The Cyber Business Podcast

Matthew Connor
The Cyber Business Podcast

Welcome to The Cyber Business Podcast where we feature top founders and entrepreneurs and share their inspiring stories.

  1. 1 NOV.

    Christos Ruci on Building Resilient Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure

    In This Episode In this episode, Matthew Connor hosts Christos Ruci, CIO of Limbach, as they discuss the critical overlap between infrastructure and cybersecurity. Christos shares his unique career path—from AOL customer support to CIO of a national building solutions provider—highlighting how each role shaped his approach to IT leadership. At Limbach, he has adopted a business-first perspective, ensuring that every technology decision aligns with company strategy and mission. A central focus of the conversation is Christos’s proactive approach to cybersecurity, especially his effective use of tabletop exercises. Recognizing the impact of a potential cyber incident on critical environments like hospitals and data centers, he organized a comprehensive tabletop exercise with Limbach’s C-level executives and board members. This hands-on method created urgency and buy-in, setting the foundation for Limbach’s robust three-year cybersecurity strategy. Christos also discusses the importance of fostering a security-conscious company culture, with regular phishing tests and cybersecurity training emphasized from the top down. Supporting his mission, he collaborates with Inspire CIO, a peer-led organization that fosters professional growth and shared industry wisdom. Christos advocates for a balanced approach that leverages both internal development and external expertise, enhancing Limbach’s cybersecurity resilience and operational success.

    33 min
  2. 28 OCT.

    Cybersecurity in Healthcare: J.D. Whitlock on Protecting Patient Data

    In this episode, Matthew Connor engages with J.D. Whitlock, Chief Information Officer of Dayton Children’s Hospital, to explore the unique demands of nonprofit healthcare technology. J.D. shares his career journey from Navy officer to healthcare administrator, and finally to CIO, where his strategic approach drives the hospital’s technological and security advancements. In a nonprofit setting, he faces the dual challenge of maintaining high standards in technology while working within resource limitations, always balancing the mission of patient care with the need for robust cybersecurity. J.D. offers an in-depth perspective on the financial challenges in healthcare, particularly as labor costs have surged post-pandemic. He explains how essential donor support is for expanding critical services like adolescent behavioral health. Emphasizing cybersecurity, he details how Dayton Children's employs active monitoring and risk assessment to safeguard against potential breaches, a necessity as hospitals are increasingly targeted by ransomware attacks. Additionally, J.D. reflects on his consulting work, where he assists health tech startups in understanding the complexities of entering the healthcare market. His insights provide a valuable guide for companies aiming to navigate the healthcare landscape. In closing, J.D. speaks to his mission-driven role, where his commitment extends beyond IT to foster a culture centered on patient safety, resilience, and care—a focus he and his team uphold every day.

    34 min
  3. 21 OCT.

    Crafting an Agile IT Strategy: Sarfraz Shaikh on Risk Management and Driving Continuous Improvement

    In this episode… Sarfraz Shaikh shares his unique journey from working in marketing and communications to leading the IT department at One Mesa. With an educational background in IT, Sarfraz was able to leverage his technical knowledge and communication skills to help shape the company’s IT strategies during a time of growth. Starting in a loosely structured environment, Sarfraz played a crucial role in developing a more formalized IT department, building a roadmap for the company’s hardware, software, and cybersecurity needs. He emphasizes the importance of alignment between IT and business objectives, especially in an industry as dynamic as oil and gas, where One Mesa operates across three distinct business units. Sarfraz also dives into the value of frameworks like the ISO 9001 certification and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, explaining how they provide a structured approach to managing risk and improving processes across the organization. He describes how these standards ensure not only compliance but also foster continuous improvement, pushing the company to measure and demonstrate real results. In addition, Sarfraz discusses the concept of “strategic agility,” where IT teams must stay nimble and responsive to rapidly changing technological landscapes. He highlights the intersection of agility and compliance, noting that IT departments must act as enablers, supporting the company’s growth while maintaining strong cybersecurity measures. By understanding industry trends and focusing on collaboration across departments, Sarfraz has been able to implement solutions that drive efficiency and security while adapting to new challenges.

    41 min
  4. 11 OCT.

    Alex Campbell on Cybersecurity and Innovation: Leading Healthy Planet's Retail Evolution

    In this Episode: In this episode, Alex Campbell shares his journey from Zimbabwe to Canada, with stops along the way in Europe, where he gained experience in a wide array of industries, eventually leading to his current role at Healthy Planet. Alex talks about the evolution of Healthy Planet from a small family-run health store to a well-known Canadian retail chain, with over 30 stores, as they continue to expand their footprint. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining operational efficiency while implementing new technology solutions, such as AI and automation, to improve customer experience. Alex goes in-depth on the latest innovations at Healthy Planet, including their use of AutoStore, a high-efficiency automated warehousing solution that helps reduce operational costs while boosting online store throughput. He also highlights how Healthy Planet is integrating AI into customer interactions, potentially leveraging data from membership cards to deliver personalized advice and services. With a vision focused on the future, Alex discusses the importance of balancing day-to-day IT management while planning for strategic growth over the next few years. Alex's insights on cybersecurity are particularly relevant, as he explains how even well-established companies are facing unprecedented challenges in the digital age. He stresses that while technology brings numerous benefits, companies must also build security into their infrastructure from the beginning, rather than as an afterthought. Alex explains the delicate balance between the cost of security and its importance, noting that investment in cybersecurity is a protective measure that companies can’t afford to ignore.

    1 h 6 min
  5. 7 OCT.

    Mastering Remote IT and Cybersecurity with Evan Jost

    In this Episode Evan Jost brings a unique blend of experience from the military and corporate sectors. As an IT manager at HighLevel, Evan’s transition from managing on-site aviation infrastructure to a global, remote workforce presents a fascinating journey. He shares how HighLevel’s integrated platform offers affordable solutions for businesses, especially when compared to competitors like HubSpot, without sacrificing quality or functionality. Evan discusses how his prior role involved managing physical assets across multiple locations, dealing with everything from security cameras to fiber-optic networks. In contrast, his current role at HighLevel allows him to manage IT remotely, which has brought about a new set of challenges, especially in global procurement and asset management. Evan delves into the complexities of managing a distributed workforce, touching on the difficulties of ensuring timely hardware delivery and maintaining operational efficiency across different continents. He highlights the value of strong partnerships with vendors like Workwise, which helps streamline asset procurement in various countries. The conversation also covers the significant learning curve that comes with switching from Windows-based systems to a predominantly Mac environment, as well as the importance of mobile device management (MDM) systems like Intune for maintaining security and operational consistency. In terms of cybersecurity, Evan emphasizes the need for vigilance and adaptability. With threats becoming more sophisticated, he explains the importance of early detection and rapid response, particularly in a remote work setting. As the conversation progresses, Evan shares his leadership philosophy, inspired by his military background. He believes in fostering team morale by shielding his employees from unnecessary stress and ensuring they have the resources they need to grow, both professionally and personally.

    56 min
  6. 30 SEPT.

    Building Quik!Forms: How Rich Walker Transformed Paperwork with Innovation and Perseverance

    In This Episode... Rich Walker takes us through the fascinating journey of building Quik!Forms from the ground up. Initially starting with an Excel-based hack to automate financial forms for his clients, Rich soon realized the larger potential of creating a streamlined solution for an industry burdened with paperwork. Through sheer determination and technical innovation, he, alongside his mother (his technology partner), began building a software platform that would eventually manage over 41,000 forms for thousands of users. Rich emphasizes the value of perseverance, explaining that the early years were far from smooth. With only six customers in the first year, it would have been easy to give up, but his vision for the long term kept him going. The episode dives deep into the tough but necessary choices Rich had to make, such as selling his dream car and leveraging credit to keep the company afloat, showing the personal sacrifices often required in entrepreneurship. A key theme in the conversation is the importance of empowering others. Rich’s philosophy of enabling financial professionals to do their best work is not just a marketing slogan; it’s embedded in the core of Quik!Forms’ mission. This focus on user empowerment has driven the company’s growth, turning a software platform into a vital tool that saves users millions of hours and helps them stay focused on their core work, rather than getting bogged down in paperwork.

    41 min
  7. 13 SEPT.

    Navigating Cybersecurity Challenges in Financial Services with Geoff Moore

    In this episode of The Cyber Business Podcast, Matthew Connor welcomes Geoff Moore, Chief Information Officer at Valmark Financial Group, to delve into the complex world of cybersecurity in financial services. Geoff shares his experiences managing the intricate balance between regulatory compliance and the operational freedom of independent financial advisors. He explains how Valmark navigates the delicate line between offering flexibility to advisors while ensuring strict adherence to data protection standards imposed by regulators like the SEC and FINRA. Geoff introduces Valmark’s innovative "My Shield" platform, designed to consolidate critical cybersecurity information into an accessible report for advisors. He explains how the platform provides financial advisors with a clear, actionable overview of their cyber posture, simplifying the often-overwhelming task of cybersecurity management. By integrating these reports into their commission statements, Valmark ensures that advisors stay engaged with their cybersecurity health, boosting both visibility and accountability across the board. The conversation also explores broader trends in cybersecurity, from the rising threats of sophisticated AI-driven cyberattacks to the importance of adopting cutting-edge technologies like multi-factor authentication (MFA) and device authentication. Geoff offers valuable insights into how financial firms can protect themselves in an increasingly complex digital landscape while highlighting the importance of collaboration within the C-suite to drive security initiatives forward.

    42 min
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Welcome to The Cyber Business Podcast where we feature top founders and entrepreneurs and share their inspiring stories.

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