AI Security, AI Cloud Ops & Infrastructure | ClearTech Loop

Think your security strategy is airtight? Think again. 

In this episode, Brad Moldenhauer — VP and CISO-in-Residence at Zscaler — lays out the brutal truth: most companies are underestimating the financial and existential risks lurking in their systems. 

He’s not pulling punches. 

From AI that predicts attacks before they happen to material risks that could bankrupt you overnight, Brad explains how the old-school view of cyber is blinding businesses to what really matters — and how to fix it before it's too late. 

In This Episode: 

• Why your “cyber strategy” could trigger an extinction-level event 
• The business risk mistake even seasoned CISOs still make 
• How to stop spending $100 to fix a $5 problem 
• Why ignoring AI governance might be your last mistake 
• The one shift that turns CISOs into true executives 

Why You Should Listen: 
If you’re a CISO still talking controls instead of customers — you’re already behind. 
This isn’t just another tech talk. It’s a wake-up call from one of the most strategic minds in cybersecurity. 

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ClearTech Loop Ep. 8 with Rob Bair, CISO-in-Residence at Zscaler 

Episode Summary 
Cybercriminals are running fake AI startups — and users are downloading ransomware straight from what looks like “innovation.” In this episode, Rob Bair (Zscaler) breaks down how ransomware has gone corporate: polished websites, SEO poisoning, even English-speaking help desks guiding victims through payments. 

This isn’t a hoodie-in-the-basement threat anymore. It’s a professionalized extortion business — and it’s moving at machine speed. Rob explains why defenders can’t win at human speed, why AI must be in the loop, and what CISOs should expect in the next 12–18 months. 

What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 

• How ransomware crews are turning fake AI startups into bait 
• Why ransomware is now a professionalized industry with customer support 
• Why manual patching is dead — and what CISOs must do about it 
• The 12–18 month horizon for AI-driven cyber threats 

About the Guest 
Rob Bair is CISO-in-Residence at Zscaler, advising on emerging threats and resilience strategies. He also serves as an investor and advisor at Autonomous Cyber, a board member at Rebel Space Technologies, and advisory board member at ISARA Corporation and BOSS Controls.  

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You think AI is protecting you. 
It might actually be helping hackers. 

V-CISO Danny Pastrana has seen it first-hand — AI tools deployed without guardrails can turn into a compliance nightmare, a data leak machine, and your fastest path to a breach. 

In this episode, Danny rips the lid off AI hype and shows you where the real danger lives — and how to keep it from wrecking your business. 

In This Episode: 

• The cyber insurance trap that could cost you millions  
• How hackers use AI to scale phishing and deepfakes  
• Why “human-in-the-loop” isn’t optional  
• The one mistake that turns AI from asset to liability 

Why You Should Listen: 

If your board is pushing for more AI without asking the right questions, this could be the most important 10 minutes you hear all year. 

Because AI won’t just make you faster — it’ll make your mistakes faster too. 

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In this sixth episode of ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson is joined by Robert Uno, Global CISO and Founder of Triden Group, to unpack what modern cybersecurity leadership really looks like—from AI governance to financial risk quantification. 

This 10-minute episode continues The CISO Slant—a 10-part series that explores how today’s security leaders are navigating AI disruption, boardroom expectations, and digital transformation. 

What we cover in this episode: 

• Why CISOs must evolve into business risk managers 
• The real business value of quantifying cyber risk 
• How governance, not just tooling, drives safe AI adoption 

Guest: Robert Uno, Global Chief Information Security Officer, Triden Group
Host: Jo Peterson, Chief Analyst, ClearTech Research 

Full episode page with transcript and takeaways: https://cleartechresearch.com/project/episode-6-the-ciso-slant-robert-uno-global-ciso-at-triden-group/

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Topics: 
cybersecurity, risk quantification, AI governance, business strategy, CISO, ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson, Robert Uno 

Tags/Keywords: 
CISO, cybersecurity, AI risk, business leadership, cyber strategy, Robert Uno, ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson, Triden Group 

Episode Type: 
Full Episode 

Season & Episode Number: 
Season 1, Episode 6 

Custom Episode Webpage: 
https://cleartechresearch.com/Cleartech-loop-podcast/episode-6-robert-uno 

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In this fifth episode of ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson sits down with Stan Lowe, CISO at the U.S. Department of the Interior, to explore how federal-scale cybersecurity transformation offers a blueprint for all modern enterprises. 

This 10-minute conversation continues The CISO Slant—a 10-episode series on how security leaders are navigating AI risk, operational complexity, and leadership in the digital era. 

What we cover in this episode: 

• Deploying Zero Trust architecture at scale 
• Why centralized security operations matter more than ever 
• How to rethink security in the age of AI and cloud complexity 

Guest: Stanley Lowe, Chief Information Security Officer, U.S. Department of the Interior
Host: Jo Peterson, Chief Analyst, ClearTech Research 

Full episode page with transcript and takeaways:
https://cleartechresearch.com/project/cleartech-loop-episode-5-stan-lowe/Subscribe to the newsletter:
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Topics: 
cybersecurity, zero trust, AI security, federal cybersecurity, digital transformation, ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson, Stan Lowe 

Tags/Keywords 
CISO, cybersecurity, zero trust, AI, federal IT, risk strategy, Jo Peterson, ClearTech Loop, Stan Lowe, U.S. Department of the Interior 

Episode Type 
Full Episode 

Season & Episode Number 
Season 1, Episode 5 

Custom Episode Webpage 
https://cleartechresearch.com/project/cleartech-loop-episode-5-stan-lowe/

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Episode Description / Show Notes 
In this fourth episode of ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson sits down with Mike Britton, CIO at Abnormal Security, to unpack the real-world challenges of governing AI, protecting cloud-native platforms, and building trust in fast-growth environments. 

This 10-minute conversation continues The CISO Slant—a 10-episode series exploring how today’s security leaders balance innovation and risk. 

What we cover in this episode: 

• How to implement secure, compliant AI programs 
• What CIOs must prioritize in high-growth cybersecurity teams 
• Why trust and privacy are central to platform security 

Guest: Mike Britton, Chief Information Officer, Abnormal Security
Host: Jo Peterson, Chief Analyst, ClearTech Research 

Full episode page with transcript and takeaways:
https://cleartechresearch.com/project/cleartech-loop-podcast-episode-4-mike-britton/ 

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Topics: 
cybersecurity, AI strategy, privacy, enterprise security, scale, ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson, Mike Britton 

Tags/Keywords 
CISO, CIO, AI security, cloud security, privacy, risk, digital growth, Jo Peterson, ClearTech Loop, Mike Britton, Abnormal Security 

Episode Type 
Full Episode 

Season & Episode Number 
Season 1, Episode 4 

Custom Episode Webpage 
https://cleartechresearch.com/Cleartech-loop-podcast/episode-4-mike-britton 

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In this third episode of ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson speaks with Thomas LaBonte, CISO at Saint-Gobain North America, about the practical side of aligning cybersecurity with industrial operations. 

This 10-minute conversation continues The CISO Slant—a 10-episode series on how security leaders are navigating AI risk, cultural change, and operational complexity. 

What we cover in this episode: 

• How to embed security into industrial and operational technology (OT) environments 
• The cultural mindset shift needed to drive security ownership 
• Where risk, process, and communication intersect in complex organizations 

Guest: Thomas LaBonte, Chief Information Security Officer, Saint-Gobain North America
Host: Jo Peterson, Chief Analyst, ClearTech Research 

Full episode page with transcript and takeaways:
https://cleartechresearch.com/Cleartech-loop-podcast/episode-3-thomas-labonte 

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Topics: 
cybersecurity, OT security, manufacturing, risk culture, process security, ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson, Thomas LaBonte 

Tags/Keywords 
CISO, cybersecurity, manufacturing security, risk management, OT, business alignment, Jo Peterson, ClearTech Loop, Thomas LaBonte, Saint-Gobain North America 

Episode Type 
Full Episode 

Season & Episode Number 
Season 1, Episode 3 

Custom Episode Webpage
https://cleartechresearch.com/Cleartech-loop-podcast/episode-3-thomas-labonte 

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In this second episode of ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson sits down with Scott Howitt, Founder, SVH Cyber, to discuss how CISOs can help drive secure innovation rather than slow it down. 

This 10-minute conversation continues The CISO Slant—a 10-episode series on how security leaders are navigating risk, cloud strategy, and board engagement in today’s enterprise environment. 

What we cover in this episode: 

• How to position security as an innovation partner, not a roadblock 
• How to communicate cybersecurity priorities to the board using business language 
• How cloud transformation demands new governance and operating models 

Guest: Scott Howitt, Founder, SVH Cyber
Host: Jo Peterson, Chief Analyst, ClearTech Research 

Full episode page with transcript and takeaways:
https://cleartechresearch.com/project/cleartech-loop-podcast-episode-2-scott-howitt/

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Topics: 
cybersecurity, cloud strategy, board communication, digital risk, governance, ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson, Scott Howitt 

Tags/Keywords 
CISO, cybersecurity, digital transformation, board engagement, cloud governance, business risk, Jo Peterson, ClearTech Loop, Scott Howitt, UL Solutions, enterprise security 

Episode Type 
Full Episode 

Season & Episode Number 
Season 1, Episode 2 

Custom Episode Webpage 

https://cleartechresearch.com/project/cleartech-loop-podcast-episode-2-scott-howitt/

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In this premiere episode of ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson speaks with Stephenie Southard, Chief Security Officer at Baxter Credit Union, to explore what it really takes to lead cybersecurity in 2025. 

This 10-minute conversation kicks off The CISO Slant—a 10-episode series exploring how modern CISOs are rethinking risk, AI, and leadership in a rapidly shifting landscape. 

What we cover in this episode: 

• How to frame cyber risk in financial terms that resonate with executive leadership 
• How cybersecurity should be integrated into the broader enterprise risk model 
• How CISOs can govern AI—both internally and across third-party vendors 

Guest: Stephenie Southard, SVP & Chief Security Officer, Baxter Credit Union Host: Jo Peterson, Chief Analyst, ClearTech Research

Full episode page with transcript and takeaways: https://cleartechresearch.com/project/cleartech-loop-podcast-episode-1-stephenie-southard/

Subscribe to the newsletter: 

Topics: cybersecurity, AI governance, cyber risk, executive strategy, CISO leadership, ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson, Stephenie Southard 

Tags/Keywords 

CISO, cybersecurity, cyber risk, AI governance, business strategy, enterprise risk, Jo Peterson, ClearTech Loop, Stephenie Southard, Baxter Credit Union, technology leadership 

Episode Type 

Full Episode 

Season & Episode Number 

Season 1, Episode 1 

Custom Episode Webpage 

https://cleartechresearch.com/project/cleartech-loop-podcast-episode-1-stephenie-southard/

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