In this episode of The Connectivity Cloud Podcast with Cloudflare, host Mark Dembo is joined by João Pedro Gonçalves, CISO and Managing Director at EQT Group, and Michael Tremante, Senior Director of Product at Cloudflare. Together, they explore critical security trends for 2025, from AI-powered threats to regulatory changes to practical strategies for balancing protection with usability.

What You’ll Learn

• How AI is reshaping both security threats and defensive capabilities
• The critical balance between robust security measures and seamless user experience
• Emerging regulatory changes for 2025
• Practical strategies for managing supply chain security risks and third-party integrations
• The importance of behavior-based monitoring over traditional blocking approaches
  
  

Pedro leads cybersecurity and platform engineering strategy at EQT Group, focusing on digital transformation, building long-term resilience, and risk management. Pedro also supports deal sourcing and value creation across EQT’s global portfolio of companies. He brings over 15 years of experience in cybersecurity and has contributed to high-profile IPOs, M&A assessments, and incident response.

Michael oversees Cloudflare’s application security products, including WAF, DDoS mitigation, and threat intelligence. He focuses on developing solutions that help businesses stay secure while scaling their operations. Michael has over a decade of experience in security, starting out as a security researcher and penetration tester before moving on to joining Cloudflare.

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In this episode of The Connectivity Cloud Podcast with Cloudflare, host Mark Dembo is joined by Mostafa Hassanin, Group CISO at SMG Swiss Marketplace Group, and Sam Rhea, VP of Emerging Technology and Incubation at Cloudflare. Together, they explore the real impact of AI on enterprise security and operations, practical challenges like weaponized AI threats, shadow IT risks, and the changing economics of Internet content.

Mostafa leads security, trust, and safety initiatives across multiple online marketplace platforms. With over 13 years of experience spanning banking, finance, and online marketplaces, Mostafa brings deep expertise in implementing enterprise-wide security frameworks and AI-enabled security solutions. His approach combines practical security leadership with innovative thinking around emerging technologies, making him uniquely qualified to address the challenges of securing modern digital marketplaces.

Sam plays a pivotal role in shaping next-generation security and infrastructure solutions. During his seven-year tenure at Cloudflare, Sam has led the development of key products, including the company's domain registrar and Zero Trust solutions, and now focuses on exploring cutting-edge technologies that will define the future of cloud security. His hands-on experience with AI implementation and deep understanding of enterprise security challenges make him a valuable voice in discussions about the intersection of AI and cybersecurity.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, and don’t forget to rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify - we appreciate all feedback from our listeners!

Episode Resources:

• Mostafa Hassanin on LinkedIn
• Sam Rhea on LinkedIn
• SMG Swiss Marketplace Group Website
• Mark Dembo on LinkedIn
• Cloudflare Website

Expect practical insights, and real life stories from industry leaders, providing the clarity and strategies needed to set your IT organisation up for success.

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