Compromising Positions - A Technology Podcast

Compromising Positions
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The award-winning tech podcast that asks : "Are we the ones breaking the world?" Most tech podcasts are an echo chamber for builders. We step outside. We talk to the observers, the social scientists, and the deep thinkers who study the friction we create and the human systems we disrupt. Lianne Potter and Jeff Watkins strip away the industry fluff and pit academic research against the harsh reality of real organisations and real human incentives. We don’t just talk about AI, security, and automation; we explore the unintended consequences of our own "elegant" solutions. We’re here to look at tech through a different lens and ask the uncomfortable questions that the industry usually avoids. Because if you’ve built a system that has become everyone else's problem, you have to ask: "Am I the compromising position here?"

  1. From Dark Triads to Patriotic Hackers: Human Maliciousness in Cybersecurity

    JAN 29

    From Dark Triads to Patriotic Hackers: Human Maliciousness in Cybersecurity

    Is cybersecurity just a technical problem, or a human one? In this episode, we debut our new format: bridging the gap between deep academic research and boots-on-the-ground security practice. We dive into Zoe M. King et al., 2018 paper, "Characterising and Measuring Maliciousness for Cybersecurity Risk Assessment," to uncover why we need to stop looking at code and start looking at intent. From the "Dark Triad" of personality traits to the rise of the "patriotic hacker" in global geopolitics, we peel back the layers of the human onion to understand what actually drives a person to cause harm. In This Episode, We Discuss: The Maliciousness Assessment Metric (MAM): Why traditional risk assessments fail by ignoring "intent to harm" and how to integrate human factors into your security posture. The Four Layers of Maliciousness: A deep dive into the Individual, Micro, Meso, and Macro levels—from personal psychology to national narratives. Hacking as Patriotism: How cultural contexts in the US, Russia, and China dictate whether a hacker is seen as a criminal or a hero. The "War Games" Effect: How 80s cinema shaped US cybersecurity legislation (CFAA) and continues to influence public perception. Insider Threats & Organizational Hygiene: Why disgruntlement is a security vulnerability and how the "Principle of Least Privilege" is your best defense. Risk as a Moral Construct: Why the risks your company chooses to mitigate reveal your organisation's true values and concept of justice. Show Notes Characterizing and Measuring Maliciousness for Cybersecurity Risk Assessment by Zoe M. King et al., featured in the journal Frontiers in Psychology (2018) Risk and Blame: Essays in Cultural Theory by Mary Douglas Risk and Culture: An Essay on the Selection of Technological and Environmental Dangers by Mary Douglas and Aaron Wildavsky

    46 min
  2. Hack the Movies! The Best and Worst Hacker Movies Reviewed Part 2!

    11/21/2024

    Hack the Movies! The Best and Worst Hacker Movies Reviewed Part 2!

    Did you know the best way to bring down hackers is to punch them in the face? That if you don’t have a seven screen set up you’re a rogue amateur? Or that the best hackers have fins? This Episode we are joined by Simon Painter a senior software engineer with nearly 20 years of experience in the industry and author of the book Functional Programming with C#. In this episode, Hack The Movies! The Best And Worst Hacker Movies Part 2! Our regular programming has been hijacked to bring you a discussion on the best, and worst, hacker movies! In this episode we cover The Beekeeper (2024), Swordfish (2001), Jonny Mnemonic (1995), Paper Man (1971) and The Italian Job (1969). So boot up that modem, turn off the lights and enter the deepest darkest web of hacker forums, and try not overload your memory bank, as we explore this sometimes brilliant and sometimes bonkers sub-genre! Show Notes A Developer Goes to The Movies! Simon’s fantastic history on how technology features in films Paper Man (1971) About SIMON PAINTER With nearly 20 years of software engineering experience across various industries, Simon is a Senior Software Engineer at Talos360. Simon is also a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) since 2023, an O'Reilly technical book author, and a public speaker at IT events worldwide. His core competencies include C#, JavaScript, React.js, and Microsoft Azure, as well as ITIL and computer security. LINKS FOR SIMON PaINTER Simon’s Website Simon’s Linkedin Simon’s Book, Functional Programming with C#

    1h 20m
  3. CFO Secrets: How to Secure Your Cybersecurity Budget

    11/14/2024

    CFO Secrets: How to Secure Your Cybersecurity Budget

    We all know running a cybersecurity function is expensive and many of us have a hard time successfully negotiating the budgets we need to keep our organisation safe. But what if we let you in on the secrets of successfully securing your cybersecurity budget? This week we are joined by Scott Robertson, CFO of CreateFuture and he gives us the insights on what you should ask for when it comes to your next yearly budget, how to ask for it and crucially (because timing is everything when it comes to money!) when to ask for it! Key Takeaways: What Does a CFO do? A CFO is not just about managing financials but also safeguarding assets and ensuring future stability through effective risk management. Time Your Requests Strategically: Discover the optimal timing to approach your CFO for budget increases and how to align your requests with the organisation's financial planning. Quantify the Cost of Risk: Learn how to effectively communicate the potential financial impact of cyberattacks and the value of preventive measures. Build Strong Relationships: Cultivate relationships with key stakeholders, including the CFO and other executives, to foster trust and support. Prioritise and Justify: Identify critical security needs, prioritise investments, and present a compelling business case to secure the necessary budget.

    41 min
  4. Whose Responsibility Is It To Protect The Data? The Data Team Or The Cybersecurity Team?

    11/07/2024

    Whose Responsibility Is It To Protect The Data? The Data Team Or The Cybersecurity Team?

    The data landscape is changing faster than ever, and with it, the security threats - so whose responsibility is it to make sure your data is safe? Is it the data team? Or is it the cyber team? We tackle this question and more with Head of Data at AND Digital, Tim Hatton. From leveraging AI to secure data to the importance of real user testing, to how Tim threat models his client’s data capability, you won’t want to skip this ever-important topic! We also talk about ‘data mesh’ and if you’re not familiar with that term - it’s a data management framework that decentralises data ownership and responsibility to the teams that use the data. The idea is to make data more accessible and available to business users by directly connecting data owners, data producers, and data consumers. So you can see why we thought that was an important topic to cover because, with this model, comes a lot of trust in others doing the right thing when it comes to data security! So you won’t want to ‘mesh it up’ if people are following this framework in your organisation. Key Takeaways: Test User Journeys with Real People: Assumptions don't cut it—Tim emphasizes the importance of validating user journeys with real-world testing to ensure effective data usage. AI and the Data Deluge: Friend or Foe? We explore the booming trend of AI in data management, but also ask the tough questions: Can AI be used for good in cybersecurity? Can it even help solve cold cases? Holistic Data Security Assessments: Discover Tim's approach to assessing clients' data capabilities and security, involving both data and cybersecurity teams for comprehensive protection. Maturity Matters: Responsibility for Data Protection. Tim reveals a surprising trend - immature organizations might have stricter controls! Discover how your organization's maturity level defines data security ownership. The Future of Self-Sovereign Data: Explore the concept of self-sovereign data and why it might be the future of personal data management and security. Show Notes Book - Wicked Beyond Belief (The one I mistakenly said was Helter Skelter) An Article on Self-Sovereign Data About Tim Hatton Tim Hatton has been working in digital since before it was called digital.  Over the course of his career, he has worked on data and digital transformation projects for some of the biggest companies in the world. He joined AND Digital in 2016 and is currently Head of Data.  At AND he has worked on data strategy projects for clients in industries including finance, travel, publishing and retail as well as for several government departments. Tim joined AND from Accenture Digital, and prior to this Tim ran his own digital marketing agency for many years, and co-founded a number of dotcom start-ups during the 1990s, none of which made him a millionaire but all of which taught him a great deal. Tim is a regular speaker on digital topics at AND Digital events, for AND’s clients and in the media. LINKS FOR Tim Hatton Tim’s LinkedIn

    44 min
  5. People Don't Follow Companies, They Follow People: How to Build Your Personal Brand on LinkedIn

    10/31/2024

    People Don't Follow Companies, They Follow People: How to Build Your Personal Brand on LinkedIn

    LinkedIn is very divisive! Some people love it, and others hate it and everything it stands for. And if you’ve ever hangout on the subreddit, LinkedIn lunatics, then you can see why. Now for all the braggarts and the ‘what working during my wedding taught me about b2b sales’ posts, there is a lot to like about LinkedIn and many opportunities to be had…if you do it right! We can all learn how to be good LinkedIn citizens, So if you’re LinkedIn has two followers, or 20,000, there is plenty to be getting your ears around in this conversation with John Moore -the question is…have you endorsed me yet? Key Takeaways: Why Humour Makes You Human (and Helps You Get Hired): Ditch the cringe! Learn how humour can break the ice and make your cybersecurity expertise more relatable. Building Your Personal Brand Brick by Brick: Discover John's three-pronged approach to building a lasting LinkedIn legacy (think Time, Effort, and Commitment!). Embrace the Journey: Failure is Fertilizer (But Not Fertilizer for Your Profile): Don't shy away from sharing lessons learned. The Power of Storytelling: Learn how to craft compelling narratives that resonate with your audience and build genuine connections. LinkedIn as Your Digital Shopfront: Make sure your profile shines! Show Notes Negotiate Anything Podcast Humour is Serious Business in Cybersecurity Compliance About John Moore John C. Moore brings over two decades of dynamic experience in recruitment and operations management to his role at TekBank. With a keen eye for talent assessment and acquisition, John has mastered the art of full-cycle recruitment, excelling in sourcing, screening, and onboarding top-tier candidates. His expertise extends across diverse areas, including IT recruitment for commercial and government sectors. LINKS FOR John Moore John’s LinkedIn TekBank

    50 min
  6. Cha, Cha, Cha Changes! How to Get Excited About Organisational Change

    10/23/2024

    Cha, Cha, Cha Changes! How to Get Excited About Organisational Change

    No new episode this week because we’re are both speaking at the AI for the Rest of Us conference this week. So instead we’ve hit up the vaults for the wonderful  Paula Cizek, Chief Research Officer at Nobl. She guides leaders and teams through the change management process, from assessing the organization’s readiness for change to implementing initiatives. In this episode, we explore the fascinating topic of Corporate Change and how its lessons can be applied to cybersecurity. Normal service resumes next week but for now keep secure! Show Notes Asana’s guide to running Project Pre-mortems How to “Start with the Skateboard” - Spotify Explaining Fail save vs Safe to Fail changes - NOBL Barriers to Change - NOBL How long does it take to make organisational change? NOBL Complexity Science Explained - Complexity Explained An introduction to Network theory Blending Complexity Science and Network Theory Disentangling Risk and Uncertainty: When Risk-Taking Measures Are Not About Risk Negotiation Tips - Getting Comfortable being Uncomfortable Psychological Safety - McKinsey About Paula Cizek Paula Cizek is the Chief Research Officer of NOBL, where she guides organizations through large-scale transformation. A thought leader in change management and change resistance, she specializes in translating complex concepts into simple, practical tactics that deliver immediate and meaningful change. Before joining NOBL, she was Innovation Manager at the IPG Media Lab, advising brand and media clients on emerging technology. Prior to that, she was Senior Innovation Consultant at Mandalah, where she led consumer behavior and brand strategy research for brands around the world. She's worked with a diverse roster of clients including Warner Bros., Chanel, Capital One, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Airbnb, Chipotle, Grupo Bimbo, and more, and she's been published or quoted in publications like BrandingMag and Women's Wear Daily. She graduated from Georgetown University, majoring in Marketing and International Business. LINKS FOR Paula Cizek Paula’s LinkedIn NOBL

    44 min
  7. Tips On How To Be A Top-Class Cybersecurity Student And Get Your First Cybersecurity Job!

    10/16/2024

    Tips On How To Be A Top-Class Cybersecurity Student And Get Your First Cybersecurity Job!

    Dreaming of a career in Cybersecurity? Currently a Student and wondering how to succeed? In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Thalita Vergilio. Thalita is a passionate technologist and cybersecurity expert dedicated to demystifying complex concepts. This episode is for those dreaming of a thrilling career in cybersecurity as Thalita gives her roadmap for success from cybersecurity student to your first job in cyber.  She also highlights where cybersecurity professionals can do better now that she’s on the other side, working with developers as a consultant at Create Future. So it’s not just an episode for students!  Key Takeaways: From Consultant to Lecturer to Consultant Again!: Thalita shares her unconventional path, including hacking into the university system as part of her job interview! Are Universities REALLY Preparing Students for the Real World of Cyber? Spoiler alert: It's a complex issue, and Dr. Vergilio spills the tea and makes a bee-line for lecturer of the year (in our opinion!) What Qualities Do The Best Cybersecurity Students Have?: Learn about the skills and experiences that make a good cybersecurity student, including passion for the subject, tenacity, and resilience. From Academic to Action: Industry Skills You NEED to Know to Get Your First Job in Cyber: Your education is just the start, so in this competitive market, what are you going to do to stand out? Bridging the Cyber-Engineering Gap: Developers must be aware of the security implications of their code to avoid vulnerabilities, so how do you go about doing that? Show Notes About Dr. Thalita Vergilio Dr. Thalita Vergilio is a passionate technologist and cybersecurity expert dedicated to demystifying complex concepts. Her extensive experience in organisational transformations and streamlining large-scale systems provides a unique perspective on the intersection of engineering and cybersecurity. Having previously worked as a Senior Lecturer, Thalita is keen to share her knowledge and insights, making complex technical concepts accessible to a broad audience. Her doctoral research focused on developing a vendor-agnostic, multi-cloud solution for big data stream processing, showcasing her expertise in innovative and efficient data management strategies. Through this podcast, she aims to explore the fascinating world of cybersecurity, drawing on her PhD research and teaching background to offer valuable perspectives and practical insights. LINKS FOR Dr. Thalita Vergilio LinkedIn

    42 min
  8. Are Our Cybersecurity Controls Inclusive? Going Beyond Hiring When It Comes to Diversity in Cybersecurity

    10/09/2024

    Are Our Cybersecurity Controls Inclusive? Going Beyond Hiring When It Comes to Diversity in Cybersecurity

    This episode we are joined by Marcy Charollois.  Marcy is a socialtech writer, content strategist, and the founder of Merci Marcy and The Safe Place. Her mission is to enable teams to embody a culture of genuine inclusion beyond superficial measures. This week we explore the complex, important, and under-discussed topic of diversity, equity and inclusion in cybersecurity. As an industry, we do an alright job talking about hiring diversity in cyber, but that is not where the topic should end. With more and more people from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities interacting with our security controls, we need to think about whether the security measures we put in place are accessible. We explore how can make a more accessible cybersecurity user journey, design inclusive password patterns, how to be an ally in this space and make sure that we always act ethically when we think about security.  This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in creating a more equitable and effective cybersecurity landscape. Key Takeaways: Inclusive Security Controls: Marcy explains why diversity and inclusion should be integral to our security controls. It’s not just about who we hire but how we design our systems to be inclusive for all users. Purposeful Technology: Avoid creating technology for technology’s sake. Always consider the end-users and their diverse needs to ensure the technology serves everyone effectively. Inclusive Passwords: Traditional password systems can be exclusionary. Marcy discusses how we can make password fields more accessible and inclusive, particularly for those with disabilities. The Coded Gaze: Our current coding practices often reflect a narrow societal view, excluding many groups. Marcy urges the adoption of accessible design practices to create better security solutions. Allyship and Continuous Improvement: Being an ally involves continuous learning, listening, and taking concrete actions. Marcy provides a recipe for inclusive UX to help check biases and improve user experiences for marginalised communities. Show Notes Marcy’s Talk at WebDevCon - Racism Fuels User Experiences Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What is Human in a World of Machines by Joy Buolamwini Alba Villamil’s LinkedIn W3.Org’s Accessibility Standards for Authentication About Marcy Charollois Marcy Charoloois is a social tech writer, content strategist, and the founder of Merci Marcy and The Safe Place. She served as the editor-in-chief of WeLoveDevs for two years, where she made history as the first woman, as well as the first racialised and LGBTQIA+ woman, to be hired. Recognising the lack of representation for people like herself in the tech industry, Marcy took a committed stance to promote diversity. She is dedicated to breaking through the pretence of corporate values and advocating for real cohesion within teams. Her mission is to enable teams to embody a culture of genuine inclusion beyond superficial measures. LINKS FOR Marcy CHarollois LinkedIn Blue Sky

    48 min
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The award-winning tech podcast that asks : "Are we the ones breaking the world?" Most tech podcasts are an echo chamber for builders. We step outside. We talk to the observers, the social scientists, and the deep thinkers who study the friction we create and the human systems we disrupt. Lianne Potter and Jeff Watkins strip away the industry fluff and pit academic research against the harsh reality of real organisations and real human incentives. We don’t just talk about AI, security, and automation; we explore the unintended consequences of our own "elegant" solutions. We’re here to look at tech through a different lens and ask the uncomfortable questions that the industry usually avoids. Because if you’ve built a system that has become everyone else's problem, you have to ask: "Am I the compromising position here?"

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