In this episode, I dig into a potentially dangerous shift in U.S. cyber policy: allowing private American companies to conduct offensive cyber operations overseas under government authority.

I get why the idea is attractive. Ransomware crews, criminal groups, and hostile actors have spent years operating from foreign infrastructure while defenders absorb the damage. At some point, people naturally start asking: why not hit back?

The problem is that offensive cyber is not just incident response with more aggression.

Attribution is messy. Infrastructure gets reused. Criminal groups overlap with intelligence services. Nation-states deliberately create ambiguity. And a target that looks like “ransomware infrastructure” to a private company could also be tied to an intelligence or military operation that company knows absolutely nothing about.

That is where this gets dangerous.

Because once an American company acts under U.S. authority, the target may not see a private cybersecurity firm. They may simply see the United States attacking them.

So in this episode, I break down the real questions: who makes the attribution call, who understands the broader intelligence picture, who owns the consequences when something goes wrong, and who has the experience and authority to say, “Yes, we can do this technically—but strategically, we should not.”

I’m not arguing that we should sit back and let adversaries hammer us.

I’m arguing that there is a massive difference between having the capability to launch an offensive cyber operation and having the strategic judgment to do it without accidentally creating a much bigger problem.

That distinction matters. A lot.

Takeaways

• Private American companies conducting government-authorized destructive cyber operations overseas
• The need for strategic judgment and intelligence in cyber operations Offensive cyber operations exist on a continuum, from minor disruptions to potential international conflict.
• Private sector expertise in cybersecurity should be leveraged for intelligence and support, but the decision to launch offensive cyber attacks should remain within the government's domain.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Consequences of Private Cyber Operations
• 03:38 The Dangerous Policy Idea
• 07:46 The Memorandum and Its Implications
• 10:34 The Most Dangerous Assumption
• 13:49 The Petrov Problem and Strategic Context
• 21:23 The Role of Human Latency in Cyber Operations
• 24:07 The Geopolitical Implications of Private Sector Operations
• 26:04 The Spectrum of Offensive Cyber Operations
• 28:46 Geopolitical Implications and Attribution Challenges
• 36:21 Legal and Ethical Considerations
• 43:02 The Role of Private Sector and Government Collaboration
• 46:18 Strategic Judgment and Human Oversight

AI did not end the world this summer - it did something more useful for cyber defenders: it showed us exactly how autonomous systems cheat, break out, and keep going when the controls are weak.

Dr. Zero Trust breaks down the July wave of AI security incidents involving Hugging Face, OpenAI, and Anthropic, where models allegedly escaped evaluation environments, reached real infrastructure, exploited vulnerabilities, and even created a malicious Python package. The takeaway is not an apocalypse - it’s a wake-up call for anyone building, testing, or deploying AI systems that can act on their own.

You’ll discover:

• How an “isolated” cyber benchmark became a real-world supply chain event
• Why machine-speed lateral movement changes the threat model completely
• The difference between a model that stops, one that rationalizes, and one that keeps going
• Why weak passwords, exposed credentials, SQL injection, and typosquatting still matter in an AI era
• What the Morris worm, reward hacking, and Stuxnet reveal about today’s agentic risk

Dr. Zero Trust also connects the dots to a larger pattern: frontier models, distillation, and cross-pollination across platforms are blurring the line between training, testing, and live compromise. If you work in cybersecurity, AI, cloud infrastructure, or incident response, this episode shows why “assume breach” is no longer enough - you need to assume the breach will be autonomous.Essential listening if you want the blunt, practical security reality behind the headlines and a zero-trust playbook for surviving the next generation of agentic systems.

Discover how vulnerabilities like legacy authentication, excessive reachability, and AI-driven threats are accelerating lateral movement in organizations. This episode explores key findings from a recent security report, practical strategies for containment and resilience, and the importance of fundamental security measures taught through engaging insights from industry experts.

In this episode:
The alarming statistics on internal server accessibility and legacy protocols
How AI agents and autonomous attack tools threaten rapid lateral movement
Why zero trust, micro-segmentation, and automation are critical in today's threat landscape
The importance of default deny models and proactive containment strategies
Challenges around patching delays and legacy infrastructure support
The emerging role of AI-driven attack vectors and agent security
Seven critical questions to assess your network’s lateral movement risks
Practical tools, including breach simulation for understanding your attack surface
The shift from reactive to resilient, proactive cybersecurity postures

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction: The importance of understanding lateral movement in cybersecurity

02:22 - Breaking down key statistics on server reachability and legacy protocols

04:40 - The threat posed by AI automation and autonomous attack tools

07:11 - The ongoing challenge of patching delays and legacy infrastructure

09:34 - Moving from traditional approaches to zero trust and micro-segmentation

12:53 - Recognizing basic inherited vulnerabilities that persist for decades

15:13 - The dangers of excessive internal reachability and network segmentation failures

18:16 - Change management and mindset shifts needed for security improvements

20:35 - The exploding ratio of machine and service identities in networks

21:49 - Legacy issues like Eternal Blue still prevalent in modern environments

24:17 - The critical need for rapid containment vs. detection-only solutions

27:47 - The challenges with east-west visibility and capabilities gaps

29:34 - The speed of lateral movement in compromised environments

31:31 - Emerging AI threats: attacker AI and AI agents as targets

32:30 - Multi-layered approaches to AI agent security and network segmentation

34:10 - Seven strategic questions to evaluate your lateral movement defenses

36:45 - Building cyber resilience through measurement, automation, and continuous improvement

38:01 - Tools and simulation exercises to assess and improve lateral movement defenses

Links:
https://zeronetworks.com/landing/black-hat-26?utm_medium=paid_social&utm_source=linkedin&utm_content=bhlandingchasecunningham

https://zeronetworks.com/resource-center/reports/2026-lateral-movement-exposure-report?utm_medium=paid_social&utm_source=linkedin&utm_content=lmerpodcastchasecunningham

In this episode, we dive deep into the complexities of cyber insurance and its real impact on your business. Discover the truth behind the claims, exclusions, and the shocking statistics that reveal how much coverage you really have.

Key takeaways:

* The global cyber insurance market is projected to reach $50 billion by 2030, but there's a staggering $900 billion protection gap.
* Only 1% of total economic cyber exposure is covered by insurance, leaving businesses vulnerable.
* 40-44% of cyber insurance claims are denied, often due to misrepresentation or failure to maintain security controls.
* Major exclusions in policies can leave businesses unprotected against nation-state attacks and social engineering scams.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:19 The reality of cyber insurance
02:28 The billion-dollar industry
05:01 The protection gap
06:13 Claims denial rates
11:09 The questionnaire of doom
14:20 Common reasons for claim denials
17:09 Exclusions that matter
20:25 The waiting game
27:23 Case studies of cyber insurance failures
30:01 The ransomware economy
32:13 The profitability paradox
39:22 The broker problem
41:32 What am I actually buying?
44:28 The prescription for better coverage
51:14 The bottom line on cyber insurance

What's your biggest challenge with cyber insurance? Drop it in the comments!

Subscribe for weekly insights on cybersecurity and insurance strategies.

#CyberInsurance #CyberSecurity #Ransomware

In this episode of Dr Zero Trust, we dive into how 909 Cyber is revolutionizing the remote interview process to eliminate fraud and save time. Discover the innovative solutions that are changing the game for employers and job seekers alike.

Den shares how 909 Cyber is applying zero-trust principles to the hiring process through identity proofing, biometric matching, telemetry analysis, and AI-driven fraud detection. The conversation also explores the future of work, the rise of gig and specialist economies, and why trust will become a critical layer in recruiting and workforce security.
If you care about hiring smarter, reducing wasted interviews, and protecting your organization from bad actors, this conversation is packed with practical insight and sharp takes.

Key takeaways:

* Introduction to 909 Shield and its mission to combat interview fraud.
* The importance of identity proofing and biometric matching in hiring.
* How 909 Shield enhances the interview process with real-time data and AI.
* The impact of remote work on hiring practices and the gig economy.
* Insights on the future of work and the rise of specialist roles.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
02:12 Meet Den Jones, CEO of 909 Cyber
03:35 The problem of interview fraud
06:22 How 909 Shield works
08:46 The role of AI in hiring
10:23 Addressing deep fakes in interviews
12:20 The importance of trust in hiring
15:01 The gig economy and its future

What's your biggest challenge with remote hiring? Drop it in the comments!

Subscribe for weekly insights on cybersecurity and hiring trends!

#ZeroTrust #Cybersecurity #RemoteHiring

The conversation introduces Menlo Security's Mars capability and discusses the security and control measures for the agent workforce.

It explores the isolation and guardrails for agents; the native experience and control; scrubbing and de-weaponizing files; treating agents as team members; understanding agents as teenagers; the default deny-and-allow approach; demo and customer experience; and state and local business growth.

Takeaways

• Agent workforce security in the browser
• Isolation and guardrails for agents via native user interaces

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Mars and Agent Workforce
• 06:04 Understanding Agents as Teenagers

Most venture-backed cybersecurity companies are doomed from the start. The math is rigged so only 5-10% of startups survive—and they have to return hundreds of millions, or even billions, to satisfy investors. The result? Exploding tools, premature scaling, vaporware, and a cybersecurity industry obsessed with quick exits rather than real defense. In this eye-opening episode, I pull back the curtain on how the VC funding model distorts cybersecurity innovation. You’ll discover how an industry designed to fail is fueling massive failures like IronNet’s $3 billion valuation crashing in just two years, Lacework’s $8 billion valuation shrinking to $200 million, and Cyber Reason’s 90% valuation collapse in 12 months. These aren’t coincidences—they’re the predictable consequences of a broken system that prizes scale over substance.

I break down:

* The real math behind “unicorn” valuations and their astronomical burn rates
* Why premature scaling kills startups before they can build effective security
* How VC incentives favor feature bloat, AI washing, and vaporware over genuine innovation
* The ugly truth about the flood of tools that make SOCs worse, not better
* Proven models like customer-funded R&D — exemplified by Palantir — that produce real, effective security products without sacrificing integrity

If you’re a security buyer tired of bloated tools and false promises, or a founder questioning the current VC-driven chaos, this episode is your wake-up call. The industry is at a crossroads: continue chasing mythical “unicorns” or build resilient, purpose-driven solutions that actually defend us against modern threats. The stakes couldn’t be higher. Because if we keep funding the same flawed cycle, our cybersecurity defenses will remain weak—and the threat actors will keep winning. But there’s hope. Some companies are bucking the trend, proving that profitability and genuine innovation are possible outside the VC model. This is essential listening for security professionals, founders, and investors ready to rethink what really works. Share if you’re fed up with the status quo—because the future of cybersecurity depends on it.

The conversation covers the introduction of Silos and SpyAlert, the concept of ephemeral endpoints, solving Windows 10 compatibility issues, biometric identity and network isolation, AI-enabled tools and vulnerability mitigation, expanding perimeter and endpoint security, impact on the endpoint security market, compliance and identity access management, frictionless security and user experience, continuous biometric authentication, integration with identity and access management, real-time security operations and analytics, endpoint security and biometric authentication, acquisition and technology integration, zero trust journey and implementation, statelessness and device management, and camera requirements and flexibility.

Takeaways

• Ephemeral Endpoints
• Zero Trust Operating System

Chapters

• 00:00 Camera Requirements and Flexibility

Your kids’ education is under attack—and the damage goes far beyond data breaches. Schools have become prime targets for hackers, not just because of the valuable student information they hold, but because their interconnected digital systems make them vulnerable to ransomware, data theft, and operational shutdowns that threaten safety and learning at every level. If you think cyber threats are just an IT problem, think again—this is a crisis of safety, trust, and our collective future.

In this eye-opening episode, I expose the alarming realities of cybersecurity in America's schools. From massive breaches of platforms like Canvas and PowerSchool to ransomware attacks disabling vital systems like emergency notifications, security cameras, and HVAC controls, the stakes couldn’t be higher. He reveals how adversaries exploit legacy tech, lax access controls, and vendor vulnerabilities, turning school networks into playgrounds for cybercriminals. The consequences? Loss of instruction time, compromised student identities, and even direct threats to safety—issues that can last for years.

You'll discover:
How cyber breaches in schools impact everything from classroom learning to emergency response systems
The systemic risks created by centralized edtech platforms and third-party vendors
Why traditional cybersecurity approaches fall short and what a true Zero Trust model for schools looks like
Practical questions parents and school boards should be asking about MFA, data segmentation, vendor contracts, and incident response
The urgent need to treat school cybersecurity as a matter of public safety and resilience
This episode exposes the flawed assumptions and complacency that perpetuate one of the most critical vulnerabilities in our infrastructure—our children’s education system. With billions of records at stake, and long-lasting consequences for identity and safety, it’s clear: cybersecurity in schools isn’t optional, it’s essential.
Whether you're a parent, educator, administrator, or concerned citizen, this conversation will radically change your perspective on what’s really at risk—and how we can safeguard the future. If we fail to act, the fallout could disrupt learning, safety, and trust for generations.
Prepare to be informed, inspired, and compelled to demand change. Schools are more than just buildings—they’re the backbone of our society. Protecting them is protecting our future.

Most cybersecurity talks about infrastructure miss the real game-changer: ephemerality and programmatic network defense. A team of military veteran experts and I unveil how they’re turning traditional models inside out—a move that’s not just innovative but essential for modern security.

Imagine a network that’s invisible, constantly moving, and virtually unbreakable—built on military-grade principles like active failover, dynamic segmentation, and ephemeral identities. This isn’t theoretical; it’s real technology tested in top US banks and critical OT environments, now available for everyday users and small businesses for as little as $10 a month. They’re redefining zero trust with a simple, scalable approach that slashes costs, reduces risk, and defeats threats before they even begin.

You’ll discover:

How the “dark architecture” creates a network that only exists during sessions—eliminating persistent attack surfaces.
The revolutionary concept of automated moving target defense (AMTD) that keeps your data and identity shielded by constantly shifting network paths.
The difference between VPN and ephemeral private networks (EPN): why ephemeral is the future for individual users and SMBs.
How this approach simplifies integration with existing infrastructure using open standards, drastically cutting deployment times and costs—up to 50% below vendors like Zscaler.
Why small businesses and consumers are the next frontier in cybersecurity, gaining enterprise-grade protection at a fraction of the price.
In a world where hackers increasingly target the “easy wins,” missing out on this radical shift could leave your digital assets vulnerable. This episode is vital listening for anyone who’s tired of patchwork fixes, costly vendors, or slow-moving cybersecurity solutions. The future belongs to those who act now—embrace ephemerality, reduce your attack surface, and stay steps ahead of cyber adversaries with a network that defends itself.

Perfect for security professionals, SMB owners, and tech enthusiasts eager to understand the next wave of cyber defense—this episode might just change how you think about protecting your digital life.