ClearTech Loop: In the Know, On the Move

ClearTech Research / Jo Peterson

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. Guardrails for Growth: AI in Regulated Industries

    1D AGO

    Guardrails for Growth: AI in Regulated Industries

    How do you enable AI inside one of the most highly regulated industries on the planet — without slowing the business or attracting regulatory heat?  In this episode, veteran financial-services CISO Parrish Gunnels joins Jo Peterson to break down the real playbook for operationalizing AI in banking environments.  This isn’t theory. It’s where risk appetite, regulation, and revenue meet reality.  We cover:  Why “turn off AI” was a knee-jerk — and why it can’t last Moving from prohibition to auditable enablement How financial-services CISOs model AI-risk in dollars Why human-in-the-loop is still non-negotiable Designing paved roads that stop Shadow AI The 90-day maturity model for regulated AI adoption Culture, training, and trust as the real control surface “There isn’t a great model for ROI in security… I think of it as downtime, reputational risk, lost revenue, and the cost of fines per record.” — Parrish Gunnels  If you’re in a regulated space — banking, healthcare, insurance, public sector — and trying to balance innovation with compliance, this one’s your blueprint.  🎧 Subscribe to stay in The Loop  🔗 Connect with Parrish on LinkedIn  🔗 Follow Jo for more executive AI + cyber insights  See you in the Loop.

    12 min
  2. Talk Dollars, Not FUD: The CISO’s New Mandate

    OCT 28

    Talk Dollars, Not FUD: The CISO’s New Mandate

    Episode Description: In this episode of ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson sits down with John Carse, Field CISO at SquareX and former CISO at Dyson and Rakuten, to talk about why modern CISOs must move beyond fear, uncertainty, and doubt — and start quantifying risk in business terms.  Carse explains how two levers — risk appetite and budget alignment — determine every security decision, and why the browser has become the new edge of enterprise risk. From AI prompt attacks to malicious extensions, Carse offers a practical blueprint for translating security posture into measurable business impact.  🎧 Listen to the full episode: ADD LINK 📬 Stay in the Loop: Subscribe for new episodes and resources — ADD LINK  Key Topics Covered:  Why “talking dollars, not FUD” earns board trust The connection between risk appetite and budget allocation The browser as the modern enterprise perimeter How the Field CISO role bridges business and technology Practical ways CISOs can quantify risk and value About the Guest: John Carse is a three-time CISO and currently serves as Field CISO at SquareX, helping enterprises defend against browser-based threats and translate security strategy into business impact. His previous roles include CISO positions at Dyson and Rakuten and security leadership at Expedia and JPMorgan Chase.  Additional Resources  Security Magazine: John Carse hired as Field CISO at SquareX The CISO Perspective with John Carse Podcast The Browser Blind Spot: Rethinking Enterprise Security

    23 min
  3. The Integration Imperative: Why AI Starts (and Succeeds) With webMethods Hybrid Integration | ClearTech Loop x IBM

    OCT 23

    The Integration Imperative: Why AI Starts (and Succeeds) With webMethods Hybrid Integration | ClearTech Loop x IBM

    AI doesn’t fail because of bad models — it fails because of broken connections. Jo Peterson and David Linthicum unpack how IBM’s webMethods Hybrid Integration unites data, applications, and automation for AI that actually delivers.  Episode Description:  When it comes to AI success, it’s not just about the model — it’s about the movement of data.  In this episode of ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson sits down with David Linthicum, Chief Analyst at Linthicum Research, to discuss why AI can’t scale without a strong integration backbone — and how IBM’s webMethods Hybrid Integration is changing that conversation.  They explore:  The five major challenges facing enterprise architects today Why AI fails without connected systems How webMethods Hybrid Integration bridges on-prem and cloud environments The shift from integration as “plumbing” to integration as “infrastructure” Real-world examples of companies modernizing safely and quickly David breaks down the patterns and pitfalls of enterprise integration — and why solving them is the foundation for secure, sustainable AI growth.  Guest:  David Linthicum  Chief Analyst, Linthicum Research  Host:  Jo Peterson  Chief Analyst, ClearTech Research  Subscribe to ClearTech Loop Newsletter: https://form.typeform.com/to/EESYYt4a

    7 min
  4. Bumpers, Not Brakes: Pragmatic AI Safety with Dutch Schwartz

    OCT 21

    Bumpers, Not Brakes: Pragmatic AI Safety with Dutch Schwartz

    AI safety isn’t about slowing innovation — it’s about steering smarter. In this episode of ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson sits down with Dutch Schwartz, Vice President of Cloud Services and fractional CISO at SideChannel, to talk about how CISOs can keep delivery velocity while adding the guardrails that actually reduce risk.  Dutch shares real-world lessons from the Cloud Security Alliance’s AI Safety Initiative — where both he and Jo serve as members — and explains how pre-approved AI patterns and identity governance are key to responsible innovation.  “It’s not about slamming on the brakes; it’s about putting up bumpers so you can move fast without ending up in the gutter.” — Dutch Schwartz  If you’re leading AI adoption inside your organization, this episode breaks down how to build controls that accelerate outcomes, not bureaucracy.  Timestamps  00:00 – Intro: What ClearTech Loop is and who Dutch Schwartz is  01:27 – Dutch’s background and role at SideChannel  03:13 – The “chaos manager” mindset in cybersecurity  04:13 – What makes the CSA AI Safety Initiative different  05:57 – How early AI adoption mirrors cultural waves  06:37 – The “bumpers, not brakes” analogy explained  08:15 – Why non-human identities will define the next phase of AI governance  10:02 – Translating CSA frameworks into practical, recoverable steps  12:15 – The quick hits CISOs need today  13:18 – Jo’s closing reflections and invitation to continue the conversation  Resources & Links  CSA AI Safety Initiative: https://cloudsecurityalliance.org/ai-safety-initiative CSA White Paper: AI Matrix Controls Previous Episode: The CSA AI Safety Initiative with George Finney Related Read by Dutch: Securing generative AI: Applying relevant security controls Guest: Dutch Schwartz — VP of Cloud Services and fractional CISO at SideChannel  Host: Jo Peterson — Chief Analyst, ClearTech Research  CTA Footer: ClearTech Loop is where AI, cloud, and security intersect — hosted by Jo Peterson.  New episodes drop weekly. See you in the Loop.

    14 min
  5. The CSA AI Safety Initiative with George Finney

    OCT 14

    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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
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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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