Redefining CyberSecurity

⬥GUEST⬥

Andy Ellis, Legendary CISO [https://howtociso.com] | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/csoandy/

⬥HOST⬥

Host: Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imsmartin/ | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com

⬥EPISODE NOTES⬥

In this episode of Redefining CyberSecurity, host Sean Martin speaks with Andy Ellis, former CSO at Akamai and current independent advisor, about the shifting expectations of security leadership in today’s SaaS-powered, AI-enabled business environment.

Andy highlights that many organizations—especially mid-sized startups—struggle not because they lack resources, but because they don’t know how to contextualize what security means to their business goals. Often, security professionals aren’t equipped to communicate with executives or boards in a way that builds shared understanding. That’s where advisors like Andy step in: not to provide a playbook, but to help translate and align.

One of the core ideas discussed is the reframing of security as an enabler rather than a gatekeeper. With businesses built almost entirely on SaaS platforms and outsourced operations, IT and security should no longer be siloed. Andy encourages security teams to “own the stack”—not just protect it—by integrating IT management, vendor oversight, and security into a single discipline.

The conversation also explores how AI and automation empower employees at every level to “vibe code” their own solutions, shifting innovation away from centralized control. This democratization of tech raises new opportunities—and risks—that security teams must support, not resist. Success comes from guiding, not gatekeeping.

Andy shares practical ways CISOs can build influence, including a deceptively simple yet powerful technique: ask every stakeholder what security practice they hate the most and what critical practice is missing. These questions uncover quick wins that earn political capital—critical fuel for driving long-term transformation.

From his “First 91 Days” guide for CISOs to his book 1% Leadership, Andy offers not just theory but actionable frameworks for influencing culture, improving retention, and measuring success in ways that matter.

Whether you’re a CISO, a founder, or an aspiring security leader, this episode will challenge how you think about the role security plays in business—and what it means to lead from the middle.

⬥SPONSORS⬥

LevelBlue: https://itspm.ag/attcybersecurity-3jdk3

ThreatLocker: https://itspm.ag/threatlocker-r974

⬥RESOURCES⬥

Inspiring Post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/csoandy_how-to-ciso-the-first-91-days-ugcPost-7330619155353632768-BXQT/

Book: “How to CISO: The First 91-Day Guide” by Andy Ellis — https://howtociso.com/library/first-91-days-guide/

Book: “1% Leadership: Master the Small Daily Habits that Build Exceptional Teams” — https://www.amazon.com/1-Leadership-Daily-Habits-Exceptional/dp/B0BSV7T2KZ

⬥ADDITIONAL INFORMATION⬥

✨ More Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast: 

🎧 https://www.seanmartin.com/redefining-cybersecurity-podcast

Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast on YouTube:

📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllS9aVGdiakVss9u7xgYDKYq

📝 The Future of Cybersecurity Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7108625890296614912/

Interested in sponsoring this show with a podcast ad placement? Learn more:

👉 https://itspm.ag/podadplc

⬥KEYWORDS⬥

andy ellis, sean martin, ciso, ai, sas, shadow it, vibe coding, patch management, political capital, leadership, redefining cybersecurity, cybersecurity podcast, redefining cybersecurity podcast

At Black Hat USA 2025, artificial intelligence wasn’t the shiny new thing — it was the baseline. Nearly every product launch, feature update, and hallway conversation had an “AI-powered” stamp on it. But when AI becomes the lowest common denominator for security, the questions shift.

In this episode, I read my latest opinion piece exploring what happens when the tools we build to protect us are the same ones that can obscure reality — or rewrite it entirely. Drawing from the Lock Note discussion, Jennifer Granick’s keynote on threat modeling and constitutional law, my own CISO hallway conversations, and a deep review of 60+ vendor announcements, I examine the operational, legal, and governance risks that emerge when speed and scale take priority over transparency and accountability.

We talk about model poisoning — not just in the technical sense, but in how our industry narrative can get corrupted by hype and shallow problem-solving. We look at the dangers of replacing entry-level security roles with black-box automation, where a single model misstep can cascade into thousands of bad calls at machine speed. And yes, we address the potential liability for CISOs and executives who let it happen without oversight.

Using Mikko Hyppönen’s “Game of Tetris” metaphor, I explore how successes vanish quietly while failures pile up for all to see — and why in the AI era, that stack can build faster than ever.

If AI is everywhere, what defines the premium layer above the baseline? How do we ensure we can still define success, measure it accurately, and prove it when challenged?

Listen in, and then join the conversation: Can you trust the “reality” your systems present — and can you prove it?

________

This story represents the results of an interactive collaboration between Human Cognition and Artificial Intelligence.

Enjoy, think, share with others, and subscribe to "The Future of Cybersecurity" newsletter on LinkedIn.

Sincerely, Sean Martin and TAPE3

________

✦ Resources

Article: When Artificial Intelligence Becomes the Baseline: Will We Even Know What Reality Is AInymore?https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-artificial-intelligence-becomes-baseline-we-even-martin-cissp-4idqe/

The Future of Cybersecurity Article: How Novel Is Novelty? Security Leaders Try To Cut Through the Cybersecurity Vendor Echo Chamber at Black Hat 2025: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-novel-novelty-security-leaders-try-cut-through-sean-martin-cissp-xtune/

Black Hat 2025 On Location Closing Recap Video with Sean Martin, CISSP and Marco Ciappelli: https://youtu.be/13xP-LEwtEA

Learn more and catch more stories from our Black Hat USA 2025 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/bhusa25

Article: When Virtual Reality Is A Commodity, Will True Reality Come At A Premium? https://sean-martin.medium.com/when-virtual-reality-is-a-commodity-will-true-reality-come-at-a-premium-4a97bccb4d72

Catch all of our event coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/technology-and-cybersecurity-conference-coverage

ITSPmagazine Studio — A Brand & Marketing Advisory for Cybersecurity and Tech Companies: https://www.itspmagazine.studio/

ITSPmagazine Webinar: What’s Heating Up Before Black Hat 2025: Place Your Bet on the Top Trends Set to Shake Up this Year’s Hacker Conference — An ITSPmagazine Thought Leadership Webinar | https://www.crowdcast.io/c/whats-heating-up-before-black-hat-2025-place-your-bet-on-the-top-trends-set-to-shake-up-this-years-hacker-conference

________

Sean Martin is a life-long musician and the host of the Music Evolves Podcast; a career technologist, cybersecurity professional, and host of the Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast; and is also the co-host of both the Random and Unscripted Podcast and On Location Event Coverage Podcast. These shows are all part of ITSPmagazine—which he co-founded with his good friend Marco Ciappelli, to explore and discuss topics at The Intersection of Technology, Cybersecurity, and Society.™️

Want to connect with Sean and Marco On Location at an event or conference near you? See where they will be next: https://www.itspmagazine.com/on-location

To learn more about Sean, visit his personal website.

Black Hat 2025 was a showcase of cybersecurity innovation — or at least, that’s how it appeared on the surface. With more than 60 vendor announcements over the course of the week, the event floor was full of “AI-powered” solutions promising to integrate seamlessly, reduce analyst fatigue, and transform SOC operations. But after walking the floor, talking with CISOs, and reviewing the press releases, a pattern emerged: much of the messaging sounded the same, making it hard to distinguish the truly game-changing from the merely loud.

In this episode of The Future of Cybersecurity Newsletter, I take you behind the scenes to unpack the themes driving this year’s announcements. Yes, AI dominated the conversation, but the real story is in how vendors are (or aren’t) connecting their technology to the operational realities CISOs face every day. I share insights gathered from private conversations with security leaders — the unfiltered version of how these announcements are received when the marketing gloss is stripped away.

We dig into why operational relevance, clarity, and proof points matter more than ever. If you can’t explain what your AI does, what data it uses, and how it’s secured, you’re already losing the trust battle. For CISOs, I outline practical steps to evaluate vendor claims quickly and identify solutions that align with program goals, compliance needs, and available resources.

And for vendors, this episode serves as a call to action: cut the fluff, be transparent, and frame your capabilities in terms of measurable program outcomes. I share a framework for how to break through the noise — not just by shouting louder, but by being more real, more specific, and more relevant to the people making the buying decisions.

Whether you’re building a security stack or selling into one, this conversation will help you see past the echo chamber and focus on what actually moves the needle.

________

This story represents the results of an interactive collaboration between Human Cognition and Artificial Intelligence.

Enjoy, think, share with others, and subscribe to "The Future of Cybersecurity" newsletter on LinkedIn.

Sincerely, Sean Martin and TAPE3

________

✦ Resources

Black Hat 2025 On Location Closing Recap Video with Sean Martin, CISSP and Marco Ciappelli: https://youtu.be/13xP-LEwtEA

ITSPmagazine Studio — A Brand & Marketing Advisory for Cybersecurity and Tech Companies: https://www.itspmagazine.studio/

ITSPmagazine Webinar: What’s Heating Up Before Black Hat 2025: Place Your Bet on the Top Trends Set to Shake Up this Year’s Hacker Conference — An ITSPmagazine Thought Leadership Webinar | https://www.crowdcast.io/c/whats-heating-up-before-black-hat-2025-place-your-bet-on-the-top-trends-set-to-shake-up-this-years-hacker-conference

Learn more and catch more stories from our Black Hat USA 2025 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/bhusa25

Catch all of our event coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/technology-and-cybersecurity-conference-coverage

Citations: Available in the full article

________

Sean Martin is a life-long musician and the host of the Music Evolves Podcast; a career technologist, cybersecurity professional, and host of the Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast; and is also the co-host of both the Random and Unscripted Podcast and On Location Event Coverage Podcast. These shows are all part of ITSPmagazine—which he co-founded with his good friend Marco Ciappelli, to explore and discuss topics at The Intersection of Technology, Cybersecurity, and Society.™️

Want to connect with Sean and Marco On Location at an event or conference near you? See where they will be next: https://www.itspmagazine.com/on-location

To learn more about Sean, visit his personal website.

In this thought leadership session, ITSPmagazine co-founders Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli moderate a dynamic conversation with five industry leaders offering their take on what will dominate the show floor and side-stage chatter at Black Hat USA 2025.

Leslie Kesselring, Founder of Kesselring Communications, surfaces how media coverage is shifting in real time—no longer driven solely by talk submissions but now heavily influenced by breaking news, regulation, and public-private sector dynamics. From government briefings to cyberweapon disclosures, the pressure is on to cover what matters, not just what’s scheduled.

Daniel Cuthbert, member of the Black Hat Review Board and Global Head of Security Research at Banco Santander, pushes back on the hype. He notes that while tech moves fast, security research often revisits decades-old bugs. His sharp observation? “The same bugs from the ‘90s are still showing up—sometimes discovered by researchers younger than the vulnerabilities themselves.”

Michael Parisi, Chief Growth Officer at Steel Patriot Partners, shifts the conversation to operational risk. He raises concern over Model-Chained Prompting (MCP) and how AI agents can rewrite enterprise processes without visibility or traceability—especially alarming in environments lacking kill switches or proper controls.

Richard Stiennon, Chief Research Analyst at IT-Harvest, offers market-level insights, forecasting AI agent saturation with over 20 vendors already present in the expo hall. While excited by real advancements, he warns of funding velocity outpacing substance and cautions against the cycle of overinvestment in vaporware.

Rupesh Chokshi, SVP & GM at Akamai Technologies, brings the product and customer lens—framing the security conversation around how AI use cases are rolling out fast while security coverage is still catching up. From OT to LLMs, securing both AI and with AI is a top concern.

This episode is not just about placing bets on buzzwords. It’s about uncovering what’s real, what’s noise, and what still needs fixing—no matter how long we’ve been talking about it.

___________

Guests:

Leslie Kesselring, Founder at Cyber PR Firm Kesselring Communications | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesliekesselring/
“This year, it’s the news cycle—not the sessions—that’s driving what media cover at Black Hat.”

Daniel Cuthbert, Black Hat Training Review Board and Global Head of Security Research for Banco Santander | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-cuthbert0x/
“Why are we still finding bugs older than the people presenting the research?”

Richard Stiennon, Chief Research Analyst at IT-Harvest | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stiennon/
“The urge to consolidate tools is driven by procurement—not by what defenders actually need.”

Michael Parisi, Chief Growth Officer at Steel Patriot Partners | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-parisi-4009b2261/
“Responsible AI use isn’t a policy—it’s something we have to actually implement.”

Rupesh Chokshi, SVP & General Manager at Akamai Technologies | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupeshchokshi/
“The business side is racing to deploy AI—but security still hasn’t caught up.”

Hosts:
Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com

Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine | Website: https://www.marcociappelli.com

___________

Episode Sponsors

ThreatLocker: https://itspm.ag/threatlocker-r974

BlackCloak: https://itspm.ag/itspbcweb

Akamai: https://itspm.ag/akamailbwc

DropzoneAI: https://itspm.ag/dropzoneai-641

Stellar Cyber: https://itspm.ag/stellar-9dj3

___________

Resources

Learn more and catch more stories from our Black Hat USA 2025 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/bhusa25

ITSPmagazine Webinar: What’s Heating Up Before Black Hat 2025: Place Your Bet on the Top Trends Set to Shake Up this Year’s Hacker Conference — An ITSPmagazine Thought Leadership Webinar | https://www.crowdcast.io/c/whats-heating-up-before-black-hat-2025-place-your-bet-on-the-top-trends-set-to-shake-up-this-years-hacker-conference

Catch all of our event coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/technology-and-cybersecurity-conference-coverage

Want to tell your Brand Story Briefing as part of our event coverage? Learn More 👉 https://itspm.ag/evtcovbrf

Want Sean and Marco to be part of your event or conference? Let Us Know 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/contact-us

___________

KEYWORDS

sean martin, marco ciappelli, leslie kesselring, daniel cuthbert, richard stiennon, michael parisi, rupesh chokshi, blackhat2025, event coverage, on location, conference

⬥GUEST⬥

Sean Metcalf, Identity Security Architect at TrustedSec | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanmmetcalf/

⬥HOST⬥

Host: Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imsmartin/ | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com

⬥EPISODE NOTES⬥

Sean Metcalf, a frequent speaker at conferences like Black Hat, DEF CON, and RSAC, brings a sharp focus to identity security—especially within Microsoft environments like Active Directory and Entra ID. In this episode, he walks through the practical and tactical role of honeypots and deception in detecting intrusions early and with higher fidelity.

While traditional detection tools often aim for broad coverage, honeypots flip the script by offering precise signal amidst the noise. Metcalf discusses how defenders can take advantage of the attacker’s need to enumerate systems and accounts after gaining access. That need becomes an opportunity to embed traps—accounts or assets that should never be touched unless someone is doing something suspicious.

One core recommendation: repurpose old service accounts with long-lived passwords and believable naming conventions. These make excellent bait for Kerberoasting attempts, especially when paired with service principal names (SPNs) that mimic actual applications. Metcalf outlines how even subtle design choices—like naming conventions that fit organizational patterns—can make a honeypot more convincing and effective.

He also draws a distinction between honeypots and deception technologies. While honeypots often consist of a few well-placed traps, deception platforms offer full-scale phantom environments. Regardless of approach, the goal remains the same: attackers shouldn’t be able to move around your environment without tripping over something that alerts the defender.

Importantly, Metcalf emphasizes that alerts triggered by honeypots are high-value. Since no legitimate user should interact with them, they provide early warning with low false positives. He also addresses the internal politics of deploying these traps, from coordinating with IT operations to ensuring SOC teams have the right procedures in place to respond effectively.

Whether you’re running a high-end deception platform or just deploying free tokens and traps, the message is clear: identity is the new perimeter, and a few strategic tripwires could mean the difference between breach detection and breach denial.

⬥SPONSORS⬥

LevelBlue: https://itspm.ag/attcybersecurity-3jdk3

ThreatLocker: https://itspm.ag/threatlocker-r974

⬥RESOURCES⬥

Inspiring Post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7353806074694541313-xzQl/

Article: The Art of the Honeypot Account: Making the Unusual Look Normal: https://www.hub.trimarcsecurity.com/post/the-art-of-the-honeypot-account-making-the-unusual-look-normal

Article: Trimarc Research: Detecting Kerberoasting Activity: https://www.hub.trimarcsecurity.com/post/trimarc-research-detecting-kerberoasting-activity

Article: Detecting Password Spraying with Security Event Auditing: https://www.hub.trimarcsecurity.com/post/trimarc-research-detecting-password-spraying-with-security-event-auditing

⬥ADDITIONAL INFORMATION⬥

✨ More Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast: 

🎧 https://www.seanmartin.com/redefining-cybersecurity-podcast

Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast on YouTube:

📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllS9aVGdiakVss9u7xgYDKYq

📝 The Future of Cybersecurity Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7108625890296614912/

Interested in sponsoring this show with a podcast ad placement? Learn more:

👉 https://itspm.ag/podadplc

⬥GUEST⬥

John Salomon, Board Member, Cybersecurity Advisors Network (CyAN) | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsalomon/

⬥HOST⬥

Host: Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imsmartin/ | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com

⬥EPISODE NOTES⬥

The cybersecurity industry keeps repeating a familiar line: there’s a shortage of talent. But what if the real issue isn’t the number of people—but the lack of access, mentorship, and investment in human potential?

In this episode of Redefining CyberSecurity, Sean Martin speaks with John Salomon, an independent cybersecurity consultant and a contributor to the Cybersecurity Advisors Network (CyAN), about how the hiring structure in our industry may be the problem—not the solution. Together, they explore why entry-level roles rarely provide an actual point of entry, and how hiring practices have been shaped more by finance and compliance than by people development.

Salomon draws on decades of experience to outline the problem: security is often treated as a pure cost center, so training and mentorship are deprioritized. Early-career professionals are expected to be “job-ready” from day one, and organizations rarely account for the long-term payoff of investing in apprenticeships or junior hires.

He also points to the silent collapse of informal mentorship that once defined the field. Leaders used to take risks on new talent. Now, hiring decisions are driven by headcount limitations and performance metrics that leave no room for experimentation or learning through failure.

The conversation shifts toward action. Business and security leaders need to reframe cybersecurity as a growth enabler and start viewing mentorship as a risk mitigation tool. Investing in new talent not only strengthens your team—it supports the stability of the industry as a whole.

And it’s not just on companies. Universities and student organizations must create more opportunities for experiential learning and interdisciplinary collaboration. Leaders can support these efforts with time, not just budget, by showing up and sharing what they’ve learned.

Whether you’re a CISO, founder, or just getting started, this episode challenges the idea that “mentorship is nice to have” and shows how it’s a cornerstone of sustainable cybersecurity.

⬥SPONSORS⬥

LevelBlue: https://itspm.ag/attcybersecurity-3jdk3

ThreatLocker: https://itspm.ag/threatlocker-r974

⬥RESOURCES⬥

Inspiring Post: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/activity-7332679935557300224-1lBv/

⬥ADDITIONAL INFORMATION⬥

✨ More Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast: 

🎧 https://www.seanmartin.com/redefining-cybersecurity-podcast

Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast on YouTube:

📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllS9aVGdiakVss9u7xgYDKYq

📝 The Future of Cybersecurity Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7108625890296614912/

Interested in sponsoring this show with a podcast ad placement? Learn more:

👉 https://itspm.ag/podadplc

⬥GUEST⬥

Tobias Halmans, OT Incident Responder | GIAC Certified Incident Handler | Automation Security Consultant at admeritia GmbH | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobias-halmans/

⬥HOST⬥

Host: Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imsmartin/ | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com

⬥EPISODE NOTES⬥

Business continuity planning is a familiar exercise for most IT and security leaders—but when you move into operational technology (OT), the rules change. In this episode of Redefining CyberSecurity, Sean Martin talks with Tobias Halmans, an incident responder at admeritia, who helps organizations prepare for and respond to incidents in OT environments. Tobias shares why disaster recovery planning in OT requires more than simply adapting IT frameworks. It demands a change in approach, mindset, and communication.

OT engineers don’t think in terms of “ransomware readiness.” They think in terms of safety, uptime, manual fallback options, and how long a plant can stay operational without a SCADA system. As Tobias explains, while IT teams worry about backup integrity and rapid rebooting, OT teams are focused on whether shutting down a system—even safely—is even an option. And when the recovery plan depends on third-party vendors, the assumptions made on both sides can derail the response before it begins.

Tobias walks us through the nuances of defining success in OT recovery. Unlike the IT world’s metrics like mean time to recover (MTTR), OT environments often hinge on production impacts and safety thresholds. Recovery Time Objectives (RTOs) still exist—but they must be anchored in real-world plant operations, often shaped by vendor limitations, legacy constraints, and tightly regulated safety requirements.

Perhaps most importantly, Tobias stresses that business continuity planning for OT can’t just be a cybersecurity add-on. It must be part of broader risk and operational conversations, ideally happening when systems are being designed or upgraded. But in reality, many organizations are only starting these conversations now—often driven more by compliance mandates than proactive risk strategy.

Whether you’re a CISO trying to bridge the gap with your OT counterparts or an engineer wondering why cyber teams keep showing up with playbooks that don’t fit, this conversation offers grounded, real-world insight into what preparedness really means for critical operations.

⬥SPONSORS⬥

LevelBlue: https://itspm.ag/attcybersecurity-3jdk3

ThreatLocker: https://itspm.ag/threatlocker-r974

⬥RESOURCES⬥

Inspiring Article: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sarah-fluchs_notfallvorsorge-in-der-ot-traut-euch-activity-7308744270453092352-Q8X1

⬥ADDITIONAL INFORMATION⬥

✨ More Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast: 

🎧 https://www.seanmartin.com/redefining-cybersecurity-podcast

Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast on YouTube:

📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllS9aVGdiakVss9u7xgYDKYq

📝 The Future of Cybersecurity Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7108625890296614912/

Interested in sponsoring this show with a podcast ad placement? Learn more:

👉 https://itspm.ag/podadplc

Before a power crew rolls out to check a transformer, sensors on the grid have often already flagged the problem. Before your smart dishwasher starts its cycle, it might wait for off-peak energy rates. And in the world of autonomous vehicles, lightweight systems constantly scan road conditions before a decision ever reaches the car’s central processor.

These aren’t the heroes of their respective systems. They’re the scouts, the context-builders: automated agents that make the entire operation more efficient, timely, and scalable.

Cybersecurity is beginning to follow the same path.

In an era of relentless digital noise and limited human capacity, AI agents are being deployed to look first, think fast, and flag what matters before security teams ever engage. But these aren’t the cartoonish “AI firefighters” some might suggest. They’re logical engines operating at scale: pruning data, enriching signals, simulating outcomes, and preparing workflows with precision.

"AI agents are redefining how security teams operate, especially when time and talent are limited," says Kumar Saurabh, CEO of AirMDR. "These agents do more than filter noise. They interpret signals, build context, and prepare response actions before a human ever gets involved."

This shift from reactive firefighting to proactive triage is happening across cybersecurity domains. In detection, AI agents monitor user behavior and flag anomalies in real time, often initiating mitigation actions like isolating compromised devices before escalation is needed. In prevention, they simulate attacker behaviors and pressure-test systems, flagging unseen vulnerabilities and attack paths. In response, they compile investigation-ready case files that allow human analysts to jump straight into action.

"Low-latency, on-device AI agents can operate closer to the data source, better enabling anomaly detection, threat triaging, and mitigation in milliseconds," explains Shomron Jacob, Head of Applied Machine Learning and Platform at Iterate.ai. "This not only accelerates response but also frees up human analysts to focus on complex, high-impact investigations."

Fred Wilmot, Co-Founder and CEO of Detecteam, points out that agentic systems are advancing limited expertise by amplifying professionals in multiple ways. "Large foundation models are driving faster response, greater context and more continuous optimization in places like SOC process and tools, threat hunting, detection engineering and threat intelligence operationalization," Wilmot explains. "We’re seeing the dawn of a new way to understand data, behavior and process, while optimizing how we ask the question efficiently, confirm the answer is correct and improve the next answer from the data interaction our agents just had."

Still, real-world challenges persist. Costs for tokens and computing power can quickly outstrip the immediate benefit of agentic approaches at scale. Organizations leaning on smaller, customized models may see greater returns but must invest in AI engineering practices to truly realize this advantage. "Companies have to get comfortable with the time and energy required to produce incremental gains," Wilmot adds, "but the incentive to innovate from zero to one in minutes should outweigh the cost of standing still."

Analysts at Forrester have noted that while the buzz around so-called agentic AI is real, these systems are only as effective as the context and guardrails they operate within. The power of agentic systems lies in how well they stay grounded in real data, well-defined scopes, and human oversight. ¹ ²

While approaches differ, the business case is clear. AI agents can reduce toil, speed up analysis, and extend the reach of small teams. As Saurabh observes, AI agents that handle triage and enrichment in minutes can significantly reduce investigation times and allow analysts to focus on the incidents that truly require human judgment.

As organizations wrestle with a growing attack surface and shrinking response windows, the real value of AI agents might not lie in what they replace, but in what they prepare. Rob Allen, Chief Product Officer at ThreatLocker, points out, "AI can help you detect faster. But Zero Trust stops malware before it ever runs. It’s not about guessing smarter; it’s about not having to guess at all." While AI speeds detection and response, attackers are also using AI to evade defenses, making it vital to pair smart automation with architectures that deny threats by default and only allow what’s explicitly needed.

These agents are the eyes ahead, the hands that set the table, and increasingly the reason why the real work can begin faster and smarter than ever before.

References

1. Forrester. (2024, February 8). Cybersecurity’s latest buzzword has arrived: What agentic AI is — and isn’t. Forrester Blogs. https://www.forrester.com/blogs/cybersecuritys-latest-buzzword-has-arrived-what-agentic-ai-is-and-isnt/ (cc: Allie Mellen and Rowan Curran)

2. Forrester. (2024, March 13). The battle for grounding has begun. Forrester Blogs. https://www.forrester.com/blogs/the-battle-for-grounding-has-begun/ (cc: Ted Schadler)

________

This story represents the results of an interactive collaboration between Human Cognition and Artificial Intelligence.

Enjoy, think, share with others, and subscribe to "The Future of Cybersecurity" newsletter on LinkedIn.

Sincerely, Sean Martin and TAPE3

________

Sean Martin is a life-long musician and the host of the Music Evolves Podcast; a career technologist, cybersecurity professional, and host of the Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast; and is also the co-host of both the Random and Unscripted Podcast and On Location Event Coverage Podcast. These shows are all part of ITSPmagazine—which he co-founded with his good friend Marco Ciappelli, to explore and discuss topics at The Intersection of Technology, Cybersecurity, and Society.™️

Want to connect with Sean and Marco On Location at an event or conference near you? See where they will be next: https://www.itspmagazine.com/on-location

To learn more about Sean, visit his personal website.

Cyber threat intelligence (CTI) is no longer just a technical stream of indicators or a feed for security operations center teams. In this episode, Ryan Patrick, Vice President at HITRUST; John Salomon, Board Member at the Cybersecurity Advisors Network (CyAN); Tod Beardsley, Vice President of Security Research at runZero; Wayne Lloyd, Federal Chief Technology Officer at RedSeal; Chip Witt, Principal Security Analyst at Radware; and Jason Kaplan, Chief Executive Officer at SixMap, each bring their perspective on why threat intelligence must become a leadership signal that shapes decisions far beyond the security team.

From Risk Reduction to Opportunity

Ryan Patrick explains how organizations are shifting from compliance checkboxes to meaningful, risk-informed decisions that influence structure, operations, and investments. This point is reinforced by John Salomon, who describes CTI as a clear, relatable area of security that motivates chief information security officers to exchange threat information with peers — cooperation that multiplies each organization’s resources and builds a stronger industry front against emerging threats.

Real Business Context

Tod Beardsley outlines how CTI can directly support business and investment moves, especially when organizations evaluate mergers and acquisitions. Wayne Lloyd highlights the importance of network context, showing how enriched intelligence helps teams move from reactive cleanups to proactive management that ties directly to operational resilience and insurance negotiations.

Chip Witt pushes the conversation further by describing CTI as a business signal that aligns threat trends with organizational priorities. Jason Kaplan brings home the reality that for Fortune 500 security teams, threat intelligence is a race — whoever finds the gap first, the defender or the attacker, determines who stays ahead.

More Than Defense

The discussion makes clear that the real value of CTI is not the data alone but the way it helps organizations make decisions that protect, adapt, and grow. This episode challenges listeners to see CTI as more than a defensive feed — it is a strategic advantage when used to strengthen deals, influence product direction, and build trust where it matters most.

Tune in to hear how these leaders see the role of threat intelligence changing and why treating it as a leadership signal can shape competitive edge.

________

This story represents the results of an interactive collaboration between Human Cognition and Artificial Intelligence.

Enjoy, think, share with others, and subscribe to "The Future of Cybersecurity" newsletter on LinkedIn.

Sincerely, Sean Martin and TAPE3

________

Sean Martin is a life-long musician and the host of the Music Evolves Podcast; a career technologist, cybersecurity professional, and host of the Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast; and is also the co-host of both the Random and Unscripted Podcast and On Location Event Coverage Podcast. These shows are all part of ITSPmagazine—which he co-founded with his good friend Marco Ciappelli, to explore and discuss topics at The Intersection of Technology, Cybersecurity, and Society.™️

Want to connect with Sean and Marco On Location at an event or conference near you? See where they will be next: https://www.itspmagazine.com/on-location

To learn more about Sean, visit his personal website.

⬥GUESTS⬥

Frida Torkelsen, PhD | AI Solution Architect at Newcode.ai | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frida-h-torkelsen/

Maged Helmy, PhD | Assoc. Professor - AI at University of South-Eastern Norway and Founder & CEO of Newcode.ai | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/magedhelmy/

⬥HOST⬥

Host: Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imsmartin/ | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com

⬥EPISODE NOTES⬥

Agentic AI is rapidly moving from theoretical promise to practical implementation, and few sectors are feeling this shift as acutely as the legal industry. In this episode of Redefining CyberSecurity, Sean Martin is joined by Frida Torkelsen, a Solution Architect, and Maged Helmy, a professor of AI, to explore how law firms and in-house counsel are applying AI agents to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and unlock strategic capabilities—while navigating critical privacy and security concerns.

Frida explains how large firms are seeking to extract value from their troves of historical legal data through bespoke AI agents designed to automate workflows and improve institutional knowledge sharing. Smaller firms, on the other hand, benefit by building narrow, purpose-driven agents that automate core functions and give them a tactical edge. This democratization of capability—fueled by faster iteration and reduced development cost—could be a strategic win for niche firms that are disciplined in their focus.

Maged emphasizes the architectural shift AI agents introduce. Unlike static queries to large language models with fixed knowledge, agents access tools, data, and live systems to execute tasks dynamically. This expands the use case potential—but also the risk. Because agentic systems operate probabilistically, consistent outputs aren’t guaranteed, and testing becomes more about evaluating outcomes across a range of inputs than expecting deterministic results.

Security risk looms large. Maged shares how a single oversight in permissions allowed an agent to make system-wide changes that corrupted his environment. Frida cautions against over-permissive access, noting that agents tapping into shared calendars or HR databases must respect internal boundaries and compliance obligations. Both guests agree that human-in-the-loop validation is essential, especially in environments with strict data governance needs.

Law firms must reassess both internal information architecture and team readiness before implementing agentic systems. Start with a clear understanding of the business problem, validate access scopes, and track outcomes for accuracy, speed, and cost. Legal tech teams are forming around these efforts, but success will depend on whether these roles stay grounded in solving specific legal problems—not chasing the latest AI trend.

⬥SPONSORS⬥

LevelBlue: https://itspm.ag/attcybersecurity-3jdk3

ThreatLocker: https://itspm.ag/threatlocker-r974

⬥RESOURCES⬥

Newsletter: The Law's Great Recalibration: Inside the Tech-Driven Puzzle of Legal Firm Transformation: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/laws-great-recalibration-inside-tech-driven-puzzle-sean-martin-cissp-clnoe/

⬥ADDITIONAL INFORMATION⬥

✨ More Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast: 

🎧 https://www.seanmartin.com/redefining-cybersecurity-podcast

Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast on YouTube:

📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllS9aVGdiakVss9u7xgYDKYq

📝 The Future of Cybersecurity Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7108625890296614912/

Interested in sponsoring this show with a podcast ad placement? Learn more:

👉 https://itspm.ag/podadplc