TechSpective Podcast Tony Bradley
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- Technology
The editor-in-chief of TechSpective, Tony Bradley, spotlights interesting products and knowledgeable experts. Each week we will invite a guest or guests to join us to chat. We might talk about breaking news from the tech world in general, or products and research, or upcoming events. We might just talk about Star Wars vs. Star Trek, Marvel vs. DC, or Xbox vs. PS4.
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Basic Understanding of Code Is a Fundamental Life Skill
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. -
How Generative AI is Redefining Creativity and Opportunities
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. -
Detecting Anomalies with ‘Project Caspian’
TechSpective Podcast Episode 126
Between the persistent cadence of new technology and expansion of the attack surface, and the constant evolution of the threat landscape, organizations face a daunting task. Cybersecurity teams are faced with an overwhelming amount of information and alerts and it's their job to find the proverbial "needle in a haystack." Except, the needle isn't in a haystack. The needle is in a large pile of other needles--and the objective is to figure out which needles matter or which needles post the most significant threat so they can be prioritized and addressed.
No problem, right?
Well, no. It is very much a problem. Thankfully, we have machine learning (ML) to do the heavy lifting. ML can be used to sift through mountains of data in a fraction of a fraction of the time it would take a human (or humans) to do so manually, and quickly identify events that deserve greater scrutiny. It gives cybersecurity teams a manageable starting point.
That is the goal of Adobe's "Project Caspian." There are two research papers related to "Project Caspian" if you want to get down into the weeds and understand the details behind it. I perused the research papers, but I decided it would be better and easier to just invite Hayden Beadles, Senior Security ML Engineer, and Jericho Cain, Senior Staff Data Scientist, to join me on the TechSpective Podcast to talk about "Project Caspian."
Check out the full episode for more on detecting anomalies and improving cybersecurity with machine learning. There is also a brief digression when I suggest that we need a whole separate podcast with Jericho just to chat about physics and a plug for Andy Weir books ("Project Hail Mary" is the title I couldn't think of during the podcast. Excellent book. I highly recommend it).
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. -
Strategic Decision-Making: Balancing Budgets and Security
TechSpective Podcast Episode 125
Cybersecurity is cyclical. Over the past two decades that I have been working in and writing about security, the market has gone from an array of point solutions to consolidated "Swiss Army knife" platforms that do it all and back again. It seems like we are in a consolidation phase right now.
My friend Wolf Goerlich joins me on this episode of the TechSpective podcast to discuss the dynamics of the cybersecurity industry and the challenges organizations face. Wolf is an Advisory CISO with Cisco, bringing a wealth of experience and insight from his past endeavors consulting and establishing apprenticeships, security conferences, and communities. Wolf is widely respected as an ambassador of the industry--emphasizing support for both current and next-generation professionals in the cybersecurity field.
In the podcast, we talk about the ebb and flow of the cybersecurity market and how companies often spring up to solve very specific use cases that are valuable for organizations but often make more sense as a feature of a product or platform rather than a separate tool to implement and manage.
We also talk about the challenges CISOs face in balancing budgetary constraints and cybersecurity product selection to achieve the desired security outcomes and the role of strategic priorities in shaping an organization's cybersecurity product portfolio. Of course, we also have to talk about the "elephant in the room" (and crashing through the walls and dancing down the street): ransomware.
Check out the full episode for more on innovations and evolution in the cybersecurity space. Wolf and I--both being from the Detroit area--also discuss the triumphs and tragedies of Detroit sports teams and the amazing success of the Detroit Lions this season.
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. -
Cybersecurity Insights from a VC Perspective
TechSpective Podcast Episode 124
The technology and cybersecurity markets have been a bit rocky over the past couple years. At least, that seems to be the general perception. Companies once on track to IPO have withered on the vine, and organizations of all sizes have laid off tens of thousands and scaled back initiatives to conserve capital in a rough economy. At the same time, though, there have been investments, and there have been mergers and acquisitions. New companies and technologies have emerged. It's not all gloom and doom.
Kate Burkhardt, VP at YL Ventures, joins me on this episode to talk about the state of the cybersecurity market--particularly as it relates to cybersecurity jobs, the prevailing belief that there are millions of unfilled roles, and the role of venture capital. We scrutinize the validity of the perceived skills shortage, considering how economic factors and job market dynamics might paint a different picture.
Our conversation also explores how AI is reshaping cybersecurity roles, emphasizing the importance of adapting to AI tools for enhanced productivity and job security. Finally, we touch on the global nature of cybersecurity challenges, reflecting on how geopolitical events and natural disasters can affect the industry and the necessity of having robust strategies to maintain business continuity.
Check out the full episode for more on the cybersecurity job market and perspective on the cybersecurity investment landscape. We also chat about the scourge of ransomware and the rise of more effective phishing attacks and whether there are companies or technologies on the horizon to provide more effective defense against these attacks.
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. -
Harnessing AI for a Better Customer Experience
TechSpective Podcast Episode 123
Customer experience is crucial for the success of a brand. However, it can be costly for a company to properly staff and train agents to address customer needs, and it is often a maddening exercise for customers seeking help. Generative AI may hold the key to solving both ends of that equation and delivering better results for both the company and the customers. Naomi Nuta, VP of Marketing at Cogito, joins this episode of the TechSpective Podcast to talk about the impact of AI on customer service and how brands can enhance and improve their competitive advantage by leveraging artificial intelligence tools.
Naomi first realized the value of emotion in communications through her work at Nielsen, where she helped establish a custom research organization that leveraged consumer neuroscience to help Fortune 100 consumer brands and media organizations produce emotionally resonant advertising. Before that, Naomi represented WPP’s BCW, a global communications agency, where she developed a foundational program to ensure that market research informed every client’s account strategy.
Check out the full episode for more on the power of artificial intelligence to enhance customer experience and strengthen a company brand. We also get into some of the (VERY) frustrating experiences of reaching out to customer service to troubleshoot an issue and being forced to walk through a flow chart of basic steps you've already tried twice by someone who knows far less than you do about the issue or technology in the first place. But, maybe that's just me.
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.