ClearTech Loop: In the Know, On the Move

ClearTech Research / Jo Peterson
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  • TECHNOLOGY

ClearTech Loop is a fast, focused podcast delivering sharp, soundbite-ready insights on what’s next in cybersecurity, cloud, and AI. Hosted by Jo Peterson, Chief Analyst at ClearTech Research, each 10-minute episode explores today’s most pressing tech and risk issues through a business-focused lens.  Whether it’s CISOs rethinking cyber strategy or AI reshaping risk governance, ClearTech Loop brings clarity to a shifting landscape—built for tech leaders who don’t have time for fluff.  We cut through hype. We rethink assumptions. We keep you in the loop.

  1. The CSA AI Safety Initiative with George Finney

    6D AGO

    The CSA AI Safety Initiative with George Finney

    AI is moving fast — and the frameworks to secure it are racing to keep up.  In this episode of ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson sits down with George Finney, Chief Security Officer for the University of Texas System and Co-Chair of the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) AI Safety Council), to unpack the CSA AI Safety Initiative — a global effort to build practical guardrails for AI adoption.  They cover:  Why the CSA is leading the charge on AI safety How the AI Controls Matrix and “AI firewalls” help organizations evaluate tools responsibly What third-party AI risk looks like in the enterprise stack Why CISOs must have a voice in shaping AI governance If you’re a CISO, IT leader, or practitioner navigating the AI wave, this conversation connects the dots between security frameworks and real-world implementation.  Listen now — and find out how the same group that defined cloud security standards is laying the foundation for AI.  Resources Mentioned  Project Zero Trust — George Finney Rise of the Machines: A Project Zero Trust Story — George Finney Also available as an audiobook on Amazon and Audible, narrated by Daniel Thomas May — best known for his role in The Walking Dead. Cloud Security Alliance – AI Safety Initiative CSA AI Controls Matrix About ClearTech Loop  ClearTech Loop brings together the voices shaping what’s next in cloud, AI, and cybersecurity. Hosted by Jo Peterson, Chief Analyst at ClearTech Research, each episode delivers real conversations with practitioners who are redefining the technology landscape.  Follow The ClearTech Loop on LinkedIn for new episodes, industry analysis, and insights from ClearTech Research: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7346174860760416256/   Stay in the Loop  Want more than a thirty-minute listen? Join the ClearTech Loop subscriber community.  Sign up: https://form.typeform.com/to/EESYYt4a  Choose what you’d like to receive:  Deeper analysis and early research drops New episode alerts Occasional invites to analyst discussions and industry roundtables Your data stays private. We analyze AI — not you.

    12 min
  2. Hybrid Integration: The Foundation of Full-Stack Automation | Jo Peterson | ClearTechLoop

    OCT 8

    Hybrid Integration: The Foundation of Full-Stack Automation | Jo Peterson | ClearTechLoop

    Jo Peterson explores why hybrid integration is now the foundation of full-stack automation — and how a unified platform helps IT leaders manage complexity, connect data across environments, and scale AI initiatives securely. Featuring insights on IBM webMethods Hybrid Integration. Episode Description Today’s enterprise runs everywhere — cloud, on-prem, SaaS, and edge. The real challenge isn’t connecting systems; it’s keeping control, visibility, and governance while doing it. In this special edition of ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson unpacks: What hybrid integration really means in practiceWhy a unified integration platform is essential for automation at scaleHow AI depends on hybrid integration for real-time, trusted dataWhere IBM webMethods Hybrid Integration fits into the modern enterprise tech stackWant to learn more about how hybrid integration supports resilient, AI-driven automation? Learn more → https://ibm.biz/Bde6n2 Start your free 30-day trial → https://ibm.biz/Bde6nf 🎥 Watch on YouTube → https://youtu.be/EhB6jn2-_sM 📩 Subscribe to ClearTech Loop on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7346174860760416256/ Episode Notes (extended) Hybrid integration isn’t just a technical upgrade — it’s a strategic necessity for full-stack automation. It unifies APIs, data pipelines, and event streams into a single governance framework.It ensures consistent policy enforcement and observability across hybrid and multi-cloud deployments.It’s the backbone that lets AI systems access data securely, reliably, and at scale.IBM’s webMethods Hybrid Integration offers a hybrid control plane purpose-built for this challenge — connecting innovation with infrastructure and giving organizations the flexibility to modernize without losing control.

    5 min
  3. The CISO’s Financial Reality Check: Building Security That Pays for Itself

    OCT 7

    The CISO’s Financial Reality Check: Building Security That Pays for Itself

    In this episode of ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson sits down with Bil Harmer, Founder & CEO of Killswitch Advisory, to explore a topic every security leader wrestles with — how to make cybersecurity pay for itself.  Harmer brings more than two decades of experience leading programs for startups, governments, and global financial institutions. He’s blunt, practical, and focused on one truth: cybersecurity isn’t a cost center — it’s a financial model.  Jo and Bil break down what that means for CISOs under pressure to do more with less:  Why security is a cost of survival, not safety How to redefine cyber risk as financial risk Why governance now starts with procurement What “acceptable loss” really looks like in practice How to spot hidden AI clauses in your SaaS contracts before your data trains someone else’s model This episode cuts past the theory and gets into the business side of cybersecurity — where financial fluency is now just as important as technical skill.  🎧 Listen to the full episode here. 💌 Subscribe to the ClearTech Loop newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7346174860760416256/

    13 min
  4. The CISO’s AI Dilemma: Shadow AI, Survival Moves, and Governance with Josh Copeland

    SEP 30

    The CISO’s AI Dilemma: Shadow AI, Survival Moves, and Governance with Josh Copeland

    CISOs are being asked to do two things at once: deploy AI faster and guarantee it won’t backfire. In this ClearTech Loop episode, Jo Peterson talks with Josh Copeland — cybersecurity executive, professor, and author of Unpopular Opinion — about how to balance speed and safety in AI adoption.  You’ll hear about:  Four AI “survival moves” CISOs can use now: hypothesis testing, knowledge synthesis, contextualized decision-making, and creativity catalysts. Why Josh rates shadow AI an “eight out of ten” risk — and what CISOs can do to govern it instead of chasing it underground. How to embed explainability, human oversight, and resilience into AI systems from the start. Why every enterprise needs an AI Incident Response playbook before scaling. Josh brings 25+ years of experience spanning federal, state, and commercial sectors. He’s also the author of Unpopular Opinion: Burning Down the Bullsh*t to Rebuild Cybersecurity.  Subscribe to the ClearTech Loop Newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7346174860760416256/  Episode Description (Short):  Jo Peterson and Josh Copeland break down the CISO’s AI dilemma: how to move fast on AI adoption without breaking trust.

    16 min
  5. The Evolution of Full Stack Automation in the AI Era | Jo Peterson | ClearTech Loop

    SEP 24

    The Evolution of Full Stack Automation in the AI Era | Jo Peterson | ClearTech Loop

    Summary Jo Peterson explores how a full stack approach to automation — powered by a hybrid control plane and AI — helps IT leaders cut through fragmentation and build an AI-ready foundation. Featuring insights on IBM webMethods Hybrid Integration.  Episode Description Enterprise IT is more fragmented than ever — siloed apps, processes, and clouds that don’t talk to each other. The result? manual workarounds and architectures that can’t keep pace with business demand.  In this ClearTech Loop special edition, Jo Peterson explores:  What a full stack approach to automation looks like in practice Why a hybrid control plane is critical for IT leaders How agentic AI is changing the automation playbook Where IBM webMethods Hybrid Integration fits into this strategy Want to learn more about this evolution and what challenges webMethods Hybrid Integration can solve for you and your team today?  Learn more here: https://ibm.biz/Bde6n2 and sign up for your FREE 30- day trial today: https://ibm.biz/Bde6nf     🎥 Watch on YouTube → https://youtu.be/mfSCSPukOds 📩 Subscribe to ClearTech Loop on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7346174860760416256/  Episode Notes Automation isn’t just about speeding up processes — it’s about creating a cohesive, AI-ready foundation that can scale. Hybrid and multicloud deployments are creating complexity that requires centralized governance. Agentic AI is pushing enterprises beyond reactive prompts to autonomous systems that take on complex workloads. IBM’s webMethods Hybrid Integration offers a hybrid control plane designed to unify governance across environments and support this next wave of automation.

    6 min
  6. The CISO Role in the Age of Generative AI with Rob May

    SEP 23

    The CISO Role in the Age of Generative AI with Rob May

    AI isn’t just another shiny tool — it’s a catalyst to rethink how we secure and govern our organizations.  In this ClearTech Loop episode, Jo Peterson sits down with Rob May — Executive Chairman of ramsac, UK Cybersecurity Ambassador, and author of Harnessing AI and The Human Firewall.  Rob shares a practical playbook for CISOs navigating AI adoption:  Reframe the Role of AI: Treat it as assistive intelligence — a thought partner that changes the questions you ask, not just a productivity add-on.  Red Team Smarter: Use generative AI to simulate likely attack paths in your environment so you can adjust defenses before alerts ever fire.  Build Security In: Stop bolting security on at the end. Embed privacy checklists, automated testing, and audit trails directly into the AI development lifecycle.  Govern with Confidence: CISOs must own the narrative around visibility, accountability, data use, and explainability. AI is both a defense multiplier and a governance responsibility.  If you’ve been wondering how to balance AI innovation with trust, or how to expand your CISO mandate without slowing your teams down, this episode is for you.  Watch the full conversation + subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7346174860760416256/  Key Quotes   “Don’t think of it as artificial intelligence. Think of it as assistive intelligence.” — Rob May  “When security and AI teams work side by side, you don’t slow down innovation — you accelerate trust in the outcomes.” — Rob May  “AI can be both a force multiplier and a new category of risk. The CISO’s role is to maximize the former and govern the latter.” — Rob May  Episode Notes Listen: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2248577/episodes/17885925 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Tzf6dwfUh50 Subscribe to ClearTech Loop Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7346174860760416256/ Rob May’s books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Rob-May/author/B078GYKHZJ  Resources mentioned:  Harnessing AI: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1915074252 The Human Firewall: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1915074236

    12 min
  7. Proactive AI Security for CISOs with David Linthicum

    SEP 16

    Proactive AI Security for CISOs with David Linthicum

    AI isn’t just a productivity tool — it’s a brand-new attack surface.  In this ClearTech Loop episode, Jo Peterson sits down with David Linthicum — cloud pioneer, five-time best-selling author, and leading voice on cloud and AI strategy.  David shares a practical roadmap for CISOs facing the reality of AI adoption:  Weaponize AI for Good: Use generative AI to simulate attacks on your own systems. Find the gaps before adversaries do.  Shift Security Left: Bake privacy and security into the first 20% of your AI/ML pipeline, not the last.  Rethink Incident Response: Static PDFs don’t cut it. Build AI-driven playbooks that adapt to your live environment.  Close the Governance Gap: Break down silos between DevOps and security. Shared responsibility doesn’t mean shared blame.  If you’ve been wondering how to hack yourself before the hackers do, govern AI adoption without slowing innovation, or stop incident response chaos before it starts, this is your episode.  👉 Watch the full conversation + subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7346174860760416256/

    22 min
  8. The CISO Field Guide: Becoming Operator, Strategist, Storyteller with Mark Lynd

    SEP 9

    The CISO Field Guide: Becoming Operator, Strategist, Storyteller with Mark Lynd

    CISOs wear three hats in 2025: Operator, Strategist, Storyteller.  In this ClearTech Loop episode, Jo Peterson sits down with Mark Lynd — Head of Executive Advisory & Strategy at Netsync, globally ranked AI & Security Thought Leader, and author of Cyber War One Scenario.  Mark shares a practical field guide for CISOs navigating the complexity of AI adoption:  Operator: Shift SOCs from alert-chasing to question-asking. Measure time-to-decision, not tool count. Strategist: Stop reinventing governance. Use paved roads with guardrails (NIST, ISO, vendor frameworks). Storyteller: Boards don’t want tool inventories — they want proof you can protect the business. Translate cyber chaos into ROI and resilience. If you’ve been wondering how to brief the board, govern shadow AI, or actually augment your SOC with AI (without burning out your team), this is your episode.  👉 Watch the full conversation + subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7346174860760416256/  Episode Notes 🎧 Listen: [Buzzsprout embed auto-fills]  📺 Watch on YouTube: [insert link]  📰 Subscribe to ClearTech Loop Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7346174860760416256/  📘 Mark Lynd’s book Cyber War One Scenario: https://www.amazon.com/Cyber-War-Scenario-Mark-Lynd/dp/B0FH41GRHS   🔗 Resources mentioned:  NIST AI RMF Gartner SOC Efficiency PwC Digital Trust Insights 2025

    18 min
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About

ClearTech Loop is a fast, focused podcast delivering sharp, soundbite-ready insights on what’s next in cybersecurity, cloud, and AI. Hosted by Jo Peterson, Chief Analyst at ClearTech Research, each 10-minute episode explores today’s most pressing tech and risk issues through a business-focused lens.  Whether it’s CISOs rethinking cyber strategy or AI reshaping risk governance, ClearTech Loop brings clarity to a shifting landscape—built for tech leaders who don’t have time for fluff.  We cut through hype. We rethink assumptions. We keep you in the loop.

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