Welcome to "To the Point Cybersecurity Podcast." This week, hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepher dive deep into the evolving challenges of security operations with special guest Monzy Merza, CEO and co-founder of Crogl. With a career spanning government research, security innovation at Splunk, and go-to-market leadership at Databricks, Monzy Merza brings a unique perspective on why the security operations problem remains unsolved and why industry solutions often fall short for SOC teams.

In this episode, you'll hear about the realities faced by security analysts: data sprawled across countless tools, rising alert volumes, and unrealistic expectations for operator expertise. Monzy Merza shares his eye-opening experience stepping away from executive roles to work directly on SOC teams, the complexity of today's threat landscape, and how AI is changing—sometimes complicating—the security equation. He also discusses pitfalls of centralizing data, the importance of auditable and transparent AI, and how Crogl strives to capture institutional knowledge and empower security teams.

For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e379

Welcome to another episode of the To The Point Cybersecurity Podcast! This week, Rachael Lyon sits down with Rick Hemsley, UK and Ireland Cybersecurity Consulting Leader at Ernst & Young, to dive deep into the rapidly evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and cyber risk. With over 25 years of experience advising a diverse range of organizations—including governments—Rick Hemsley shares insights from EY's latest research on the shifting threat landscape, the phenomenon of "NAVI" (nonlinear, accelerated, volatile, interconnected challenges), and the growing impact of AI-driven attacks. The conversation explores the widening gap between innovation and governance, the need for robust guardrails, the human element in defending against adversarial AI, and the importance of integrating cybersecurity into every stage of digital transformation. Whether you're a cybersecurity professional, an executive, or simply interested in the future of AI and security, this episode offers expert perspective and actionable guidance you won't want to miss.

For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e378

Welcome back to "To the Point Cybersecurity Podcast," where Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepher break down the latest trends shaping the world of cyber defense. In this episode, they're joined by Jennifer Franks, Director in the Government Accountability Office's Information Technology and Cybersecurity team and head of its Center for Enhanced Cybersecurity. Jennifer Franks brings a fresh perspective on the evolving cybersecurity landscape, sharing insights into government agency challenges, the shift toward Zero Trust architectures, and the crucial importance of visibility, culture, and workforce readiness. Tune in as they explore the intersection of AI, data proliferation, and cyber hygiene — and learn what it takes to strengthen security posture in complex public sector environments, foster a resilient culture, and prepare both agencies and future cyber professionals for what lies ahead.

For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e377

Welcome back to the Point Cybersecurity Podcast! On this week's episode, Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepher are joined by a very special guest, Matt Lea, the creator of Cloud War Games. Matt Lea shares his unique journey in cybersecurity, beginning with hacking video games as a sixth grader and evolving into a career helping startups and cloud professionals prepare for real-world outages and cyber incidents.

Together, they dive into the high stakes world of cloud incident response—discussing everything from the importance of collaborative problem-solving and building muscle memory for incident management, to the risks of data silos and the dangers of single points of failure within engineering teams. Matt Lea also sheds light on trends in cloud security, the rise of AI agents (and their pitfalls), and best practices for managing credentials, technical debt, and multi-cloud strategies.

Whether you're curious about cloud-based cyber "war games," learning how to empower your junior engineers, or concerned about the evolving threats posed by agentic AI, this episode offers invaluable insights from the frontline of cybersecurity. Don't miss their stories, practical advice, and a dose of humor as they navigate the fast-changing digital landscape.

For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e376

Welcome to another episode of the To the Point Cybersecurity Podcast, brought to you by Forcepoint. This week, your hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepher are joined by Neil Gad, Chief Product and Technology Officer at RealVNC, for an eye-opening conversation about the evolving threats and opportunities at the intersection of remote access, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.

Together, they dive into how remote access is reshaping critical boundaries in cybersecurity, why secure-by-design principles are more important than ever, and the new risks emerging—especially those driven by application sprawl and the rapid adoption of AI technologies in the workplace. Neil Gad shares real-world examples from industrial settings, discusses the ongoing cloud versus on-premises debate, and explores how organizations should manage the massive scale and speed of AI-driven workflows.

Listeners will also hear candid thoughts on the future of authentication, what quantum computing means for encryption, and the skillsets needed for the next wave of cybersecurity talent. Whether you're a cybersecurity professional, a technology leader, or simply curious about the future of securing data in a fast-moving world, this episode delivers timely insights and practical advice.

For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e375

Rob McDonald, SVP of Platform at Virtru joins the podcast to double-click into the privacy and data discussion. We explore subsidizing the pain of giving personal data in exchange for 'free' services, informed consent, regulation alone isn't a silver bullet, and what outcomes we could we drive when we combine user decisions with regulation. And he shares insights on behaviors that come with innovation, data as common denominator, regulations such as GDPR and CCPA as progress markers (and not the final destination), the criticality of the CIO/CISO as storyteller and recognizing our front line defenders are people (not robots!).

Rob McDonald, SVP Plaftorm at Virtru
Rob is the SVP of Platform and an advocate of safeguarding data across new applications and data-sharing workflows. Prior to Virtru, Rob was the CIO for several Acute Care facilities and Denovo Healthcare development teams. His significant expertise in the healthcare industry earned him a spot in Becker's Review as a 2013 and 2014 Top 100 Healthcare CIOs. Rob has also consulted with corporations to help them assess their current information security position and develop a plan to not only mitigate the discovered technical shortcomings but more critically to raise security awareness amongst their employees.

Rob holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Texas at Dallas and is a perpetual student of technology, information security, and privacy practices.

For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e374

This week on To The Point Cybersecurity Podcast, hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepher sit down with Erica Shoemate—international bestselling author, tech policy leader, and advocate for maternal health—to tackle the hot-button issues surrounding AI and cybersecurity. From headline-making resignations at leading AI companies to the complexities of human-centered design, ethics, and regulation, Erica Shoemate brings her unique insight from years in national security and big tech. Join us as we dig into concerns about innovation versus profit, the pitfalls of monetizing user data, and the ever-evolving guardrails around generative AI. We'll explore whether current regulations are enough to protect consumers—especially children—and what tech leaders should be thinking about as AI reshapes the landscape. Don't miss this thought-provoking conversation that's equal parts cautionary tale and call to action for more transparent, ethical leadership in technology.

For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e373

Welcome to this week's episode of the To the Point Cybersecurity Podcast, brought to you by Forcepoint. Join hosts Rachael Lyon and Jonathan Knepher as they dive into the fascinating world of cyber defense, covert channels, and the evolving role of AI with special guest Jacob Anderson, founder of Beyond Ordinary Software Solutions.

With over 30 years of experience across industries like finance, defense, and entertainment, Jacob Anderson brings a unique perspective on everything from steganography in the age of AI, to the challenges of cryptanalysis, and the critical importance of securing legacy infrastructure. In this episode, you'll hear how today's cyber threats are changing—not just for governments or top-level spies, but for everyone. The conversation also explores the sometimes surprising ways AI is shaping both offensive and defensive tactics in cybersecurity, and why vigilance is more important than ever.

Tune in as the team unpacks real-world examples, emerging industry trends, and practical advice for organizations juggling legacy and modern tech. Whether you're a cyber professional, a curious entrepreneur, or just trying to keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology, you won't want to miss the invaluable insights offered in today's show.

For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e372