The Business of Cybersecurity

The Business of Cybersecurity

por Neil C. Hughes

Negocios Tecnología

Immersive Labs’ Max Vetter on Closing the Skills Gap Across Cyber Teams

Are junior cybersecurity professionals outpacing their senior colleagues in readiness for modern threats? In this episode of The Business of Cybersecurity, Neil C. Hughes sits down with Max Vetter, Vice President of Cyber at Immersive Labs, to examine a surprising trend: less experienced team members are consistently completing more difficult training content than veterans with eight or more years in the field. It’s a data point that challenges assumptions and raises urgent questions about how organizations approach skills development in cybersecurity. Max shares findings from recent research that expose worrying gaps in readiness, especially at the senior level, and outlines a practical checklist for building resilient, threat-ready teams. He makes a compelling case for continuous, challenge-based learning across all levels of expertise, not just for new hires, but for seasoned professionals who may risk falling behind. Together, Neil and Max explore: Why traditional training approaches might be failing senior professionals How complacency and lack of tailored development can erode cyber resilience The cultural shifts needed to make continuous learning a team-wide priority What boards and business leaders should know about workforce readiness gaps Whether you're leading a SOC, managing risk at the executive level, or shaping your organization's cyber strategy, this episode offers real-world insight into the human dynamics behind technical defenses. Are we doing enough to upskill cybersecurity veterans before the next threat hits? Tune in and join the conversation.

Legacy Tech Meets Modern Threats as Kyndryl Rethinks Cybersecurity

Legacy systems are everywhere, quietly powering core operations in some of the world’s largest enterprises. But behind that familiarity is risk. In this episode of The Business of Cybersecurity, Paul Savill, Global Practice Leader of Networking and Edge Compute at Kyndryl, joins me to break down why aging infrastructure is becoming a major liability in today’s security posture. We talk candidly about the security implications of 44 percent of enterprise technology being “out of life” and unsupported. Paul shares how that vulnerability becomes even more exposed as IoT devices proliferate and AI-powered attacks grow more sophisticated. It’s no longer a question of whether legacy tech is a problem, but how long organizations can afford to ignore it. This conversation moves beyond the buzzwords and straight into the operational reality. Paul explains how Kyndryl’s post-IBM spin-off transformation included shifting to a cloud-first, zero trust model—and why that decision was just as much about improving agility and cost control as it was about reducing risk. We also explore the human side of cybersecurity. Paul outlines how Kyndryl’s internal phishing simulations and scenario-based training have led to a measurable increase in employee-reported incidents. It’s a compelling argument for why building a cybersecurity culture beats any off-the-shelf solution. From AI-enhanced social engineering threats to the disconnect between IT and OT teams, this episode highlights the practical steps business leaders can take to modernize without compromising day-to-day operations. If your cybersecurity strategy still depends on outdated tools and last year’s training modules, it might be time to rethink the foundation. For more insight, check out the Kyndryl Readiness Report at kyndryl.com,

Imperva on the Bot Surge Behind Half of Global Internet Activity

Nearly half of all internet traffic is now generated by non-human sources, and a growing share of that activity is driven by increasingly sophisticated bots. In this episode of The Business of Cybersecurity, Neil is joined by Lynn Marks, Senior Product Manager at Imperva, to break down the findings from the latest Bad Bot Report and explore what businesses need to know as these threats accelerate. Lynn explains why the shift in bot activity is no longer about brute force or exploiting technical vulnerabilities. Today’s attackers are targeting business logic itself. From automated purchasing of high-demand items to manipulating pricing and availability data in the travel sector, bots are now bypassing traditional security tools by taking advantage of how platforms are designed to function. APIs are particularly vulnerable. Nearly 50 percent of account takeover attacks now target APIs directly, largely because they are abundant, consistently structured, and often poorly monitored. Shadow APIs and lack of cross-functional visibility create significant blind spots for security teams. Some industries are facing an outsized share of these attacks. Gaming platforms are targeted for their in-game currencies and experience systems, while travel providers contend with constant scraping of flight data and availability. In both cases, attackers are capitalizing on high user demand and competitive pressure to exploit weaknesses in systems that were never built with these threats in mind. Lynn also discusses the rise of residential proxies and mobile user agents, which make it increasingly difficult to distinguish real users from bad actors. And with a surge in global AI regulation expected in 2025, she outlines what organizations can do to prepare. From understanding internal AI use to implementing layered protection across APIs and mobile applications, Lynn provides practical advice for teams looking to get ahead of the threat curve. In a digital world where nearly half of all traffic is now synthetic, how confident are you in your ability to spot the difference?

IGEL at the Edge of Cybersecurity Transformation

Recorded live at IGEL Now & Next 2025 in Miami, this conversation with John Walsh, Field CTO for Critical Sectors at IGEL, explores how organizations can rethink edge security through a preventative lens. With decades of experience in high-assurance environments, John shares how zero trust is moving from theory into applied strategy and why endpoint protection is still ground zero in the modern threat landscape. From hybrid work challenges to AI-powered threats, this episode breaks down how IGEL’s immutable OS and collaborative approach are helping secure some of the most sensitive sectors in the world. Are your endpoints ready for what’s next?

Fortinet on Making Cybersecurity a Business Priority

What happens when a country aims to carve its own cybersecurity regulatory path post-Brexit while the rest of the region moves toward harmonized frameworks like the EU’s NIS2 directive? In this episode of The Business of Cybersecurity Podcast, we unpack the evolving conversation around the UK’s Cyber Security and Resilience Bill with Ricardo Ferreira, Field CISO at Fortinet. Ricardo offers a sharp, comparative analysis between the UK's proposed bill and the EU's more prescriptive NIS2 directive. He explains why the UK's current approach lacks the specificity needed to tackle critical issues like supply chain security, board-level accountability, and sector-specific risk frameworks. While the UK’s legislative draft includes promising buzzwords and broad commitments, Ricardo notes that it falls short on actionable guidance and enforcement mechanisms—areas where NIS2 has already set a clearer precedent. But amid these gaps lies a strategic opportunity. Ricardo discusses how the UK can leverage its regulatory independence to selectively adopt the most effective elements from NIS2, crafting a more agile and industry-friendly cybersecurity framework. He highlights the importance of involving diverse stakeholders—from industry bodies to international partners—in shaping regulation that’s both resilient and responsive to evolving threats. The conversation also explores: The importance of making board members directly accountable for cybersecurity risk Why workforce training must be mandated alongside technical requirements Lessons from NIS2 on post-breach response and business continuity planning The need for advisory committees and continuous legislative updates to keep regulation relevant in an AI-driven threat environment Ricardo closes the episode with a personal story about how visionary leadership early in his career helped shape his trajectory—reminding us that real resilience is built not just through technology or regulation, but through people who see potential and invest in it. If you're navigating cybersecurity compliance, policy development, or executive accountability, this episode is a timely and thought-provoking listen.

The Shadow API Threat Explained by Akamai Technologies

What does it take to protect financial institutions when they're the number one global target for DDoS attacks? In this episode of The Business of Cybersecurity, Neil C. Hughes welcomes Richard Meeus, Director of Security Technology and Strategy EMEA at Akamai Technologies, to explore insights from Akamai's latest State of the Internet (SOTI) report focusing on cybersecurity trends in the financial services sector. Richard shares a decade's worth of threat intelligence backed by trillions of daily DNS requests and billions of cyberattack observations, offering a data-rich perspective on why financial organizations are squarely in the crosshairs. From a 24-hour DDoS attack on Israel peaking at 800 Gbps to the rise of politically motivated hacktivism, Richard outlines why the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has become a hotspot for these digital assaults—and what financial firms can do about it. The conversation also covers the emerging risk of shadow APIs—forgotten, unmanaged, or defunct APIs that can unintentionally expose sensitive personal or financial data. Richard explains how many businesses still underestimate their API footprint and shares practical steps for regaining visibility and control. Zero Trust is another central theme. Instead of positioning it as an overwhelming overhaul, Richard suggests organizations reframe it as a modern VPN replacement, focusing first on core business systems and micro-segmentation to restrict lateral movement. With a strategic approach, implementing Zero Trust becomes feasible and a key step in limiting breach impact. Richard also offers a candid look at balancing proactive and reactive DDoS defense, emphasizing the importance of both automatic mitigation and human-led response to more sophisticated, multi-vector attacks. He highlights how Akamai supports both fronts, including working with global authorities to help take down threat actors like Anonymous Sudan. Finally, the conversation turns to the future. With EU regulations like the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) on the horizon, financial institutions must invest in real-time visibility, intuitive data access, and actionable threat insights to stay compliant and resilient. Whether you're in the C-suite, on the frontlines of your SOC, or guiding your enterprise's security roadmap, this episode delivers an honest and data-driven view of what it takes to defend the financial sector in a time of growing complexity and geopolitical tension.

Thales Data Threat Report Revals Risks to Critical Infrastructure

What happens when the digital systems powering our national energy, water, and healthcare services become the next frontline in cybersecurity? As smart grids, connected utilities, and cloud-first operations rapidly reshape critical infrastructure, the threats facing these systems are evolving just as quickly. In this episode, Tony Burton, Managing Director of Cyber Security & Trust at Thales UK, joins the podcast to unpack the findings from the Thales Data Threat Report and explore what it really takes to secure the backbone of modern society. With over two decades in national security and resilience, Tony brings sharp insight into the pressing risks that critical infrastructure faces—from rising ransomware attacks and insider threats to human error and the expanded digital attack surface introduced by cloud adoption and smart technologies. He explains why over 42% of critical infrastructure organizations have already reported data breaches and why 93% are seeing an uptick in cyberattacks. The conversation doesn’t stop at the threats—it goes deep into the real-world consequences, such as cascading failures across sectors, widespread outages, and compromised public safety. We also explore how organizations can take action now. Tony outlines the importance of adopting zero trust architecture, designing systems with human behavior in mind, and implementing detection and response capabilities that reflect the physical realities of operational technology. He also shares powerful insights from Thales’ Cyber Resilience Lab in Ebbw Vale, a cutting-edge environment where real smart grid systems are tested under simulated attacks to strengthen resilience. From preparing for quantum computing to managing complex hybrid cloud environments, Tony offers a playbook for leaders who are serious about protecting national infrastructure in a high-stakes environment. Whether you’re a CISO, infrastructure leader, or tech strategist, this episode will provide a roadmap for mitigating risk, increasing awareness, and planning ahead. What role should technology—and leadership—play in protecting the systems that power society? Join the conversation and share your thoughts on building resilience in a connected world.

The Real Meaning of Zero Trust with Its Creator

What does it really mean to trust nothing and verify everything? In this first episode of The Business of Cybersecurity, Neil is joined by John Kindervag—the creator of the Zero Trust cybersecurity model for a conversation that redefines how we think about protecting digital systems. John shares the untold story behind the creation of Zero Trust, from challenging traditional perimeter-based models to watching the concept grow into a global movement now embedded in national cybersecurity mandates. Far from being a buzzword, Zero Trust is presented here as a strategic framework that begins with a single protect surface and scales without disruption. Together, Neil and John explore how Zero Trust is misunderstood, often mistaken for a product, and too often reduced to identity management. They break down the core five-step process for implementation, the importance of context over blind trust, and how cloud environments and AI are reshaping cybersecurity expectations. But this conversation also carries a personal weight, as both Neil and John reflect on deeply moving experiences with childhood cancer—and how those journeys informed a new way to think about managing risk, or as John reframes it, managing danger. This isn’t just a technical talk. It’s a story about questioning the status quo, staying adaptable in a rapidly evolving threat environment, and using strategy not assumptions to secure the systems businesses depend on. Is your organization still relying on outdated models of trust? And what would it look like to build something truly resilient?

What NETSCOUT's Threat Intelligence Report Means For Every Security Leader

What happens when anyone with a simple AI prompt can launch a sophisticated cyberattack? In this episode of The Business of Cybersecurity, I sit down with Darren Anstee, CTO for Security at NETSCOUT, to discuss the findings from the company's latest Threat Intelligence Report and why the cybersecurity landscape is changing faster than many organizations can respond. We explore how conversational AI is lowering the barrier to entry for cybercriminals, making it possible for attackers with little technical expertise to orchestrate increasingly sophisticated DDoS campaigns. Darren explains why this shift isn't simply creating more attacks. It's changing who can launch them and how quickly they can adapt. Our conversation also looks at the growing collaboration between threat actors, the continued rise of politically motivated hacktivist groups, and why attacks are increasingly targeting entire digital supply chains rather than individual organizations. As businesses become more interconnected, defending your own infrastructure is no longer enough. We also discuss why compromised customer devices are creating new operational and reputational challenges for internet service providers, how AI is reshaping both offensive and defensive cyber capabilities, and why preparation, visibility, and threat intelligence matter far more than reacting after an attack has already begun. Darren also shares practical advice for security leaders looking to move from reactive incident response to proactive cyber resilience. From understanding your true attack surface to building adaptive defenses that continuously learn and respond, this episode offers clear guidance for organizations preparing for the next generation of cyber threats. If AI is making cyberattacks easier to launch, how should businesses rethink the way they defend themselves? After listening, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Is your organization ready for this new reality, or is there still work to do?

5 de 5