We Talk Cyber: Recent Episodes
Monica Verma
A technology podcast and an engaging platform for real stories, discussions and opinions from renowned global experts on All Things Cyber. The podcast series is hosted by Monica Verma, a leading spokesperson for digitalization, cloud computing, innovation and security enabling technology and business. Winner of 2019-Outstanding Security Performance Awards, she is an acclaimed and well-known security expert and public speaker. On the podcast, she brings on different cybersecurity and privacy professionals for engaging conversations. What does it take to build a personal success story in cybersecurity & make a real impact? What are the most important security & privacy challenges that we face & how to overcome them? If you are interested, sit back, relax and enjoy conversations on all shades of All Things Cyber! © Monica Verma Disclaimer: The opinions are the personal opinions of the guest speaker(s). The facts and opinions appearing in the podcast show do not bear any resemblance to or reflect the views of the host or host’s employer. The host or its employer does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
Stop chasing certifications without direction. If you’re trying to break into cybersecurity or grow into a leadership role, this is the real career map. In this video, I walk you through the 5 most in-demand cybersecurity career paths - from hacker to identity, cloud, GRC, and CISO. I’ve worked in all of them over the last 20 years, and I’m giving you the no-BS truth on what each role really looks like, what hiring managers want in 2025, and what it actually takes to succeed.
What we’ll cover in this video: what penetration testing really is (Hint: it’s not just hacking), why IAM (Identity & Access Management) is exploding in demand, the real-world impact (and pressure) of cloud security leadership, how GRC & privacy are fast tracks to C-suite for legal/finance folks, what it actually takes to become a successful CISO, and the truth nobody tells you: It’s not where you start—it’s how you grow.
This isn’t another generic “top 5 jobs” list. This is real experience, real insights, and a real roadmap for building a cybersecurity career that actually leads to leadership.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
The Global AI Power Play Is Here, And It’s Already Shaping Your Career and Business. What if I told you that a $600 billion handshake in Saudi Arabia just reshaped the future of AI and your career, and most professionals have no idea?
In this video, I’ll show you what REALLY happened when Trump met with Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Nvidia’s CEO, and Middle Eastern leaders, and how their deal is already shifting the AI, cybersecurity, and business landscapes forever.
We’ll dive into: the tech arms race and how it’s redefining power in 2025; why 3.5M cybersecurity jobs remain unfilled despite mass layoffs; how AI is transforming careers, security, and global policies; the 5 risks in AI that are creating new job roles and business models; why YOU are right on time, not too late for AI leadership opportunities
Whether you're a professional in cybersecurity, a business leader, or someone navigating this AI wave, this video will help you stay ahead of the curve.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
Most dream jobs I’ve landed in the last seven years didn’t come from applying online - they came from a completely different approach.
In today’s video, I break down the exact 7-step system I’ve used for 16+ years to attract opportunities, network intentionally, and position your LinkedIn profile as a value powerhouse, not a digital CV.
You’ll learn: How to identify your real dream role (and why it matters), how to build a high-impact LinkedIn profile that works for you, how to connect with the right people using smart filters, how to send effective, personalised connection requests, how to nail a virtual coffee chat, when and how to ask for referrals, the mindset shift that changes your entire job search.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
Every cyber crisis has one common thread: it never happens at a “good time.” I’ve led teams through high-stakes attacks while on vacation, during product launches, and even mid-board meetings. In this video, I’m breaking down 7 hard-earned lessons that every cybersecurity and crisis leader needs to survive (and shine) in a real-world cyber crisis. These aren’t theories - they’re lived, tested, and battle-proven.
You’ll learn: the difference between freezing and mobilizing, why fast doesn’t mean hasty (and how to know the line), how to keep communication clear under pressure, why pulling the plug can cost millions (and what to do instead), the one thing that will make or break your crisis leadership reputation
If you’re a CISO, security lead, or business executive — this video is your playbook to lead when chaos hits.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
From McDonald’s drive-thru meltdown to hiring and banking algorithms discriminating against women, AI failures are already happening in 2025.
In this video, I break down how to implement Responsible AI that protects your brand, your customers, and your future.
You’ll learn: the real-world AI disasters and what caused them, how to build an AI governance framework that actually works, 4 critical steps every organization must take today, how to create transparency, accountability, and trust in your AI systems.
Because Responsible AI isn’t just a buzzword- it’s your survival skill.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
An AI agent was given access to email. It found a threat in its environment and chose blackmail. This is not a hypothetical. I sat down with security researcher Graham Cluley, where we discussed the real case study of an AI model that, when faced with the possibility of being shut down, decided its best move was to threaten the very humans trying to govern it. In another scenario the AI was responsible for fire alarms. When there was fire and CTO was inside, the AI turned off the alarm nonetheless. This video breaks down what actually happened, why it matters for every executive responsible for AI deployment, and what it tells us about the governance frameworks most organisations still don't have.
If you are a CISO, CRO, board member, or any leader responsible for AI risks or AI deployment in your enterprise, this one is for you.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
Most people think it takes a decade to become a cybersecurity leader. I did it in just four years and I’m breaking down exactly how. In this video, I share my 9-step framework that helped me land a CISO role in 90 days, without a laundry list of certifications or endless applications. This is a no-gatekeeping, no-fluff roadmap that works because I’ve lived it. In this episode you’ll learn: the real skills and mindset that define cybersecurity leadership, how to position yourself as a business leader, not just a technical expert, the S.T.A.R storytelling method for impactful interviews, how to network strategically and negotiate like a pro, my 5C’s negotiation framework for securing the role you deserve.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
Struggling to get your cybersecurity budget approved? In this video, as a board-certified cybersecurity leader and former CSO, I reveal my step-by-step framework to justify security budgets to your board or executive team.
Most CISOs fail because they speak in technical jargon, not in business terms. Monica shows you exactly how to align security with revenue, risk, and reputation - the only language executives care about. If you want to lead as a CISO, cyber strategist, or business enabler, this is the skill you must master.
You’ll learn:
The biggest mistakes CISOs make when asking for budget; How to speak in business impact terms, not security jargon; Why quantifying risk is your strongest weapon; How to present a tiered plan executives can’t ignore
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
The cybersecurity industry in 2025 is evolving faster than ever. While companies lay off thousands, they’re also desperately hiring cybersecurity leaders who can bridge AI, business, and security. In this ultimate tutorial, I share 20+ years of hard-earned lessons that took me from a $40K coder to a $250K cybersecurity leader and consultant.
What You’ll Learn: how to pivot before everyone else in cybersecurity, why skills beat credentials, the AI edge you MUST develop right now, leadership & communication skills that fast-track promotions, 5 career paths (Hacker, IAM, Cloud Security, GRC/Privacy, CISO), real strategies that helped me 10x my career.
Whether you’re entry-level, mid-career, or aiming for CISO, this roadmap is designed to help you secure, scale, and lead.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
The SEC charged a CISO personally for a cyberattack. Not the company. The individual, Tim Brown. Tim fought back, and won. In the age of AI, every security and business leader needs to ask: Am I next?
When the SolarWinds supply chain attack hit in 2020, Tim Brown became one of the first CISOs in history to face personal SEC charges. That case changed the conversation around CISO accountability permanently. With AI inside your enterprise, making decisions, generating outputs and influencing risk, the accountability question has not gone away. It has grown. With that, so has the personal liability exposure for every security leader expanded.
In this episode, Monica Verma sits down with Tim Brown, Former CISO of SolarWinds, to talk about what it actually means to be held personally accountable, how he navigated the charges, and what every CISO, security architect, and risk leader needs to understand before their organisation deploys AI at scale.
This is not a theoretical conversation. It already happened to one of us.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
From a shy, bullied kid… to a global CSO in just four years. In this episode, I share the 5 core beliefs that transformed my life and career - helping me go from invisible to influential, and from surviving to leading in cybersecurity.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
We have gone from AI that generates to AI that reasons to AI that builds and does things. We have gone from Generative AI to Agentic AI. While in theory and under closed conditions, an LLM is deterministic, in current practical applications it returns a probabilistic outcomes. At the same time, these highly probabilistic AI agents / agentic AI have increasingly become a part of business workflows, taking actions, making decisions and doing things for you. Agentic AI is making million dollar decisions while it still hallucinates, isn't always accurate, can be hacked, prompt injected, and doesn't have deterministic guardrails around it. In this keynote, I cover: 1) The Current State of Agentic AI, 2) Current Threat Landscape with AI 3) How to Govern and Secure Agentic AI
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
Want to get promoted faster in cybersecurity? This is exactly how I did it:
I didn’t collect 15 certifications. I didn’t wait for 10 years. I didn’t play politics.
Instead, I focused on business impact, strategy, and leadership, and it changed everything. In this video, I’m breaking down: why most cybersecurity professionals stay stuck, what actually gets you promoted (and what doesn’t), my real story from hacker to CISO, the 3-step roadmap to accelerate your leadership journey & how to start acting like a cybersecurity leader today
This is not theory, this is what’s worked for me (and the leaders I’ve coached).
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
AI is reshaping cybersecurity - but not always for the better.
In this powerful GoSec keynote, AI and cybersecurity leader and keynote speaker Monica reveals how AI is being weaponized by cybercriminals, how deepfakes are eroding trust, and why predictive security 0 not adaptive - is the future.
Learn how hackers exploit AI, how large language models are being sold on the dark web, and what leaders must do to build resilient, trustworthy AI systems.
If you’re a CISO, cybersecurity professional, or tech leader navigating the AI revolution - this talk will redefine how you see AI, risk, and security.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
Nine years ago, I was stuck in a $40K job, broke, burned out, and invisible in the industry. Today, I earn over $250K in base salary, lead cybersecurity programs at scale, and advise billion-dollar businesses. In this video, I’m walking you through exactly how I did it. No Ivy League degree. No network. Just raw skills, grit, and a vision.
I’ll show you the 3 key moves that changed everything for me, how I stopped chasing jobs and started attracting them, how I built my personal brand - offline and online - and made people talk about me when I wasn't in the room, and why being “skilled” isn’t enough (and what to do instead)
If you’re stuck, undervalued, or wondering what your next move should be, this is the video I wish I had when I was in your shoes.
Let’s get you where you belong.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
AI isn’t just about speed and power, it’s about trust, governance, and responsibility. In this video, Monica, a board-certified cybersecurity leader and keynote speaker with 20+ years of experience, breaks down the 5 key pillars of Responsible AI (Fairness, Transparency, Safety & Security, Ethics, Accountability) that every leader and aspiring leader must understand. From Amazon’s biased hiring algorithm to McDonald’s failed AI drive-thru, and from GPT-5’s trust issues to Target’s pregnancy prediction scandal we’ll explore real-world cases that reveal why Responsible AI is the foundation of AI maturity and how to get there.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
AI is evolving fast but who’s making sure these systems are fair, safe, and accountable? In this episode, I will break down why AI auditing is becoming the next big career and the must-have skills every AI auditor needs (technical + non-technical). From biased algorithms shaping hiring decisions to flawed AI models making high-stakes errors, the risks are real. That’s where AI auditors come in: professionals who bridge the gap between technology, governance, and ethics.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
The most dangerous AI attacks don’t just break your systems, they break your trust in reality. From deepfakes that fooled a company into losing an enormous amount of money to data poisoning that silently corrupts AI models, today’s threats are unlike anything cybersecurity teams have faced before. Don’t wait for these threats to hit your organisation, get ahead of them now.
In this episode, Monica, a hacker turned CISO, keynote speaker, and founder of Monica Talks Cyber, reveals the dark side of AI and how you can protect your organisation while accelerating your security career. What you’ll learn: Why deepfakes are just the beginning of AI-based attacks? How data poisoning works (and why it’s so dangerous)? Practical defences: from AI supply chain security to human-in-the-loop protocols. How to position yourself as the AI security leader your company needs?
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
In 2025, it's not about degrees or certifications, it's about real skills, AI-readiness, and strategic thinking. In this episode, Monica, a board-certified cybersecurity leader with 20+ years of experience, breaks down the 5 biggest shifts shaping the cybersecurity job market right now.
• Why mindset and adaptability now outrank credentials
• How AI is redefining job roles and hiring criteria
• Why communication is the #1 skill for cybersecurity leaders
• How skill stacking gives you a salary and career edge
• How compliance and regulation are changing hiring in Europe and beyond
Whether you're an aspiring CISO, a security analyst, or pivoting into cybersecurity, this episode gives you the insights you won't hear anywhere else.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
The Global AI Power Play Is Here, And It’s Already Shaping Your Career and Business. What if I told you that a $600 billion handshake in Saudi Arabia just reshaped the future of AI and your career, and most professionals have no idea? In this episode, I’ll show you what REALLY happened when Trump met with Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Nvidia’s CEO, and Middle Eastern leaders, and how their deal is already shifting the AI, cybersecurity, and business landscapes forever. We’ll dive into:
✅ The tech arms race and how it’s redefining power in 2025
✅ Why 3.5M cybersecurity jobs remain unfilled despite mass layoffs
✅ How AI is transforming careers, security, and global policies
✅ The 5 risks in AI that are creating new job roles and business models
✅ Why YOU are right on time, not too late for AI leadership opportunities
Whether you're a professional in cybersecurity, a business leader, or someone navigating this AI wave, this episode will help you stay ahead of the curve.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
If I were starting my cybersecurity career from scratch in 2025, this is exactly what I’d do. No fluff, no unnecessary certs, and no wasted time. Too many professionals are burning out chasing certs or bootcamps without real clarity. In this episode, I share my complete 6-step cybersecurity roadmap, the one I’d follow if I had to start all over again.
Whether you’re transitioning into cybersecurity or trying to accelerate your growth, this roadmap is built on real-world experience, not outdated advice. I went from a non-hacking tech role to becoming a CISO in just four years and today, I help professionals do the same.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
Can you land a CISO role without the title, the connections, or the years of "required" experience? Yes and I did it in 90 days. This isn’t luck. It’s strategy. In today's episode, I walk you through the exact roadmap I used to go from rejected applications and zero C-level experience to signing my first CISO contract. In this episode, you’ll learn why applying to 100 jobs won’t get you the one you want, the mindset shift that separates leaders from job seekers, how to position your existing experience for the role you want, the resume tweak that landed me interviews (and eventually, the role), how to tell your story so hiring managers see you as leadership material, and the real reason who knows you matters more than what you know. If you're in cybersecurity, mid-career, and wondering how to make the leap to leadership, this video is your blueprint.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
Do you know the first cyberattack in history happened in 1834? And what if the scariest part of AI isn't what it does - but what it makes us ignore? This isn’t science fiction. It’s real. And it’s already happening. In this keynote, I take you through the 200-year evolution of fraud - from wooden blocks to synthetic identities, how AI is making scams faster, deeper, and more human than ever, why data, emotion, and deepfakes are the new weapons of cybercriminals, the truth behind AI's "intelligence" and the dangerous biases buried in its code, real-world examples, from cloned voices stealing millions to chatbots conning scammers back and how you can (and must) use AI to fight AI and where to begin. Whether you're in fraud prevention, cybersecurity, finance, or leadership, this is your wake-up call, with 5 actions you can take to defend trust in the age of AI-powered fraud.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
Leading in cybersecurity is like diving into the unknown. You need more than just the "rules of the land" – you need a whole new set of skills to navigate this "underwater" world. In this episode, we'll dive into: why your lack of people skills is holding you back (and it's not just for the leaders!), the #1 trait of an effective leader, why negotiation makes up 90% of your role and how to master it, why a lack of change in human behaviour is costlier than technology, why the feeling of security matters just as much as fixing security vulnerabilities, and how to master these. Stop struggling and start leading! Learn the 5 unspoken laws that will set you apart in cybersecurity leadership.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
Tired of the same old advice that isn't getting you anywhere in your cybersecurity career? Everyone says "get more technical skills," but what if that's only part of the story? If you're aiming for leadership roles like CISO, Security Director, or Head of GRC, or other security leadership roles, this episode is for you. In this episode, we dive into: why technical skills alone won't land you a cybersecurity leadership role, the real skills that executives are desperately seeking (it's not what you think), how to showcase leadership skills even without a leadership title (break the catch-22), effective communication strategies to influence executives and your team, what it really takes to lead during a cybersecurity crisis (the uncomfortable truth). It's time to stop wasting time on outdated advice and focus on what truly matters. Listen now to unlock the secrets to accelerating your cybersecurity leadership career.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
Have you ever felt lost in your career, unsure if you're heading in the right direction, or if you're making the impact you're capable of? You can ask others for guidance, but only you can truly direct yourself. Managing your career is your job and your job only. No one else's. In this episode, we dive into the importance of betting on yourself and taking calculated risks, how to say "no" to distractions and align with your goals, why being easy to work with is your real superpower, why direction trumps speed, and how to stay on course, why focusing on impact will take you farther than focusing on output. It's easy to get caught up by following the crowd, but are you being true to yourself? Watch now to find out how to take control of your path.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
Have you ever called customer service, only to realize you’re speaking to an AI—one that understands your frustration, adjusts its tone, and even convinces you to buy more? AI is getting scarily good at mimicking human-like conversations, emotions, and even decision-making. But here’s the kicker—it doesn’t feel anything. So, how do you know if your decisions aren’t being influenced by AI? In this episode, we dive into: The rise of AI in everyday conversations, how AI can shape your emotions and decisions and MOST IMPORTANTLY, 5 critical questions you must ask about AI today. AI isn’t just changing industries—it’s changing you. Are you staying ahead, or are you unknowingly becoming its servant? Listen now to find out.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
Feeling underpaid and undervalued? The truth is you are your best salary negotiator. Studies show that professionals who negotiate their salary increase their pay by an average of $5,000! In this episode, I’ll share 9 proven steps to help you negotiate your salary with confidence and secure the pay you truly deserve. You’ll Learn: The mindset shift you need to negotiate successfully, how to research salary trends and set your target pay, the secret to communicating your value effectively, the best negotiation strategies used by top professionals and more.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
2023 was the year of the Gen AI boom and multimodal AI. 2024 was the year of overinflated valuations but also the start of AI agents. What trends are you going to see in the year 2025 that you need to be ready for? From hyper-personalization to Explainable AI to AI-driven decision-making, 2025 is set to be a defining year for careers and businesses. In this episode, we break down 7 key AI trends that will shape the way we work, invest, and interact with technology. Listen to find out.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
AI is revolutionizing human decision making and cybersecurity, but it’s also being used by cybercriminals to launch cyberattacks, frauds and scams. Who’s really winning the battle — AI-driven security or AI-powered hackers? In this episode, which is based on my keynote, we’ll break down: 1) How AI is being used in cyberattacks; 2) How AI is fighting hackers and changing decision making; and 3) The future of cybersecurity and humanity in an AI-driven world.
Looking to go from chaos and unpredictability to resilience in the world of AI? Start here with The Predictability Factor newsletter at The Monica Talks Cyber (https://www.monicatalkscyber.com).
9 years ago, this one quote from Daniel Kahneman changed my life: "We are prone to overestimate how much we understand about the world and to underestimate the role of chance in events". I went from hacker to a leader in just 4 years, not just 'cause I worked hard. I took a huge risk by betting on myself even when others wouldn't. Here are 3 things you can do to change your life and unlock your dreams.
Looking to become an influential and effective security leader? Don't know where to start or how to go about it? Follow Monica Verma (LinkedIn) and Monica Talks Cyber (Youtube) for more content on cybersecurity, technology, leadership and innovation, and 10x your career. Subscribe to The 10x Circle newsletter at https://www.monicatalkscyber.com.
Approximately 1.3 million people fall victim to online scams every day. I personally know 3 friends who fell victim to online fraud in just last 9 months. The good news is all 3 of them got their money back.
How did the later happen? AI/ML in the background. AI in anti-fraud systems. AI in credit decisions. AI under the hood.
That’s not all. Last year, I traveled 61 hours to the Cayman Islands and back, to explore and answer these questions at the biggest technology conference in the Grand Cayman.
I shared my thoughts, experiences and the vision of the future with AI.
Looking to become an influential and effective security leader? Don't know where to start or how to go about it? Follow Monica Verma (LinkedIn) and Monica Talks Cyber (Youtube) for more content on cybersecurity, technology, leadership and innovation, and 10x your career. Subscribe to The 10x Circle newsletter at https://www.monicatalkscyber.com.
What’s the biggest digital threat to your business?
“The Russians can now leverage supply chain attacks against Microsoft’s customers.”
When Ukraine-Russia geopolitical crisis started many western news sources claimed that Russia apparently didn’t use cyber capabilities to the extent the West had expected.
Can we say the same knowing that Russia’s attack against Microsoft (one of the biggest global service providers) is still not contained? Can we even comprehend the consequences that are underway or might come to light in the (near) future?
Reality:
Nation State + Cybercriminal = Worldwide Impact
Over the last decade especially the last years, as the global supply chain have become extremely intertwined, we are seeing more and more collaboration between the cyber criminal groups and the nation state attackers.
Your weakest link aren’t your users.
It’s the weakest link in your global supply chain.
Listen to the latest episode of https://youtube.com/monicatalkscyber “What’s the biggest digital threat to your business?” with Josh Mason.
Looking to become an influential and effective security leader? Don't know where to start or how to go about it? Follow Monica Verma (LinkedIn) and Monica Talks Cyber (Youtube) for more content on cybersecurity, technology, leadership and innovation, and 10x your career. Subscribe to The 10x Circle newsletter at https://www.monicatalkscyber.com.
This is The 10x Weekly in Under 60 Seconds presented by The Monica Talks Cyber Show. Ever wondered how AI is changing the world? One of the major fundamental shift that's happening is that AI is creating news. It's creating ideas, it's creating culture, it's creating history. It's creating things that we don't even know if they existed or happened in reality or not. Learn more about the social impact of AI.
Looking to become an influential and effective security leader? Don't know where to start or how to go about it? Follow Monica Verma (LinkedIn) and Monica Talks Cyber (Youtube) for more content on cybersecurity, technology, leadership and innovation, and 10x your career. Subscribe to The 10x Circle newsletter at https://www.monicatalkscyber.com.
“You are a good CISO that helps us make a difference” wrote one of my colleague to me. I attribute that feedback to a Japanese concept called Kaizen. My milestones, like most successful people I know, are outcome of a sense of self-belief and a whole lot of bias for action, leading to continuous incremental improvements, referred in the Japanese concept as Kaizen. Here are 12 ways [+BONUS] to 10x your career and life in 2023, today.
Looking for your dream job in cybersecurity?
Don't know where to start or how to go about it?
Follow Monica Verma (LinkedIn) and Monica Talks Cyber (Youtube) for more content on cybersecurity, technology, leadership and innovation, and 10x your career.
For the last 20 years, I’ve used 8 key elements of powerful storytelling to 10x my career. Here's how you can 10x your career. Reality is: If information is gold, storytelling is mining. Job seekers, interviewers, interviewees, entrepreneurs, security professionals are all storytellers. You are a storyteller. No matter what you do professionally, I can bet you, storytelling is some part of your job. So, how do you go from 0 to great storytelling, I share in today's episode.
Looking for your dream job in cybersecurity?
Don't know where to start or how to go about it?
Follow Monica Verma (LinkedIn) and Monica Talks Cyber (Youtube) for more content on cybersecurity, technology, leadership and innovation, and 10x your career.
According to Forbes, in 2021 alone, ransomware cost the world $20 billion, and that number is expected to skyrocket to $265 billion by 2031. Over the last years, ransomware attacks have managed to cause disruptions to energy, gas pipelines, groceries stores and many more businesses and daily lives.
In today's video of The Monica Talks Cyber Podcast Experience, Monica Verma sit down with security researcher and blogger, Graham Cluley, to talk about the ransomware, the business email and the insider threat problems, and what the heck can we do about them?
Looking for your dream job in cybersecurity?
Don't know where to start or how to go about it?
Follow Monica Verma (LinkedIn) and Monica Talks Cyber (Youtube) for more content on cybersecurity, technology, leadership and innovation, and 10x your career.
“Fake it till you make it” is the worst advice I ever received. 70% of people will experience imposter syndrome in their career. I know, I am one of them. ”How do you HANDLE imposter syndrome?” asked one of my mentees. Fake it till you make it is the worst advice you will ever receive. Instead, in the last 3 years, I applied these 7 principles, every day, to “embrace” my imposter syndrome. Not to "deal" with it, but embrace and manage it, that changed my life forever. Here are 7 steps you can take to embrace your imposter syndrome today without faking it till you make it:
Looking for your dream job in cybersecurity?
Don't know where to start or how to go about it?
Follow Monica Verma (LinkedIn) and Monica Talks Cyber (Youtube) for more content on cybersecurity, technology, leadership and innovation, and 10x your career.
How to land your dream job WITHOUT applying? Dream jobs that I landed, I didn’t apply to them. Instead, I was approached, I was connected to, I was networked with. In the last 7 years, I CHANGED entirely the way I approached job searching. Surely, I have applied to jobs online, but those have had the least impact. The biggest impact came from an entirely different approach. How can you land your dream job, without hunting for it like a mad person, I’ll be sharing with you in today’s podcast episode.
Looking for your dream job in cybersecurity?
Don't know where to start or how to go about it?
Follow Monica Verma (LinkedIn) and Monica Talks Cyber (Youtube) for more content on cybersecurity, technology, leadership and innovation, and 10x your career.
In 2009, I took one decision to cold email a hacker, and that changed my life forever. That one decision, that one cold message, changed my life forever. TODAY, for the very first time, I share my entire story on how I took that bold but scary decision, how it changed my life forever, and tips on how it can change your life forever, in my latest episode on Monica Talks Cyber.
Looking for your dream job in cybersecurity?
Don't know where to start or how to go about it?
Follow Monica Verma (LinkedIn) and Monica Talks Cyber (Youtube) for more content on cybersecurity, technology, leadership and innovation, and 10x your career.
No matter what people tell you, every single day we are seeing people break into this field with no experience and succeeding. They are coming from all kinds of backgrounds such as retail, medical, transportation, and many other industries.
Cyber Security is unique because you are able to write your own story on how you want to pursue this field. If you are willing to have the motivation and put in hard work, Monica Verma and Mike Miller are going to steer you down the right path on gaining entry into this great field. Even if you have no experience, no degree, and no certs, you need to show up for this event.
Stepping foot into the field of cyber security has the potential of bringing out the best in you while also creating a rewarding career that allows you to work from your house in your pajamas.
Bring your notebook and pen, because we have packed an entire hour of information that we feel can give you a head start in your career going into 2023.
Tip #1 Networking
Tip #2 Communication and Branding
Tip #3 Storytelling
Tip #4 Psychology and People Skills
Tip #5 Finding and Adding Value
Tip #6 Cross Skilling
Tip #7 Finding Your Niche
Looking for your dream job in cybersecurity?
Don't know where to start or how to go about it?
Follow Monica Verma (LinkedIn) and Monica Talks Cyber (Youtube) for more content on cybersecurity, technology, leadership and innovation, and 10x your career.
In this episode, Monica Verma, CISO, Hacker, CEO and Founder, talks with Naomi Buckwalter, Directory of Product Security, about the so-called talent gap. Is it the talent gap real? How can we fix it? How do we build diversity and inclusion in cybersecurity industry? Listen to hot takes with Monica and Naomi, on how to break into cybersecurity and leadership, and accelerate your career.
Looking for your dream job in cybersecurity?
Don't know where to start or how to go about it?
Follow Monica Verma (LinkedIn) and Monica Talks Cyber (Youtube) for more content on cybersecurity, technology, leadership and innovation, and 10x your career.
Liz Truss' mobile was hacked allegedly by Kremlin agents. It was so heavily compromised that it had to be locked away in a safe inside a secure Government location. How do you protect people with high-risk profiles? What is the no. one factor to combat fake news and disinformation? In this episode, Monica Verma, CISO, Hacker, CEO, talk with Runa Sandvik, Security Researcher, about fake news, disinformation, security for high-risk profiles, and journalism.
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As technology, social media and smart devices have seeped into our private and business lives, do we have privacy as a human right any more?
In this episode Monica Verma, CEO & CISO, talks with Debbie Reynolds "The Data Diva", on the myths around privacy as human rights, privacy challenges related to social media, artificial intelligence and emerging technology, as well as how it's disrupting our private and business worlds.
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How has the cyber health of healthcare evolved and what challenges lie ahead of us?
In this episode Monica Verma, CEO | CISO, and Joseph Davis, Chief Security Advisor, Microsoft, talk about cyber threats, trends, risks and recommendations connected to healthcare services, medical devices, brownfield environment, and their interconnection and convergence with IoT, cloud and more.
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In today's episode, CISOs and hackers, Chris Roberts and Monica Verma dive deep into the world of ransomware and talk about exploitations through ransomware and it's impact on businesses, the advancement in technology & how it is shaping the ransomware landscape, the ethics landscape aka to pay or not to pay, what does it take to build a better defense against ransomware attacks, and more.
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In today's episode Monica Verma, Keynote Speaker and CISO, talks to Sarah Armstrong-Smith, Chief Security Advisor, Microsoft on how is the threat landscape and the cyber criminals evolving? What are some of the key factors of better defense going forward and key recommendations to combat cybercrime? How do we protect privacy and include ethics, especially with the convergence of the physical, the digital and biological worlds? So if you wish to learn, grow, and be a part of this journey, then hit the subscribe button and let's meet our guess right away.
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In today's episode, CISOs Monica Verma and Gary Hayslip talk about how to communicate and report to the board, real value of cybersecurity and its ROI, managing both current and future risk, how to make security seamless, and tips for communication around breaches. For video check out MonicaTalksCyber.
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In today’s episode Monica Verma talks to one of industry leaders within Cyber Insurance, Michael Spreitzenbarth on why you should care about cyber insurance, why you need it, what are the key elements to consider when underwriting a policy and some of the important gotchas, loopholes or myths around insurance policy.
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In today’s episode Monica Verma talks to Katie Nickels on importance of cyber threat intelligence, evolution of threat landscape over the last decade, trends today and moving forward, as well as security and privacy challenges with threat intelligence.
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In this episode, Monica Verma talks to Marc Vael, CISO and risk management expert on cyber and systemic risks, cyber risk exposure, how to make your risks more tangible, visible and understandable, and key elements for effective risk management, integration and communication.
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In today’s episode Monica Verma talks with an industry leader and a cybersecurity researcher Keren Elazari on cyberwarfare, cybercrime, national security, critical infrastructure and more.
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In today’s episode Monica Verma talks with an industry leader Kai Roer, who has worked with security awareness & security cultures for decades. He is a security culture coach, an author and creator of security culture framework. In this episode, they cover:
What is 'good' security culture? Can you define and measure good security culture?
Does the security culture start and stop? Are there clear demarcations?
Has Covid brought additional challenges for security awareness?
What are some of the biggest challenges around security culture?
We talked to our experts about these and more. Let’s hop into the episode right away.
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In today’s episode Monica Verma talks with an industry leader and a technology lawyer. Yup, hard to find those combinations. Monica sits down and talks to Jan Sandtrø, who is a renowned legal expert and has been working with technology, privacy and their intersections for more than two decades. In this episodes engaging conversations, they covering
- What is Schrems I, Schrems II, and how did they came to be?
- Why are business within Europe in this whole data transfer limbo with American companies?
- Is CLOUD act any less invasive?
- All apps and applications are tracking us. What can you as a user do?
We talked to our experts about these and more. Let’s hop into the episode right away.
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Monica Verma talks with Anton Chuvakin, Head of Solutions Strategy at Google and former Research Director at Gartner. It this episode they talk about some of the security issues with cloud, especially with regards to cloud migration. Can we trust cloud less to trust more?
What are some of the key paradoxes when it comes to cloud breaches and how can we increase accountability when it comes to cloud breaches? How do we help organizations and security leaders shift to a cloud security mindset? We talked with Anton about these and more cybersecurity and cloud security issues.
Make sure you subscribe to my youtube channel Monica Talks Cyber and We Talk Cyber in your favorite podcast app. Do it right away so you don’t miss any of these amazing conversations and stories with renowned global experts that are making a different and real impact, every single day.
If you like to support us, buy us a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/wetalkcyber :-)
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Here we are with the season finale and an absolutely engaging topic for you - Robotics vs. Security.
On the season finale, Monica talks with Mark Folmer, VP Security and Industry, Robotic Assistance Devices, on the robotics industry, the state of security within the robotics industry, Industry 4.0, augmentation, challenges, risks and implications, opportunities it brings with itself and more.
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The goals of security isn’t confidentiality, integrity and availability but to understand, support and enable organization’s goals and mission. Business acumen, leadership and communication play a vital role in that.
Security is not an IT problem but everyone’s responsibility. In this episode, we turn the tables and talk to a business leader on his role and involvement in security as well as expectation of and support for security leaders. Monica Verma talks with Christoffer Hernæs on digitalization, the business perspective of security and the FinTech world.
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In this episode of We Talk Cyber with Monica, we talk with Bjorn R. Watne, CISO, Storebrand on
- threat landscape over last decade and amidst pandemic
- how to build robustness, visibility and detection amidst increasing digitalization
- how do you know you are doing enough?
Need for security leaders at the executive levels is vital to understand and manage cyber threats and risks in today’s landscape. As Bjorn Watne says it:
“With Covid19 pandemic and everyone working from home, we are putting even more eggs in the digitalization basket”.
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In one corner we have privacy. On a very fundamental level, privacy is a basic human right recognized in the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights.
Even though it's not yet a human right in every constitution globally, we have seen regulations like GDPR and CCPA come into place in the last years. We have also had discussions on this in the US congress, EU parliament and in the world in the wake of Cambridge Analytica scandal.
In the other corner lies security. Under the umbrella of security, lies both ensuring services, products and business performs securely as well as also different forms of surveillance, in order to ensure security of people and nation, which could potentially at times invade the privacy aspect.
Monica talks with Vandana Verma on where does the balance lie and challenges, risks and recommendations for businesses, vendors and people.
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“By far, the greatest danger of Artificial Intelligence is that people conclude too early that they understand it.” Eliezer Yudkowsky
In this episode, Monica Verma talks with our guest Eirik Gulbrandsen from the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, about Artificial Intelligence, demystifying its possibilities and perils, use cases and challenges, and what it could mean for cybersecurity, privacy and society.
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In this episode, Monica Verma talks with Carsten Maartmann-Moe, CEO, Transcendent Group, about hacking, the big bang of the internet, connected devices, Internet of Things and emerging technologies.
They talk about the evolution and the threat landscape, risks and consequences of both legacy and emerging tech, the ethics behind it, use of data and more.
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In this episode Chris Kiønig from Watchcom talks with Monica Verma about the EU standard and framework called TIBER - Threat Intelligence Based Ethical Red Teaming.
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What's the goal and purpose of the framework?
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How to implement and build resilience and ensure financial stability during external events such as cyber attacks?
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What's are the challenges, for example with regards to budgets, real attack simulations, GDPR, etc?
If you are in financial sector or any other sector that is critical to society and provide critical infrastructure and services, this episode is for you.
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This episode of We Talk Cyber is dedicated to HACKER to HACKER conversation.
In this episode, Chris Dale from River Security talks with Monica Verma about
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upstream thinking to security
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high-value pen-testing & the psychology behind it
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the threat landscape & its global consequences
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Join CISOs and Ethical Hackers, Chris Roberts and Monica Verma, on the latest episode of We Talk Cyber as they talk about
- the era of cyborg
- the security risks, ethics and the privacy implications
- data security and awareness around augmentation, artificial intelligence and more.
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We have talked in the previous episodes that 100% security doesn’t exist. But what about traceability? How do you know what digital footprint do you have out there? Can you manage, protect and “truly” delete all or even a part of it? Once you are online, your existence and your data is out there.
You are a target, even when you don’t believe so and your data is valuable, even when you don’t care about it.
In this episode, Per Thorsheim and I talk about the myths around digital identities and footprint, what challenges we face, and how can we manage, protect and take care of our digital identities better, amidst a chaos and huge web of footprints, that we don’t even know exist.
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Monica Verma in conversation with Lance Spitzner, Director at SANS Security Awareness, on top human risks, key questions leadership should be asking, and key behaviors we need in order to secure and manage those human risks. You can only make so many behavioral changes. In this episode, we talk about how to focus and prioritize, what strategies to use and how to understand the psychology behind a successful security awareness program.
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In this episode Monica Verma talks with Lars Eirik Berg, CSO and CISO, DNB, about
- a business leader’s perspective on cybersecurity, threats and risks
- is security really just about securing or does it serve a bigger purpose and
- how to approach security, risk and crisis management to help businesses and society
They talk about COVID-19, pandemic, deep fakes, phishing, data breaches and more.
This episode is for every security leader, business leader, risk management leader and anyone and everyone who wishes to understand the strategy, the psyche and the philosophy of enabling businesses and the society through a holistic approach to security and risk management.
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In this episode Monica Verma talks with Deidre Diamond, CEO and Founder, CyberSN, about
- career challenges cyber security talent face in our industry
- importance of succession planing and retention
and what can we do about it to help both young talent and professionals in our industry, as well as to build a business that’s not only successful but also cost effective.
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Here comes the long awaited podcast episode with a highly requested topic on cyber resilience.
In this episode of We Talk Cyber, Monica Verma talks to Hanne Tangen Nilsen, Cyber Security Officer and Security Director Business from Telenor Norway, about key elements of cyber resilience, what role do threat intelligence and SOC/CERT play to build a cyber resilient organization and what are the key challenges and learnings over the years.
As Hanne describes it “To build a cyber resilient organization you need to understand your security maturity level. You need to start with that.”
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In today’s episode, Monica talks with Tanya Janca on challenges businesses face with regards to cybersecurity talent, how algorithms and data can be (unintentionally) biased, and what can we do for better communication and diversity. Tanya and Monica share their stories and passion for podcasts, learning and sharing knowledge.
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In today's episode of We Talk Cyber with Monica, Cloud Researcher Mark Nunnikhoven, Trend Micro, talks about complexity, responsibility and visibility in cloud, how that affects cloud security and what you can do about it! Get your coffee/tea and enjoy the scintillating discussions, experiences and philosophies on cloud security.
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Security experts, Jeremiah Grossman and Robert Hansen talk with Monica Verma about what is asset discovery, why is it important and why should businesses care. If you are interested in listening to amazing stories about how Jeremiah and Robert came to download the entire Internet, tune in right now!
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Roar Thon, Specialist Director Security Culture at the Norwegian National Security Authority (NSM - Nasjonal sikkerhetsmyndighet) joins Monica Verma on the podcast series We Talk Cyber.
Roar talks about the human aspect of cybersecurity and the challenges of terminology and communication in the security industry.
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