Is your business one cyberattack away from chaos? Most companies don’t think about cybersecurity until they’re in crisis mode—but by then, the damage is done.

In this episode, Jara Rowe talks with Michael Magyar, an experienced virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO). They cover what a vCISO does, why more companies are choosing virtual over full-time, and how to know when it’s time to bring one in. Michael shares examples of helping businesses avoid costly mistakes, explains how vCISOs assess risk, and offers advice for small teams trying to do more with less.

Key takeaways:

• Common cybersecurity challenges vCISOs help solve
• What a typical engagement with a vCISO looks like
• Advice for SMBs with limited budgets trying to prioritize cybersecurity

Episode highlights:

(00:00) Today’s topic: Breaking down the role of a vCISO

(05:32) vCISO vs. traditional in-house CISO

(07:11) Why small businesses benefit from a vCISO

(09:53) Real examples of vCISOs making a difference

(13:52) What it’s like working with a vCISO

(16:00) Key indicators your business needs a vCISO

(20:54) How to prioritize cybersecurity on a budget

Connect with the host:

Jara Rowe’s LinkedIn - @jararowe

Connect with the guest:

Michael Magyar’s LinkedIn - @michael-magyar-cyqual

Connect with Trava:

Website - www.travasecurity.com

Blog - www.travasecurity.com/learn-with-trava/blog

LinkedIn - @travasecurity

YouTube - @travasecurity

Cybersecurity lingo can be overwhelming, but once you get the hang of the essentials, staying secure becomes much easier.

In this episode, host Jara Rowe sits down with Marie Joseph, Senior Security Advisor at Trava, to break down key terms like vCISO, PII, and cybersecurity maturity models. They also differentiate between terms like hacker vs. threat actor and firewall vs. antivirus by highlighting the nuances that matter most. Plus, Marie reveals why continuous compliance is crucial, and how concepts like attack surface and risk tolerance fit into the bigger picture of your security strategy.

Key takeaways:

• Essential cybersecurity terms and definitions: vCISO, PII, and more  
• The importance of understanding and managing your attack surface
• Why cybersecurity compliance can’t be a one-time effort

Episode highlights:

(00:00) Today’s topic: Understanding cybersecurity terms

(01:47) What is a vCISO, and why it benefits small businesses

(02:54) Definition of PII, BCP, SIEM, DevSecOps, and BCRA 

(08:40) Hackers vs. threat actors Explained

(10:28) Why businesses need an antivirus and a firewall

(13:37) Patch management and cybersecurity attack surfaces

(16:04) Continuous cybersecurity compliance

(21:27) Recapping cybersecurity essentials

Connect with the host:

Jara Rowe’s LinkedIn - @jararowe

Connect with the guest:

Marie Joseph’s LinkedIn - @marie-joseph-a81394143

Connect with Trava:

Website - www.travasecurity.com

Blog - www.travasecurity.com/learn-with-trava/blog

LinkedIn - @travasecurity

YouTube - @travasecurity

Cyber threats are evolving, security rules are tightening, and the idea of a ‘safe network’ is quickly disappearing. So what does that mean for businesses and individuals trying to stay protected?

To kick off Season 4, host Jara Rowe revisits key lessons from past seasons and unpacks the biggest cybersecurity trends shaping the industry today. This season will take a deeper look at AI governance, compliance challenges, and penetration testing—critical areas companies can’t afford to ignore.

With cybersecurity changing fast, businesses must decide how to adapt before they fall behind. The answers start here.

Key takeaways:

• Why cybersecurity is a team effort, not just IT’s job
• How AI is changing both cyber defense and cybercrime
• How vCISOs are filling critical security gaps for businesses

Episode highlights:

(00:00) Today’s topic: How cybersecurity is evolving

(01:21) Major lessons from past seasons

(05:38) Current cybersecurity trends

(08:26) What to expect in season 4

Connect with the host:

Jara Rowe’s LinkedIn - @jararowe

Connect with Trava:

Website - www.travasecurity.com

Blog - www.travasecurity.com/learn-with-trava/blog/

LinkedIn - @travasecurity

YouTube - @travasecurity

We’ve come to the end of another Season of The Tea on Cybersecurity and you know what that means. Join host Jara Rowe in her ultimate receipts from season 3. She highlights the most important things she has learned from her guests this season including why MFA is key to keeping yourself safe online, how to manage vulnerabilities, what steps you need in preparing for cybersecurity incidents, and how to cultivate trust and transparency within your organizations.

Listen in as Jara revisits her conversations with all of our Season 3 guests including Trava CEO Jim Goldman, Craig Saldanha and Mario Vlieg with Insight Insurance, and John Boomershine with BlankInkIT, among others. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is Your Best Friend: It's like adding an extra lock to your door to keep the bad guys out—and who doesn’t want that extra peace of mind? Enabling MFA can be a game-changer in protecting against cyber vulnerabilities. It's easy to implement and adds that essential layer of security without the hassle!
• Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Take Control of Your Digital Inventory: This is a deep dive on how to make sure all devices, company-owned or personal, are secure and compliant in this digitally diverse world. This is super relevant for those offering flexible work arrangements and want to stay ahead in your cybersecurity game.
• Establishing Trust and Transparency is Key: This isn’t just about securing your systems but also about earning and maintaining the trust of your customers and stakeholders— whether it’s securing communications through encryption or ensuring third-party vendors are just as vigilant. 

Jump into the conversation:

[00:00 - 00:41] Introduction to the Tea on Cybersecurity podcast

[00:41 - 3:46] The importance of MFA

[03:47 - 05:07] MFA in cyber hygiene

[05:08 - 06:02] Employee training as a vital part of cybersecurity defense strategy

[06:52 - 07:45] BOYD (bring your own device) and the challenges of inventory management

[07:45 - 10:07] A different way to think about risk

[10:08 - 12:12] The difference between risks and vulnerabilities

[12:18 - 13:24] The difference between breaches and incidents

[13:25 - 14:15] What to do if an incident should occur

[14:19 - 16:17] Steps to take if an incident were to occur with a third-party vendor

[16:18 - 17:58] Why trust is foundational to cybersecurity

[17:59 - 19:03] How a compliance framework is like a cookbook

[19:03 - 21:21] Cybersecurity in healthcare and banking

Connect with the host:

Jara Rowe’s LinkedIn

Connect with Trava:

Website www.travasecurity.com

Blog www.travasecurity.com/blog

LinkedIn @travasecurity

YouTube @travasecurity

"Multi-factor authentication? You better get it today. Don't wait till tomorrow." – Jim Goldman

We talk a lot about SaaS companies in this show, but today, we’re bringing you something a little different. Jim Goldman, CEO of Trava and one of our favorite cybersecurity experts, joins host Jara Rowe to discuss the complexities of cybersecurity across healthcare and banking, including their unique challenges and regulatory requirements.

Jim discussed how healthcare organizations navigate a web of medical providers, claims processors, and pharmacies while adhering to the stringent HIPAA regulations. He also discusses how banking and finance sectors have long led the way in cybersecurity, thanks to rigorous compliance standards meant to protect both consumer data and financial integrity. He offers compelling analyses and real-world examples, like how a simple multi-factor authentication (MFA) oversight can lead to billion-dollar repercussions.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How the  banking and healthcare industries keep our sensitive information safe and how it all comes back to those pesky (yet essential!) regulations
• The importance of regulations like HIPAA and how they help guard this vast data network and ensure your health information stays secure
• Yet another reason why Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is a cybersecurity must-have

Jump into the conversation: 

[00:00 - 00:46] Introduction to cybersecurity beyond SaaS and Jim Goldman

[00:47 - 02:58] How cybersecurity differs in Healthcare and Banking vs. SaaS

[02:58 - 05:41] The most pressing cybersecurity threats facing healthcare organizations today

[05:41 - 08:25] How healthcare institutions are adapting their cybersecurity to ensure data integrity

[09:17 - 13:00] ​​Key cybersecurity risks in banking and finance and how they are mitigating these risks

[13:01 - 14:33] What is GDPR? 

[14:34 - 15:11] What is PCI DDS?

[15:11 - 16:11] How financial institutions prioritize cybersecurity initiatives to maintain compliance

[16:45 - 19:48] Jara’s receipts

Connect with the Guest:

Jim Golman’s LinkedIn

Connect with the host:

Jara Rowe’s LinkedIn

Connect with Trava:

Website www.travasecurity.com

Blog www.travasecurity.com/blog

LinkedIn @travasecurity

YouTube @travasecurity

"Every business today runs on technology. Every business is a technology business. Right? Even a taco cart uses a little payment thing that you swipe your card in to do that." - Michael Magyar

Michael Magyar, a seasoned cybersecurity expert with a decade of experience, joins host Jara Rowe on this episode of The Tea on Cybersecurity to give us the tea on third-party risks. As a penetration tester and a virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) with Trava, Michael brings unparalleled insight into the challenges and solutions surrounding vendor security. 

Michael and Jara discuss the complex subject of third-party risks and why every business, big or small, needs to be cautious about their vendors' security practices. From identifying potential risks to evaluating security measures, Michael offers essential steps businesses should take if a vendor experiences a security incident, stressing the importance of containment, breach notification, and calling in the right experts for help.

Key Takeaways:

• Third-Party risks are everywhere and to understand where these gaps could be, think about a vendor or third-party as “outsourced staff”
• What to look out for when working with any vendor or third - party, namely Public Statements of Security
• How to handle a situation if a vendor or third-party of yours is breached

Timestamps:

[00:00 - 01:24] Introducing Identifying Third-Party Vendor Risks with Michael Magyar, Trava

[01:25 - 02:36] Expanding understanding of vendors and third parties

[03:59 - 05:25] Real-world examples of third-party risks - SolarWinds in 2020 and XZ Utils in 2024

[02:36 - 03:59] How to identify risks associated with vendors and third parties

[05:25 - 07:53] Red flags to look out for, plus Microsoft breach 

[07:54 - 09:16] Penetration testing and third-party security

[09:16 - 11:19] Other ways that businesses can help evaluate the security practices of a third-party

[11:19 - 12:54] Key cybersecurity measures to look for when working with a vendor

[12:54 - 13:40] Why it's essential for businesses to regularly check in on their external partners' cybersecurity efforts

[13:41 - 15:42] Cybersecurity steps my company needs to take when signing on with a new vendor

[16:41 - 20:02] Jara's Receipts

Connect with the Guest:

Michael Magyar's LinkedIn

Connect with the host:

Jara Rowe’s LinkedIn

Connect with Trava:

Website www.travasecurity.com

Blog www.travasecurity.com/blog

LinkedIn @travasecurity

YouTube @travasecurity 

“Trust is foundational to both the relationship, interpersonal relationship, B2B relationship. Then also we're having to convey that trust to our customers," - John Boomershine

John Boomershine– also known as Boomer– sits down with host, Jara Rowe in this episode of The Tea on Cybersecuity to talk about trust and transparency in cybersecurity. As the Vice President of Security and Compliance at BlackInk IT, Boomer brings nearly 40 years of experience in the IT realm, and a wealth of knowledge particularly focused on cybersecurity and compliance. 

Boomer and Jara discuss why trust and transparency are absolute bedrocks in the world of cybersecurity. Boomer elaborates on the importance of effective communication, revealing how businesses can use privacy policies and FAQ sections to build consumer confidence. He takes us through the game-changing NIST and CIS frameworks and why adopting these can fortify your cybersecurity strategy. Additionally, he stresses the importance of having a solid incident response plan when things go south and emphasizes that cybersecurity is a team effort—everyone has a role to play, from implementing MFA to raising your hand when in doubt.

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• Trust is foundational for cybersecurity in any organization and the cornerstone of a great client relationship
• Why you need to have a superhero plan for cyber incidents to tackle any problem that may come up quickly and efficiently.
• To boost your customer confidence and safety, you need to adopt a cybersecurity framework to act as your compass, guiding you on what’s essential to protect your business and your data. 

Things to listen for:

[00:00- 00:55]  Introduction to The Tea on Cybersecurity

[01:53 - 03:16] Trust is foundational in cybersecurity and business

[03:16 - 05:34] Effectively communicating data handling with your customers 

[05:35 - 08:41] CIS controls framework: 18 sections, 153 safeguards.

[08:42 - 11:10] Data collection transparency and where companies should focus on

[11:15 - 12:46] Some of the biggest challenges businesses face in maintaining transparency and trust

[12:46 - 14:12] Combating cyber threats with teamwork and commitment

[14:14 - 16:03] Final thoughts from Boomer

[16:17 - 19:55] Jara’s Receipts

Resources:

• How SOC2 helps you build trust with clients
• 7 Tips for Talking to Your Customers After Getting Hacked

Connect with the Guest:

John Boomershine’s LinkedIn

Connect with the host:

Jara Rowe’s LinkedIn

Connect with Trava:

Website www.travasecurity.com

Blog www.travasecurity.com/blog

LinkedIn @travasecurity

YouTube @travasecurity 

“Education is by far the most cost-effective tool that you can deploy in your organization before any other types of information, security controls, or complex tools or any additional services. Using the hygiene analogy, you can buy the most expensive toothbrush, and you can buy the fanciest toothpaste. But if you don't teach your child that they need to brush their teeth every night, they're still going to get cavities.” - Mario Vlieg

Host Jara Rowe and guests Craig Saldanha and Mario Vlieg discuss good digital hygiene practices in this episode. We dive into best digital hygiene practices, common weak spots, and digital breach response plans.

Learn more about technology trends like AI and machine learning that enhance cyber defenses, practical tips and resources for improving cyber hygiene habits, and future challenges and opportunities in the field. We also explore regulatory standards, frameworks, and compliance, emphasizing their contribution to robust cyber hygiene practices. 

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• Why employees should be educated about the latest cyber threats, recognize phishing attempts, and adopting best practices in cybersecurity. 
• What steps organizations and individuals can take to assess and recover effectively in a data breach.
• Why advancements in technologies are enhancing cyber hygiene efforts even as they introduce new risks. 

Things to listen for:

[01:20 - 02:14] Definition of cyber hygiene

[03:12 - 03:59] The role of Employee training and awareness in cyber hygiene

[03:59 - 04:52] How often organizations and individuals should review digital hygiene practices

[05:08 - 06:00] Emerging technologies that can help with cyber hygiene efforts

[06:00 - 08:23] Tips and resources for improving cyber hygiene habits

[08:26 - 09:18] Challenges and opportunities in the future of cyber hygiene

[09:20 - 10:04] The most cost-effective cyber security tool for early SaaS companies and founders 

[10:17 - 11:56] What steps organizations should take to assess the impact and recover from a data breach

[12:00 - 13:56] How compliance standards and frameworks improve cyber hygiene practices

[13:56 - 15:39] Proactive steps to improve cyber hygiene practices

[15:47 - 19:15] Jara’s receipts

Resources:

• Cyber Hygiene Explained
• Cybersecurity Awareness Training is Not an Option, It’s Essential
• Data Security 101: Decoding Incidents and Breaches
• Why Human Error is the Cause of Most Data Breaches

Connect with the Guest:

Craig Saldanha’s LinkedIn

Mario Vlieg’s LinkedIn

Connect with the host:

Jara Rowe’s LinkedIn

Connect with Trava:

Website www.travasecurity.com 

Blog www.travasecurity.com/blog

LinkedIn @travasecurity

YouTube @travasecurity

“Especially if this is the first time an organization is creating a plan like this, the focus should really be working on it piece by piece to not be overwhelmed. So, start outsmall. What are the designated roles and responsibilities that you have? Then, determine how the plan can best fit your needs. This can be done by assessing what types of incidents are most detrimental to your organization.” - Christina Annechino

Host Jara Rowe and guest Christina Annechino delve into incident response plans and tabletop exercises in this week’s episode. We’ll identify common challenges with developing incident response plans and the ins and outs of tabletop exercises. 

Gain tips on forming an incident response plan and insight into the documentation and testing requirements and compliance standards such as NIST, SOC 2, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001. We provide a comprehensive understanding of the critical elements and processes involved in incident response planning, compliance, and tabletop exercises.

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• What defines an incident, and what to include in an incident response plan to be prepared and compliant. 
• Why tabletop exercises are essential for identifying any gaps in the documented processes and procedures and preparing teams for emergencies.
• How incident response plans and tabletop exercises are crucial in compliance readiness and maintaining security certifications. 

Things to listen for:

[01:58 - 02:40] Definition of an incident and incident response plan

[03:55 - 04:34] Tips for creating an incident response plan

[04:51 - 05:25] The role of incident response plans in overall risk management

[05:33 - 06:00] How incident response plan maintain security and annual certifications

[06:21 - 07:05] Definition of a tabletop exercise and its role in incident response plans

[07:10 - 08:18] How often to conduct tabletop exercises and their challenges and benefits

[08:34 - 09:19] Addressing compliance-related aspects through tabletop exercises

[09:30 - 09:59] Compliance standards and the importance of testing incident response capabilities

[10:06 - 10:36] Demonstrating a functional incident response plan during compliance audits

[10:47 - 10:56] Structure of documentation for incident response plans and tabletop exercises

[11:07 - 11:43] Tips on creating an incident response plan and the purpose of tabletop exercises

[12:1 - 15:15] Jara’s receipts

Resources:

Data Security 101: Decoding Incidents and Breaches

Data Breach Preparedness: Developing an Incident Response Plan

7 Tips for Talking to Your Customers After Getting Hacked

Connect with the Guest:

Christina Annechino’s LinkedIn

Connect with the host:

Jara Rowe’s LinkedIn

Connect with Trava:

Website www.travasecurity.com 

Blog www.travasecurity.com/blog

LinkedIn @travasecurity

YouTube @travasecurity

“Keeping the inventory up to date, make sure that you have all possible points of entry covered and accounted for, similar to a building. When people try to put safeguards for a building, you're doing it, but just like on a network that you can't really physically see if you're missing an asset, that is a hole for an attacker to get into, and we do not want to give them easy access to things for sure.” - Marie Joseph

This episode's conversation covers the basics of asset inventories and asset management with host Jara Rowe and guest Marie Joseph, Senior Security Solutions Engineer at Trava. We discuss the categories of assets and the challenges of establishing a comprehensive asset inventory.

Hear how tracking and managing hardware and software within an organization is necessary for cybersecurity compliance. We dissect the impact of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies on asset management, the concept of shadow IT, and the role of automated tools and technologies in asset management tasks.

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• Why asset inventories are a crucial part of cybersecurity and compliance and the challenges of continuous upkeep.
• How “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) policies help and hinder operations, including cybersecurity risk levels.
• Why most compliance frameworks require companies to maintain different types of inventories to ensure that security and privacy measures are in place and monitored to meet regulatory requirements. 

Things to listen for:

[00:00 - 00:18] Intro to The Tea on Cybersecurity

[00:48 - 02:44] The definition of asset inventory and asset management

[04:06 - 04:34] Maintaining an accurate software inventory for compliance with licensing agreements

[04:34 - 05:51] Common challenges with establishing a complete asset inventory

[07:42 - 09:27] Explanation of shadow IT, traditional asset management, and cybersecurity efforts

[09:34 - 10:29] How asset management contributes to maintaining compliance.

[12:04 - 13:30] Using automated tools in asset management tasks for continuous compliance

[13:48 - 14:55] The importance of tracking all devices connected to a network

[15:23 - 17:48] Jara’s receipts

Resources:

From Bonnie and Clyde to Hackers: Taking the First Step to Protecting Your Digital Assets

Regular Software Updates and Patching: The Importance of Staying on Top of This

Connect with the Guest:

Marie Joseph's LinkedIn

Connect with the host:

Jara Rowe’s LinkedIn

Connect with Trava:

Website www.travasecurity.com 

Blog www.travasecurity.com/blog

LinkedIn @travasecurity

YouTube @travasecurity