay connec...

For our special Summer Listening series, we revisit some favorite listens: episodes that cover some of the most important, and current, issues in cyber. Today, ISF CEO Steve Durbin is in conversation with Dr. Brian Cox, professor of Particle Physics at the University of Manchester. Dr. Cox worked on the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland and has co-written several...

For our special Summer Listening series, we revisit some favorite listens: episodes that cover some of the most important, and current, issues in cyber. In this episode, ISF CEO Steve Durbin speaks with computer programmer, philanthropist, and co-founder of Apple, Steve Wozniak. Woz reminisces about the past and looks into the future of Big Tech, and considers what both could mean for the future o...

For our special Summer Listening series, we revisit some favorite listens: episodes that cover some of the most important, and current, issues in cyber.  In this episode, Steve speaks with a guest whose focus includes human culture, behavior, and storytelling: singer/songwriter and activist Sir Bob Geldof, lead singer of the Boomtown Rats and founding member of Band Aid, famous for raising money f...

For our special Summer Listening series, we revisit some favorite listens: episodes that cover some of the most important, and current, issues in cyber.  In this evergreen episode, Steve and Tavia discuss the constantly changing world of risk, what security can do to prepare for and mitigate risk, the role of the business leader, and the impact of risk management on strategy and business direction...

Steve recently sat for an interview with veteran journalist Julie MacDonald for a feature with The European . Last week, we listened to the first part of that conversation, and today, we’re hearing the second. Julie and Steve talk about scenario planning, transparency within industries, and what good leadership looks like in this complex moment in history. Key Takeaways: 1. Durbin emphasizes AI’s...

Steve recently sat for an interview with veteran journalist Julie MacDonald for a feature with The European . For the next two weeks, we’ll be presenting that conversation in two parts. In the first part, Julie and Steve discuss the regulatory landscape, improving communication across the business, and how enterprises can successfully marry technology with the human element of work. Key Takeaways:...

Today, author and disability diversity expert Ruth Rathblott offers a fresh perspective on how we understand and approach diversity in the workplace. She and Steve discuss how DEI can benefit both your culture and your business, and they give practical tips for leaders looking to build a more inclusive environment. Key Takeaways: 1. Leaders need to go first in being vulnerable and trustworthy. 2....

Today is the second in a two-part conversation centered on cultural fluency with global leadership strategist and corporate coach Jane Hyun . Jane is the author of Leadership Toolkit for Asians: The Definitive Resource Guide for Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling and Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling: Career Strategies for Asians , and co-author of Flex: The New Playbook for Managing Across Differences . In th...

Today is the first in a two-part conversation centered on cultural fluency with global leadership strategist and corporate coach Jane Hyun . Jane is the author of Leadership Toolkit for Asians: The Definitive Resource Guide for Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling and   Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling: Career Strategies for Asians , and the co-author of Flex: The New Playbook for Managing Across Differences ....

In this episode, Steve speaks with Amanda Fennell , a security professional with over two decades in the industry who currently serves as CISO and CIO of Prove and adjunct professor of cybersecurity at Tulane University. She talks to Steve about why a CISO must be an educator at heart, how to embrace feedback in order to grow, and how young professionals can shape their careers in security as the...

Today, Steve is speaking with investigative tech journalist Geoff White , who has been covering tech and financial crime for more than 20 years. Listeners may be familiar with his popular podcast The Lazarus Heist for the BBC World Service, and now his new book, Rinsed: From Cartels to Crypto: How the Tech Industry Washes Money for the World's Deadliest Crooks , will be available from Penguin Rand...

Recently, British journalist Juliette Foster interviewed Steve for a feature in The European , and today we’re listening to that conversation. Steve and Juliette explore a range of topics, including how to get buy-in to your security strategy at all levels of the organization, how much security should cost, navigating the regulatory landscape, and which industries and enterprises Steve believes co...

Today, Steve is speaking about security leadership with executive coach and CEO and Founder of Serenity in Leadership Thom Dennis . Thom brings his expertise in psychology to bear in their discussion of the role of leaders in culture change, how to let go and trust your workforce, and practical tips for embracing the challenges leaders face day to day. Key Takeaways: 1. Fast-paced change and uneas...

Today, Steve is speaking with Erik Avakian , who served as CISO for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the United States for more than twelve years before moving into the private sector, where he currently works as the technical counselor at Info-Tech Research Group. Erik brings his passion and experience to a lively conversation in which he and Steve discuss coping with change through multiple l...

Today, Steve and producer Tavia Gilbert discuss the impact artificial intelligence is having on the threat landscape and how businesses can leverage this new technology and collaborate with it successfully. Key Takeaways: 1.  AI risk is best presented in business-friendly terms when seeking to engage executives at the board level. 2. Steve Durbin takes the position that AI will not replace leaders...

This is the second of a two-part conversation between Steve and Brian Lord , who is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Protection Group International . Prior to joining PGI, Brian served as the Deputy Director of a UK Government Agency governing the organization's Cyber and Intelligence Operations. Today, Steve and Brian discuss the proliferation of mis- and disinformation online, the potent...

This episode is the first of two conversations between Steve and Brian Lord , who is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Protection Group International . Prior to joining PGI, Brian served as the Deputy Director of a UK Government Agency governing the organization's Cyber and Intelligence Operations. He brings his knowledge of both the public and private sector to bear in this wide-ranging co...

Today, Steve is in conversation with AI expert Eric Siegel . A former professor at Columbia University, Eric is the founder of the long-running Machine Learning Week conference series and a bestselling author. His latest book, The AI Playbook , looks at how businesses outside Big Tech can leverage machine learning to grow. He and Steve discuss the differences between generative and predictive AI,...

Today, Steve is speaking with Mariarosaria Taddeo , Professor of Digital Ethics and Defence Technologies and Dslt Ethics Fellow at the Alan Turing Institute. Mariarosaria brings her expertise as a philosopher to bear in this discussion of why and how we must develop agreed-upon ethical principles and governance for cyber warfare. Key Takeaways: 1. As cyber attacks increase, international humanitar...

A repeat of one of our top episodes from 2023: October is Cyber Awareness Month, and we’re marking the occasion with a series of three episodes featuring Steve in conversation with ISF’s Regional Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Dan Norman . Today, Steve and Dan discuss the importance of cyber resilience and how organisations can prepare for cyber attacks. Mentioned in this episode...

Today’s episode was recorded at ISF’s 2023 Congress in Rotterdam. Steve sat down with Tali Sharot , professor of neuroscience at University College London, to talk about her fascinating research on optimism bias. Tali offers fresh, evidence-based ideas on effective communication for security leaders seeking to present their message to their board and raise cyber awareness within the organisation....