The Cyber Hot Seat: Taking on your Cyber Security challenges

In Episode 25 of The Cyber Hot Seat , Anish is joined by Warren Butterworth, Lead Penetration Tester and Red Team Specialist at OmniCyber Security, to explore why passing a penetration test doesn't necessarily mean you're secure. As cyber threats continue to evolve, organisations need to think beyond point-in-time assessments and start validating their ability to detect and respond to th...

In episode 24 of The Cyber Hot Seat, Anish sits down with James Russell, human behaviour and transformation specialist and board advisor, to explore why AI adoption is stalling inside organisations, and what leaders can do about it. James works with boards and senior leadership teams on the human side of change, and brings a fascinating perspective on why so many organisations are talking about AI...

In Episode 23 of The Cyber Hot Seat, Anish is joined by Sarah Price from Cyber Girls First to explore one of the most overlooked risks in cybersecurity: the people organisations do not hire. Sarah shares her perspective on how Cyber Security is still too often defined through a narrow technical lens, shaped by outdated stereotypes and assumptions about who belongs in the industry. Together, we dis...

In Episode 22 of The Cyber Hot Seat, we are joined by Jonathan Craven, Data Privacy and Cyber Security Consultant and compliance specialist, to explore what it really means to rebuild security culture by putting people back at the centre of cyber resilience. Jonathan challenges the long-standing belief that employees are the “weakest link” and explains why that mindset may be doing more harm than...

In this episode of The Cyber Hot Seat, we’re joined by Louie Augarde, Director of Offensive Services at OmniCyber Security, to explore why red teaming is one of the most powerful ways to test real-world Cyber Security resilience. Louie shares real stories from the field, including a red team engagement with a well-known insurance business where his team was so successful the company asked them to...

In this episode of The Cyber Hot Seat, host Anish Chauhan sits down with Jonathan Ellwood, Head of Cyber Incident Exercising and Response at IASME. Together, they break down what it really means to be ready when a cyber incident hits. Jonathan explains the NCSC’s Cyber Incident Exercising Standard by outlining what it is, why it matters, and how small and mid-sized businesses can use it to prepare...

In this episode, Anish is joined by Jemma, Security Culture and Awareness Specialist and Founder of Culture Gem, to unpack one of Cyber Security’s most overlooked topics: culture. Anish shares his perspective on shaping strong team cultures, while Jemma unpacks why “culture fit” matters just as much as technical expertise. Together, they dig into what culture fit really means in modern Cyber Secur...

In episode 18 of The Cyber Hot Seat, Anish Chauhan and Cristina Lasagni dig into the real challenges businesses face around vendor selection, cloud migrations, and the constant pressure to do more with less. Expect to hear about shocking examples of tool overload, the hard truths behind certifications, and why “badge-based trust” might be misleading. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone t...

Is your Cyber Security training actually preparing users for real-world threats — or just ticking boxes? In this episode of The Cyber Hot Seat , Red Teamer and instructor Hani Momeninia joins us to reveal the uncomfortable truth: most training programmes aren’t built for the way modern attacks actually work. We dive into the key reasons why generic, one-size-fits-all training falls short — and how...

In this episode of The Cyber Hot Seat , we’re joined by Josh Fulford, Solutions Expert at Chaleit and a recognised thought leader in Pen Testing and Cyber Security. We dive into the disconnect between what’s being sold and what businesses actually need to stay secure. From compliance checklists to vendor pressure, we explore why some Cyber Security products look great on paper but fall flat in pra...

In this episode, we are joined by Becky Hall, a Cyber Security expert with over 15 years of IT industry experience. Becky shares her insights on the “Garden to Grid” approach, which emphasises putting down roots and building relationships as the foundation of a resilient Cyber Security strategy. Many organisations view internal cyber and audit teams as threats, overlooking the critical role of tru...

In Episode 14 of The Cyber Hot Seat , host Anish joins Sunaina Aytan to explore how AI is shaping Cyber Security. They discuss whether AI strengthens defences or introduces new vulnerabilities, the role of standards like ISO/IEC 42001, and how frameworks like NIST support secure and reliable AI systems. The episode also examines managing risks from tools like GitHub Copilot without stifling innova...

In episode 13, Jessica Burden, a Security Engineer at IASME, joins host Anish to discuss why neurodiversity is a vital asset to Cyber Security. Diagnosed with autism at 14, Jessica’s journey inspired her mother to create IASME’s Neurodiverse Training programme, tailored for neurodiverse talent in Cyber Security. They explore Jessica’s experiences in the industry and what organisations can do to cr...

In Episode 12, our host Anish is joined by Professor of Cyber Security Chitra Balakrishna to discuss the challenges of deploying new technologies while maintaining strong Cyber Security. They highlight the need for businesses to focus on core security principles—confidentiality, integrity, and availability—despite the complexities that new technologies like IoT and cloud services bring.  The conve...

In episode 11, join us for another insightful discussion with the guest speaker, Claire Vandenbroecke, lead ISO 27001 auditor and Director of VandenSec Consulting. With her vast experience in compliance, this episode is essential viewing. Dive deep into the challenges that arise when compliance standards clash with the practical security needs of an organisation. Explore practical strategies to br...

In the tenth installment of the Cyber Hot Seat, our host and managing director, Anish Chauhan, is joined by Claire Vandenbroecke, the Director of VandenSec Consulting. As a leading ISO 27001 auditor, Claire will guide us through the 2022 updates to the standard. Given her extensive expertise in compliance, this episode is a must-watch. We'll delve into the specifics of the recent changes, dis...

In episode nine, our host and Managing Director, Anish Chauhan, is joined by CISO Jon Begley from a leading global travel retailer. Together, they discuss why it's crucial for security leaders to master the skill of simplifying complex security concepts for non-technical decision makers. Recognising that technical expertise alone isn't sufficient, they delve into the power of storytellin...

In episode eight and the first video edition of the Cyber Hot Seat (check it out on our YouTube Channel), our host and MD Anish Chauhan welcomes CISO Jon Begley from a leading global travel retailer. They discuss real-life incident response stories, demystify what 'incident response' truly entails in practice, and offer direct advice on preparing for cyber attacks. This episode provides...

Join Anish and special guest Neil Buckley, Cyber Security Consultant at Equilibrium, in this episode of "The Cyber Hot Seat" , we plunge into the intricate realm of penetration testing challenges that organisations often face. Unpacking real-life scenarios from our clients, we unravel the complexities involved in testing and securing digital assets. Whether you're a budding Cyber Se...

In this episode, we are joined by Neil Furminger, Cyber Essentials Manager from The IASME Consortium. We delve into the vital role of Cyber Essentials in safeguarding against low-hanging fruit attacks. We explore how the scheme provides a practical framework for organisations to bolster their defences and mitigate prevalent cyber-threats. As the threat landscape continues to evolve, we examine the...

In this episode of our podcast, we delve into the importance of nailing the basics of Cyber Security with guest speaker Emma Philpott, CEO of the IASME Consortium. Emma is an expert in Cyber Security and has dedicated her career to helping organisations improve their security posture. During our conversation, Emma emphasises the critical role that Cyber Security basics play in protecting from cybe...

In our fourth episode we're discussing security testing. Is it is time to rethink 'traditional' penetration tests, which focus on a specific network or application? It has become apparent that our clients want to know more than simply whether their network perimeter is secured.  How about if it isn’t? What would happen if a hacker could bypass security and enter your internal networ...

Our host and MD Anish Chauhan is joined again by the dynamic duo, Will Tams and Neil Buckley from our superstar sales team. In our third episode we are discussing how the security industry is heavily driven by security vendors.  But does this mean that firms are driven by an external agenda to push a product, rather than addressing customer challenges with a solution which most fits their needs? T...

A decade of protecting your brand. We’re officially celebrating a whole decade of Equilibrium Security. In 2012, Anish Chauhan founded Equilibrium, with the clear aim of providing trusted expertise to help businesses thrive, succeed, and remain secure. In our latest podcast we reflect on 10 years in the security industry!  Watch the video on YouTube

Join Founder and Director of Equilibrium Security for episode 1 of our brand new podcast 'The Cyber Hot Seat'! Tune in for a brief introduction to Equilibrium, Anish's biggest industry bugbears and some sneak-peeks into discussion points for future episodes. There's plenty more exciting topics to come!  Subscribe to our channel to make sure you don't miss out. Watch the vi...