To The Point - Cybersecurity

Welcome back to To the Point Cybersecurity Podcast! In this week’s episode, hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepher are joined by the brilliant Dr. Margaret Cunningham, Technical Director for Security and AI Strategy at Darktrace. With a PhD in Applied Experimental Psychology and multiple patents to her name, Dr. Cunningham is a leading voice in human-centered security, behavioral analytics, and the ever-evolving intersection of people and technology.

Together, the trio dives into the fast-changing landscape of AI-driven threats—think voice cloning, deepfakes, and sophisticated social engineering attacks that challenge every notion of trust and identity. From the...

On this episode of To the Point Cybersecurity, hosts Jonathan Knepher and Rachael Lyon sit down with Betsy Cooper, founding director of the Aspen Policy Academy and a longtime leader in cybersecurity policy. Betsy brings a wealth of experience from her work at the Aspen Institute, UC Berkeley’s Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity, and her time at the Department of Homeland Security.

In this insightful conversation, Betsy discusses the importance of bridging the gap between technologists and policymakers, revealing how the Aspen Policy Academy empowers experts—and everyday citizens—to make a real impact on cyber policy. She sh...

Welcome to a brand new episode of To The Point Cybersecurity, brought to you by Forcepoint! This week, hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepher dive into a side of cybersecurity that doesn’t often get the spotlight: the ever-evolving world of memory, storage, and hardware security. They’re joined by JB Baker, Vice President of Marketing and Product Management at ScaleFlux—a seasoned expert with more than 20 years of experience at top companies like Intel, Seagate, and LSI.

Coming fresh off the buzz of DEF CON and Black Hat, Rachael and Jonathan kick things off discussing grassroots cyber...

Welcome back to "Forcepoint: To the Point Cybersecurity." In this episode, hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepher are joined by Walter Haydock, founder and CEO of Stackaware. Walter brings a unique perspective from his time in the Marine Corps and Homeland Security, and now leads the charge in AI governance and risk management.

Today’s conversation dives deep into the maze of AI regulation, focusing on the newly emerging ISO 42001 standard and what compliance really means for organizations. Walter unpacks the complexities facing companies as they navigate a patchwork of state, national, and international laws—highlighting the chal...

Welcome back to To the Point Cybersecurity Podcast, brought to you by Forcepoint! In this week’s episode, co-hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepher continue their conversation with Russell Teague, CISO at Fortified Health Security and a contributor to the White House National Cybersecurity Healthcare Strategy. With over three decades of experience spanning healthcare, tech, pharma, and finance, Russell dives deep into the current state of cybersecurity in the healthcare sector.

In this insightful Part 2, the trio unpacks hot topics like the HIPAA Security Rule update, how budget uncertainty is creating decision paralysis for healthcare organizations, and th...

On this episode of To the Point Cybersecurity Podcast, hosts Rachel Lyon and Jonathan Knepher dive deep into the evolving threat landscape in healthcare cybersecurity with special guest Russell Teague, CSO at Fortified Health Security. With over three decades of experience across sectors like healthcare, pharma, and finance—and as a contributor to the White House National Cybersecurity Healthcare Strategy—Russell brings incredibly valuable insights to the table.

Together, they unpack the most pressing cyber threats facing healthcare organizations today, including ransomware as a service, third-party risks, and the growing impact of AI on both offense and defe...

Welcome back to the "To The Point Cybersecurity" podcast! After a short hiatus, hosts Rachel Lyon and Jonathan Knepher return with an exciting new episode featuring Greg Hatcher, co-founder of White Knight Labs—dubbed the "Ocean’s Eleven of cybersecurity." Greg brings a unique perspective from his days in Army Special Forces and his deep expertise in offensive cybersecurity operations. In this episode, the conversation dives into the world of red teaming, how it differs from traditional penetration testing, the realities of social engineering and physical access exploits, supply chain and AI security threats, and the ever-evolving role of CISO...

Joining the podcast this week is Mishi Choudhary, SVP and General Counsel at Virtru. Mishi shares with us some legal perspective on the privacy discussion including freedom of thought, the right to be forgotten, end-to-end encryption for protecting user data, finding a middle ground between meeting customer privacy demands and complying with legal requirements, getting to a federal privacy regulation, and so much more! You won’t want to miss what is a truly spirited and candid conversation – in two parts!

Mishi Choudhary

SVP and General Counsel, Virtru

A technology lawyer with over...

Joining the podcast this week is Mishi Choudhary, SVP and General Counsel at Virtru. Mishi shares with us some legal perspective on the privacy discussion including freedom of thought, the right to be forgotten, end-to-end encryption for protecting user data, finding a middle ground between meeting customer privacy demands and complying with legal requirements, getting to a federal privacy regulation, and so much more! You won’t want to miss what is a truly spirited and candid conversation – in two parts!

Mishi Choudhary, SVP and General Counsel, Virtru

A technology lawyer with over 17 years of lega...

Joining the podcast this week is Dmitry Bestuzhev, senior director of cyber threat intelligence (CTI) at Blackberry. He gives Petko an inside look into the key types of CTI and how the insights can be used to build context and determine response in specific circumstances, such as in the recent case of attempted targets at NATO. Dmitry also turns our attention to the risks posed by public charging stations - a ploy dubbed “Juice Jacking.”

Dmitry Bestuzhev, Senior Director CTI at BlackBerry

Dmitry Bestuzhev is Senior Director, CTI (Cyber Threat Intelligence) at BlackBerry. Prior...

Joining the podcast this week is Dmitry Bestuzhev, senior director of cyber threat intelligence (CTI) at Blackberry. He gives Petko an inside look into the key types of CTI and how the insights can be used to build context and determine response in specific circumstances, such as in the recent case of attempted targets at NATO. Dmitry also turns our attention to the risks posed by public charging stations - a ploy dubbed “Juice Jacking.”

Dmitry Bestuzhev, Senior Director CTI at BlackBerry

Dmitry Bestuzhev is Senior Director, CTI (Cyber Threat Intelligence) at BlackBerry. Prior...

This week we’re joined by Julia Fallon, Executive Director of the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) and she shines a light on the appeal of school systems to cyber attackers. (HINT: it is access to PII to open credit cards, mortgages and more in the name of children that often is only detected many years later.) We also discuss the connection between schools and insurance companies, trends in how school systems are fortifying their security measures, the evolution of infosec to become a front office issue, and what schools can do to integrate cybersecurity into curriculums to bo...

This week, Audra is joined by Megan Stifel, chief strategy officer for the Institute for Security and Technology, to discuss how ransomware has evolved from a business nuisance to now a threat to national security. Megan also shares how the United States' overall response to ransomware has the potential to impact the types of attacks faced by its organizations and touches on the need for greater transparency when it comes to international cyber information sharing.

Megan Stifel is the Chief Strategy Officer for the Institute for Security and Technology. She is the founder of Silicon Harbor Consultants...

Welcome back to Forcepoint’s To the Point Cybersecurity podcast! In this episode, co-host Jonathan Knepher sits down with Petko Stoyanov—cybersecurity expert and former Forcepoint host—for a thought-provoking discussion about the evolving landscape of AI in cybersecurity. Together, they unpack the shifting trends seen at this year’s RSA conference, exploring how artificial intelligence is moving from marketing buzzword to mission-critical security feature. Petko dives deep into the real-world impact of generative AI models, the increasing sophistication of both attackers and defenders, and the pressing need for “security by design” in today’s fast-moving digital world.

They discuss...

Welcome back to To the Point Cybersecurity Podcast! In this week’s episode, hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepher continue their fascinating conversation with Erika Dean, Chief Security Officer at Robinhood. Erika brings over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, including an impressive tenure at Capital One, where she held multiple cyber leadership roles.

In this second part of their discussion, Erika dives deep into the challenges of timely and transparent incident disclosure, the balancing act of regulatory compliance, and the importance of ongoing education for both companies and regulators as technology rapidly evolves. She also shares insights on...

Welcome to another episode of the To the Point Cybersecurity podcast, brought to you by Forcepoint. This week, hosts Rachel Lyon and Jonathan Knepper sit down with Erika Dean, Chief Security Officer at Robinhood, to dive deep into the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats facing the fintech industry. With over two decades of experience—including leadership roles at Capital One—Erika sheds light on today’s most pressing security challenges, from lightning-fast and sophisticated phishing schemes to the growing risks posed by deepfakes, nation-state infiltration, and complex third-party vendor networks.

In this episode, Erika reveals why collaboration and in...

Welcome back to To the Point Cybersecurity, where hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepher take you inside the ever-evolving world of cyber threats, digital defense, and the impact of technology on our daily lives. In this episode, they sit down with Ricoh Danielson—national security expert, digital forensics pro, and US Army combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan—to unpack the intersections of cyber warfare, digital forensics, and the shifting global threat landscape.

Get an inside look at how Ricoh’s experiences on the battlefield shaped his career in cybersecurity, and how the strategies used in combat transl...

Welcome back to the "To the Point" cybersecurity podcast! In this episode, hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepher continue their enlightening conversation with Maria Roat, former US Deputy Federal Chief Information Officer and Small Business Administration CIO. Maria brings her wealth of experience from both government and private sectors to the table, sharing practical advice for aspiring cybersecurity professionals, insights on how CIOs can tackle prioritization in the face of endless cyber threats, and what it takes to drive sustained improvement in large organizations.

The discussion also dives into the challenges of serving on diverse boards—from he...

Welcome back to To the Point Cybersecurity Podcast, brought to you by Forcepoint! In this week’s episode, hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepher are joined—once again—by the remarkable Maria Roat, former US Deputy Federal Chief Information Officer and past CIO of the Small Business Administration. With over three decades of federal IT and cybersecurity leadership experience, Maria shares an insider’s view on how organizations can remain vigilant amid the waves of change, such as leadership transitions and rising cyberattack tactics.

Tune in as Maria recounts real-world challenges, like handling phishing attacks during critical moments...

Welcome back to another episode of To the Point Cybersecurity, where hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepher dig into the evolving world of cyber threats, national security, and the intersection of technology and society. In this episode, we continue our conversation with John Cohen, Executive Director of the Program for Countering Hybrid Threats at the Center for Internet Security.

John shares real-world examples from the frontlines, detailing how threat actors—from nation-states to extremist groups—leverage open forums and online platforms not only to carry out cyberattacks, but also to coordinate, inspire, and instruct physical violence. He expl...

Welcome to a brand new episode of To the Point Cybersecurity! This week, hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepher are joined by John Cohen, Executive Director of the Program for Countering Hybrid Threats at the Center for Internet Security. With more than forty years of experience in law enforcement, counterintelligence, and homeland security, John brings a wealth of insights into the ever-evolving landscape of multidimensional threats—where cyber, physical, and information operations are increasingly intertwined.

In this episode, John unpacks how bad actors, from foreign intelligence to criminal organizations, are leveraging online platforms and social media not ju...

Welcome back to the To the Point cybersecurity podcast! In this episode, co-hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepher are joined once again by Dr. Bill Anderson, Principal Product Manager at Mattermost and founder of Oculus, for a deep dive into some of the most pressing cybersecurity topics of today. Bill draws on his background in cryptography and experience with the defense and intelligence communities to break down the ever-evolving landscape of regulatory compliance, incident response, and the growing role of automation and AI in securing critical infrastructure.

Tune in as they discuss how regulations like GDPR, HIPAA...

In this episode of the "To the Point Cybersecurity" podcast, hosted by Jonathan Knepher and Rachael Lyon, we delve into the intricate world of cybersecurity with Dr. Bill Anderson, the Principal Product Manager at Mattermost. With a focus on AI, quantum cryptography, and secure communications, Bill brings a wealth of experience from his time in the defense and intelligence communities. Throughout the discussion, the team explores the unique challenges faced by defense, intelligence, security, and critical infrastructure organizations in defining cyber resilience. They compare this with the approaches taken by commercial organizations, providing valuable insights into the importance of...

In this exciting episode of "Forcepoint's To the Point Cybersecurity Podcast," hosted by Rachael Lyon and co-hosted by Jonathan Knepher, we dive back into conversation with Saaim Khan, founder, and principal adviser at Cyber Matters. Known for redefining the cyber consulting landscape with an "unconsults" approach, Saaim shares engaging stories and insights on the evolving cybersecurity industry. Together, they explore the complexities and misconceptions surrounding AI in threat detection and incident response, the importance of simplicity and restraint in cybersecurity strategies, and the abundant technological resources at our disposal. With anecdotes and practical advice, this episode offers a unique...

Welcome back to the Forcepoint podcast, where we bring you the latest in global cybersecurity. Today, we're diving into part one of our two-part series with Saaim Khan, founder and principal advisor at Cyber Matters. Saaim is redefining cyber consulting with an "unconsult" approach. In this episode, hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepper engage Saaim in a conversation about the apparent cybersecurity talent shortage that NIST predicts will influence significant incidents by this year. Is it a lack of talent, or perhaps a shortage of experience? As Saaim suggests, it's all about the right attitude and the importance of...

Welcome to another episode of "To the Point Cybersecurity," brought to you by Forcepoint. This week, hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepper are joined by Deepak Dutt, the founder and CEO of Zighra. With over a decade of experience in behavioral biometrics, Deepak provides fascinating insights into the intersection of artificial intelligence, sensor technology, and cybersecurity.

In this episode, we delve into the transformative world of behavioral biometrics. Deepak explains how Zighra utilizes AI-powered continuous authentication solutions to ensure seamless user security. We explore the nuances of sensor data and how it can create unique models for...

Welcome back to the To the Point cybersecurity podcast, presented by Forcepoint! In this episode, hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepper continue their engaging conversation with Michele Rigby Assad, a former CIA intelligence officer and renowned author of "Breaking Cover" and "Get Off the X."

Join us as Michele shares her unique insights into the global threat landscape and the security challenges we face domestically. From discussing the imperative of modernizing the intelligence workforce with STEM education to her message of embracing discomfort and taking risks for meaningful growth, Michele offers a compelling perspective that is both...

In this episode of the "To the Point cybersecurity podcast," hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepper dive into a compelling conversation with Michele Rigby Assad, a former CIA intelligence officer with vast experience in The Middle East. Michele shares insights from her latest book, "Get Off the X," which explores the importance of getting out of one's comfort zone and reassessing effectiveness in both personal and professional contexts. The discussion navigates the complexities of the current threat landscape, highlighting the dangers posed by nation-states like Iran and China, and the evolving challenges in cybersecurity.

Michele underscores the...

Welcome to Part 2 of this To the Point cybersecurity podcast episode, brought to you by Forcepoint. This week, hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepper continue their conversation with Trevor Hilligoss, Senior Vice President at SpyCloud Labs.

In this episode, Trevor provides an in-depth look at the rising use of infostealers, the changing tactics of cybersecurity adversaries, and how cybercrime enablement services are impacting organizations. He also examines the evolving role of AI and the importance of robust data protection strategies in mitigating these threats. Trevor shares valuable insights drawn from his career, including his transition from military...

Welcome to another thrilling episode of the To the Point cybersecurity podcast brought to you by Forcepoint. This week, hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepper dive deep into the world of cybercrime with Trevor Hilligoss, the Senior Vice President at SpyCloud Labs. Trevor brings his expertise to the table, sharing insights into the intricate workings of the criminal underground, from the rise of infostealers to the evolution of cybersecurity adversaries. We explore the dynamics of cybercrime enablement services and discuss the role of AI and data protection measures in combating these threats. Prepare to be captivated by Trevor's intriguing...

Welcome to another engaging episode of the "To the Point Cybersecurity" podcast, brought to you by Forcepoint. This week, hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepher delve into the intersection of sports and cybersecurity with a fascinating guest, Steve Kain, an adversary emulation manager with the Maryland Department of IT. With a background spanning both offensive and defensive security roles across the media industry, government entities like the DOD, and even sports organizations including the Baltimore Ravens, Steve brings a unique perspective to the table.

This episode explores the cybersecurity challenges faced by high-profile sports teams, the rise...

In this episode of the To the Point cybersecurity podcast, hosts Jonathan Knepher and Rachael Lyon dive into the complex world of IT and OT network integration with Richard Robinson, CEO of Cynalytica. Richard shares his expertise on the critical differences between IT and OT networks, highlighting their unique security priorities and life cycles. He provides insights into the challenges organizations face when merging these historically siloed domains, offering strategies to bridge the gaps in culture, communication, and risk tolerance. The conversation explores the rising threats of ransomware, the importance of holistic monitoring, and the use of innovative technologies...

Trish Cagliostro, Head of Business Development for security - Worldwide Public Sector for Security Services at Amazon Web Services (AWS) explains Cloud security, how Threat Intelligence factors in and her Cloud wish for the future. For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e318

Dive into the world of cryptocurrency with this week’s guest Jeff Roberts, executive editor at Decrypt and author of the book “Kings of Crypto: One Start-Up’s Quest to Take Cryptocurrency Out of Silicon Valley and On To Wall Street”. For those that are wondering, Jeff shares that cryptocurrency today is definitely mainstream and while it is still a speculative investment - with big banks getting into the game it may not stay that way for long. (HINT: in the next 10 years, we just may have an FDIC version for cryptocurrency!) He also shares how cryptocurrency such as bitcoin...

This week Leonard Bailey, Head of Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section’s (CCIPS) Cybersecurity Unit for the Department of Justice (DOJ), Criminal Division, joins us this week. We dive into the role of the DOJ in addressing the vast and ever-changing landscape of cybersecurity. Bailey shares insights on partnering with federal agencies as well as the private sector, navigating information sharing pathways, evolution of incident and cyber threat reporting procedures, and the recent release of the Harmonization of Cyber Incident Reporting to the Federal Government. He also helps debunk information sharing myths and spotlights available tools and benefits of...

This week joining the podcast is Anton (Tony) Dahbura, executive director of the Johns Hopkins University Information Security Institute and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Institute of Assured Autonomy. We deep dive into the realm of AI/ML technology and the exponential applications for it across every aspect of our lives. And the criticality of building trust, implications of bias, the realities of planning for “edge cases” that just can’t be planned for, and the growing sophistication and personalization of AI-leveraged attacks. He also shares details on the most awesome CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service program. Learn more here: https...

We’re back with part-two of our discussion with Jill Aitoro, SVP for Content Strategy at CyberRisk Alliance where we pick the conversation up on privacy today and efforts by big tech and government to protect sensitive information. We also dive into the slippery slope of consumer apps and health information used for convenience and, for some, entertainment and the realization of how that information could be shared and used by third parties in the coming decades. (And the check boxes you might mindlessly click today could come back to haunt you.)

Jill Aitoro, senior vice president of...

Jill Aitoro, SVP for Content Strategy at CyberRisk Alliance joins the podcast this week for a hot topics discussion across recent developments in the ongoing cyber war involving Ukraine, Russia and a supporting cast of many public and private entities including NATO, Microsoft, Lithuania and others. We also dive into recent exploits by China with social media microtargeting campaigns against rare earth mining companies and where their ‘playing the long game’ implications could lead.

Jill Aitoro, senior vice president of content strategy for CyberRisk Alliance
She has more than 20 years of experience editing and reporting on tech...

Curt Dukes, Executive Vice President and General Manager for Security Best Practices at the Center for Internet Security (CIS) joins the podcast this week. He shares insights from his more than 30 years with the NSA and how that journey led to the CIS and the synergies between the two organizations in providing cyber resources and fostering threat intelligence information sharing. And for those not familiar with the CIS he provides a great primer on this vital organization started 20 years ago by a group of private industry and government individuals who saw the escalating cyber threat landscape ahead and decided...

Welcome to our first SPECIAL EPISODE where we cover breaking news as it happens. Today we catch up with Joe Uchill, senior reporter at SC Media, to discuss the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack making headlines this week and why we continue to see escalating attacks in frequency, ransom demands and high value targets such as critical infrastructure. Joe shares insights from his many years reporting from the cyber front lines speaking with government, regulatory, industry and hacking groups on what it would take to decrease the financial incentive and increase the criminal risk to make ransomware an undesirable pursuit...