TechSpective Podcast Tony Bradley

TechSpective Podcast Episode 132
 

The rapid adoption of generative AI technologies like ChatGPT has taken the tech world by storm. Generative AI models and the LLMs (large language models) they rely on are pervasive--and potentially invasive--which highlights the importance of AI safety research, emphasizing the need to accelerate efforts to keep pace with this swift adoption.
Adobe’s Strategic Approach
Gurpartap "GP" Sandhu, the leader of the product security AI and data engineering team at Adobe, joins this episode of the TechSpective Podcast to talk about how Adobe’s approach to AI is both cautious and innovative. GP delves into practical applications of AI within Adobe, such as auto-generating code fixes and scaling threat models using multimodal AI capabilities. These advancements not only improve efficiency but also enhance the overall security infrastructure. The discussion extends to broader societal impacts, including the challenges posed by deep fakes and AI-generated disinformation.
A Dual Mandate: Balancing Risks and Opportunities
GP emphasizes the concept of a dual mandate in AI and security. He explains that while it’s essential to focus on minimizing risks such as data poisoning and prompt injection, it's equally important to leverage AI to enhance security measures. This balanced perspective sets the stage for a deep dive into how Adobe is navigating the complex landscape of AI in cybersecurity.
Encouraging Hands-on Engagement
We also talk about the importance of hands-on experimentation with AI technologies. They encourage listeners to engage directly with AI tools to better understand and contribute to their development. This call to action resonates with tech enthusiasts and professionals alike, emphasizing the collective effort required to navigate the evolving AI landscape.

Check out the full episode for more about AI security and security for AI. GP and I have some interesting back and forth about the potential risks and implications of AI, and finding a balance between being cautious and optimistic.

The podcast itself is audio-only, but the video of our conversation is also available on YouTube if you prefer:



Please ask questions and share your thoughts on the topic in the comments below. Also, please subscribe to the TechSpective Podcast through your favorite podcast platform and share the podcast with your peers and friends.

If you enjoy the podcast, I would also be grateful if you could take 2 minutes to rate and review the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen.

TechSpective Podcast Episode 131
 

Most people--at least, most people in tech--agree at this point that it's not so much that AI will steal your job as it is that AI will augment your job. To the extent that your job itself might be at risk, it's more likely that you would be replaced by someone who is better at using AI than you--not replaced by AI itself.

Experts inside Adobe have been hard at work developing that sort of AI augmentation to streamline security operations. The LLM agent Adobe has developed provides Dynamic Detection Analysis to leverage the strengths of AI to quickly sift through data and identify issues worthy of further scrutiny. John Gillis, a Senior Automation Engineer with Adobe, joins the TechSpective Podcast once again to talk about Dynamic Detection Analysis and the efforts he is part of at Adobe.

Check out the full episode for more about LLM agents and Dynamic Detection Analysis. We also discuss the impact of AI and generative AI on the world around us and the possibility of humans being connected directly to information through a neural link. Spoiler alert: I stress that if Elon Musk has any connection to the technology,  I will just be the Luddite without the neural link connection. I'm not looking to be part of a "Borg" collective of insane conspiracy theories and right-wing propaganda.

The podcast itself is audio-only, but the video of our conversation is also available on YouTube if you prefer:



Please ask questions and share your thoughts on the topic in the comments below. Also, please subscribe to the TechSpective Podcast through your favorite podcast platform and share the podcast with your peers and friends.

If you enjoy the podcast, I would also be grateful if you could take 2 minutes to rate and review the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen.

TechSpective Podcast Episode 130
 

Backing up data has been a fundamental requirement for IT since data began. In the age of ransomware, though, data backups have had a bit of a rollercoaster ride.

When ransomware first emerged, data backups were a saving grace. If your systems were encrypted and knocked offline by ransomware, you could simply restore from backup and carry on. Eventually, though, threat actors figured out how to also seek out any connected backups and encrypt them as well. As organizations adapted, threat actors evolved a new tactic of stealing data before encrypting it and also threatening to leak or sell it--effectively nullifying the ability to simply restore from backup without consequence. However, backing up data is still crucial because even when organizations pay the ransom, there is very good chance they will not be able to restore all data.

Anthony Cusimano, Director of Technical Marketing at Object First joins the podcast to talk about the challenges of categorizing and effectively backing up and protecting data. Object First was created to provide secure, simple, and powerful backup storage with out-of-the-box immutability optimized specifically for Veeam.

Check out the full episode for more about data backup challenges and best practices. We also discuss issues with data hoarding and data pollution, and the impact of artificial intelligence and generative AI on data storage.

The podcast itself is audio-only, but the video of our conversation is also available on YouTube if you prefer:



Please ask questions and share your thoughts on the topic in the comments below. Also, please subscribe to the TechSpective Podcast through your favorite podcast platform and share the podcast with your peers and friends.

If you enjoy the podcast, I would also be grateful if you could take 2 minutes to rate and review the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen.

TechSpective Podcast Episode 129
 

You may not have noticed, but the tech and cybersecurity job market has sort of sucked the past few years. Maybe it's just me. My friend Richard Stiennon, research analyst with IT-Harvest and author of Security Yearbook 2024, joins this episode of the TechSpective Podcast to talk about the upcoming 5th edition of the Security Yearbook, and share his insights on why he thinks that is all about to change.

"Hiring has been frozen for the last 18 months, but my advice is, 'Hang in there.' All hell is gonna break loose," declared Stiennon.

He adds, "I'm convinced that we are entering into an era that will make the dot.com boom seem like a blip. The world of technology is going to impact the entire economy. We're going to be in boom times like none of us have ever experienced."

What, you may ask, is the driving force behind Stiennon's fervent optimism? AI.

Check out the full episode for more about what to expect in Security Yearbook 2024, as well as more about the impact AI and generative AI will have on the world--particularly the world of technology and cybersecurity. We also chat about the dubious reasons that many companies have used to let people go and why it is short-sighted and potentially damaging to a company's brand to eliminate marketing or cut back too far, even when the economy is down.

The podcast itself is audio-only, but the video of our conversation is also available on YouTube if you prefer:



Please ask questions and share your thoughts on the topic in the comments below. Also, please subscribe to the TechSpective Podcast through your favorite podcast platform and share the podcast with your peers and friends.

If you enjoy the podcast, I would also be grateful if you could take 2 minutes to rate and review the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen.

TechSpective Podcast Episode 128
 

Should you know how computer programs work? Is learning to code an imperative life skill? I suppose it is possible to get through life without a basic understanding of computer code, but given the reality of the world today and the fact that pretty much everything is running on code of some sort, it is a crucial skill, in my opinion.

I invited Ed Kim, VP of Education and Training at Code Ninjas, to join me on this episode of the podcast to talk about learning to code and why it's important. With more than 15 years of experience in afterschool K-12 education programs, Ed Kim’s career has been largely dedicated to transforming learning experiences, driving growth through effective content and student engagement, and strengthening employee skills. At Code Ninjas, he drives key strategic decisions regarding the curriculum and employee training underlying every Ninja’s experience. The overarching goal of his team is to create the best Ninja experience possible, building a path forward for every young student in Code Ninjas to learn coding and classroom skills while having fun in a rewarding and safe environment and for parents to see their children learn critical skills for their future.

First, I want to emphasize and clarify that Code Ninjas is completely different than and separate from Cyber Ninjas. The names are similar enough that it might cause confusion, but you can keep them straight by remembering that Code Ninjas runs programs to introduce kids to basic computer coding principles, while Cyber Ninjas is the "MyPillow" of the cybersecurity industry that played a central role in attempts to subvert the will of voters and overturn the results of the 2020 election.

That said, let's get back to the issue of learning to code as a basic life skill. I don't believe everyone needs to be a programmer any more than I believe everyone needs to be a plumber, electrician, or automobile mechanic. However, just as it comes in handy to have a basic understanding of plumbing, electrical wiring, and automobiles in order to do simple troubleshooting and repairs, it is increasingly important to have a working understanding of program logic because virtually everything we use runs on code.

Check out the full episode for more on the importance of learning basic coding logic and principles. Ed and I also digress a bit to discuss the way some professions seem to use a proprietary and pretentious vocabulary to demonstrate their expertise and justify the rates they charge--like doctors calling a scratch a "laceration" or a bruise a "contusion." I do need to issue a minor correction because in the podcast, I say that doctors call a bruise a "subdural hematoma," but I later learned that it is a more specific injury that refers to a type of brain bleed.

The podcast itself is audio-only, but the video of our conversation is also available on YouTube if you prefer:



Please ask questions and share your thoughts on the topic in the comments below. Also, please subscribe to the TechSpective Podcast through your favorite podcast platform and share the podcast with your peers and friends.

If you enjoy the podcast, I would also be grateful if you could take 2 minutes to rate and review the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen.

TechSpective Podcast Episode 127
 

Artificial intelligence is not new--and yet we are also still at the very early stages of what it can do. Generative AI has sparked a massive revolution and mainstream adoption of AI. It has tremendous potential. Almost unimaginable potential.

Sam Curry, VP and CISO at ZScaler, joins this episode of the TechSpective Podcast to talk about the ways generative AI is transforming our lives and what it means for the evolving cybersecurity landscape.

Will AI take your job? Maybe. But probably not. It's much more likely that AI will unleash new levels of creativity and opportunities. It will enhance and streamline what you can do...if you embrace it and learn to use it effectively.

Check out the full episode for more on how generative AI is changing the world. Admittedly, we take a while to get around to the generative AI discussion. The first part of the podcast is an excellent discussion of the importance of diversity in cybersecurity, the traits that define good leaders, and the fact that there is no "right" or "one way" to a career in cybersecurity. I almost could have broken this into two separate, shorter podcasts--one on leadership and careers in cybersecurity, and the second on the explosion of generative AI.

The podcast itself is audio-only, but the video of our conversation is also available on YouTube if you prefer:



Please ask questions and share your thoughts on the topic in the comments below. Also, please subscribe to the TechSpective Podcast through your favorite podcast platform and share the podcast with your peers and friends.

If you enjoy the podcast, I would also be grateful if you could take 2 minutes to rate and review the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen.