In this episode of The Entropy Podcast, host Francis Gorman sits down with Dr. Pablo Breuer, cybersecurity expert, retired U.S. Navy officer, and co-creator of the DISARM framework. The conversation dives into the looming post-quantum threat, the role of cyber operations in geopolitics, the rise of AI-driven disinformation, and the cultural shifts needed in cybersecurity practice. Pablo shares insights from his military career and explains why preparing for disruption now is critical for both governments and private industry.

Takeaways:

• Quantum Threats Are Real, But Not Immediate: The “crypto apocalypse” is likely a decade away, giving time for preparation with new encryption standards.
• Cyber Is Geopolitical Power: From influencing elections to disrupting food supply chains, cyber touches every lever of national power.
• Maslow’s Hierarchy of Cyber Needs: Security must be framed around basic human needs like food, shelter, and safety — not just industry sectors.
• Disinformation Needs Structure: The DISARM framework helps organizations map how misinformation spreads and how to counter it.
• AI & Deepfakes Demand New Thinking: Detecting “bad” won’t scale; we need to verify what’s “good” and authentic.
• Culture Over Technology: Cyber teams must move from being the “department of no” to being racing brakes — enabling speed with safety.

Sound Bytes:

• “We’re probably 10 years before a crypto apocalypse.”
• “Cyber touches every instrument of national power diplomatic, informational, military, and economic.”
• “Don’t frame security by industry, frame it by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.”
• “Disinformation isn’t a silver bullet problem it’s a thousand-bullet problem.”
• “Don’t be the department of no. Security should be like racing brakes, built to go fast, safely.”