Each year Verizon publishes its Data Breach Investigation Report, or DBIR, the annual survey of the state of cybersecurity using data gathered from tens of thousands of incidents from around the world. It’s earned a reputation as a must-read report, for its thoroughness and approachability.

Marc Spitler is a senior manager of Verizon Security Research, and one of the lead authors of the report. He joins us to share the behind-the-scenes story of what goes into the DBIR, how his team chooses the year’s hot topics, and how they protect their efforts from undo influence.