Security Sessions Podcast
For the latest on cloud & data security
Brought to you by Thales and hosted by
Steve Prentice
People & Technology Therapist
Steve Prentice is an accomplished writer and speaker with his expertise focusing primarily on the interaction of people and technology in the workplace. With a professional background in organizational psychology, project management, and journalism, he is in high demand as a keynote speaker, writer, and project leader.
In 1994 he founded the Bristall Company, which continues to deliver professional development workshops and soft-skills education to busy corporate teams across North America.
Steve is the author of three business books and one novel and has ghost-written 10 other books for industry leaders. He lectures regularly in the Management Program at Ontario Tech University, is a regular media guest on radio and TV across North America and consults to a variety of high-profile organizations mostly in the tech and financial sectors. His two key areas of focus are cybersecurity and the future of work.
Steve is also a busy voice actor, providing narration for corporate videos, audiobooks, and podcasts.
Academically, Steve graduated from Concordia University in Montreal in 1989 with a B.A. in Communications Studies and was Valedictorian of the 1989 graduating year. Steve attended Law School in Toronto between 1989 and 1991 and was the official Rhodes Scholarship Candidate for York University for 1991. He returned to York University 10 years later and obtained his degree in Psychology.
Contact information all available on his website: steveprentice.com
This podcast series explores the technologies, people, and processes behind information security. We’ll delve into topics like data security, remote access and digital transformation, as well as the people and technology that make it all work behind the scenes. We’ll speak to Thales and industry experts to bring you fresh perspectives on how to navigate the world of cloud security.
We invite you to subscribe to Security Sessions, a podcast bringing you insights from industry experts on the latest cloud & data security news and trends.
Listen to the Latest Podcast
The Eternal Sunshine of the Criminal Mind
Series 3 / Episode 2
When you are a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Cybercriminals continue to succeed in discovering flaws and weaknesses in every connected technology. From zero days to SQL injection, what most people see as technology designed to perform a specific task, they see as a door, a window, or even a simple crack through which they can gain access.
On this episode, host Steve Prentice talks with Amanda Widdowson, Head of Human Factors Capability at Thales UK, and Freaky Clown, the co-CEO and Co-Founder, Head of Ethical Hacking at Cygenta about what makes the criminal mind so good at thinking outside the box, and more importantly, how we can develop those skills inside security professionals, senior managers, and everyday people.
Learn More about The Working of the Criminal Mind.
Our Guest Speakers
Amanda WiddowsonHead of Human Factors Capability at Thales UKAbout Amanda
Amanda is the Head of Human Factors Capability at Thales UK, and former President of the UK professional body; the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF). She has been applying Human Factors for over 25 years, mostly in the Defence and Rail sectors. Her experience as a human error analyst in rail safety incident investigations, and project work at Thales, allowed her to develop and apply an award-winning approach to capture human factors risks to cyber security; the Cyber Human Error Assessment Tool (CHEAT®). The approach was inspired by reports that the majority of cyber security incidents are caused inadvertently by employees.
linkedin.com/in/amanda-widdowson/FC, aka Freakyclownco-CEO and Co-Founder at CygentaAbout FC
Author, keynote speaker, Co-Founder of Cygenta and former Head of Offensive Cyber Research at Raytheon. As an ethical hacker for the last three decades, FC has helped thousands of banks, governments and other organisations advance their security.
He has shared his expertise in mainstream media, including the BBC and ITV, as well as popular industry podcasts such as Darknet Diaries (EP66). He has also been featured in printed media around the world educating people about cyber security from a hacker’s perspective.
Whilst FC is his memorable real name (it really is what's on his passport!), he is often better known by his hacker handle 'Freakyclown'. The name that was given to him by bullies as a schoolboy has now been turned into a positive alter ego for FC to educate the world on cyber security issues.
Listen to Previous Podcasts
Series 2 Podcasts
Episode 1: The 2021 Thales Access Management Index
The shift to remote working and the acceleration of cloud-based services have put a strain on identity and access management infrastructure. As remote access becomes the norm rather than the exception, many organisations need to evolve their security approaches in a world where there is no longer a defined perimeter, according to the 2021 Thales Access Management Index.
In this first Thales Security Sessions episode of series 2, François Lasnier, VP Authentication and Access Management Products at Thales, joins regular host, Neira Jones, to talk through the key findings of the report. They will discuss how COVID has introduced new security concerns around remote working, and explore some of the key challenges of trusted access in a cloud-first world.
Episode 2: Evolution of Cloud Security: From Shared Responsibility to Shared Fate
The rapid adoption of digital technologies and remote or hybrid working is now an accepted part of society. The pandemic forced companies to adapt swiftly and many have turned to the cloud to help their digital acceleration. According to McKinsey cloud adoption has been accelerated by three years compared to pre-pandemic adoption rates. Gartner is also estimating that spending on public cloud services will exceed $480 billion next year.
Bonus Episode: Optimizing Data Process with a Security Management Platform
Mapping data flow is a fundamental part of the enterprise data process. There's no way an organization can understand their data cycle without knowing where their data is located. Despite this, findings from the 2021 Data Threat Report by Thales reveals that only 24% of companies have complete knowledge of where their data is stored. With such strong ties between the two data operations, the numbers just aren't adding up - why?
Learn More About Optimizing Data Process with a Security Management Platform
Episode 3: The 2021 Thales Cloud Security Study
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated what has been a long-term broad adoption of cloud environments, including multicloud and hybrid deployments. Organizations need to extend and adapt their capabilities to take more control of their security efficiently and effectively in these new, dispersed environments, according to the 2021 Thales Cloud Security Study. The study is comprised of analysis from 451 Research, part of S&P Global Market Intelligence, and based on a survey commissioned by Thales of more than 2,600 security professionals worldwide. In this episode, Sol Cates, Principal Technologist at Thales, and regular host Neira Jones break down some of the key findings and statistics in the report.
Episode 4: The Future of Payments
The payments ecosystem has evolved tremendously over the past few years, raising the question: where will digital payment technologies take us in the future, and how does this affect retailers and financial services organizations? In this episode, Neira Jones is joined by Scott Abrahams, Senior Vice President Business Development & FinTech, United Kingdom and Ireland, International Markets at Mastercard and Simon Keates, Head of Strategy and Payment Security at Thales to discuss the major challenges retailers and other financial services organizations are facing.
Episode 5: Trends & Predictions for 2022 – More of the Same?
For two years now, organizations have been trying to adapt to pandemic driven change. So what can we expect to see in 2022 and how have the many aspects of this change impacted the security landscape? For this episode, Neira Jones is joined by Ashvin Kamaraju, CTO and Vice President Engineering at Thales Cloud Protection & Licensing and Andy Green, CISO at Gemserv.
Episode 6: Digital Identities and Digital Security - Is the Future of Digital Identity Safe?
As we continue to live our lives remotely, never has the importance of being able to distinguish between genuine and fraudulent interactions been more felt. Digital identities, how we create them and how we protect them is at the epicenter of this change. In this episode, Asaf Lerner, Director, Product Management at Thales Cloud Protection & Licensing and Uri Rivner, Founder & CEO, at Regutize join our host Neira Jones to answer the question – are our digital identities really safe?
Bonus Episode: The Rise of the Sovereign Cloud
There are now more than 1,800 data compliance laws companies must comply with on a global scale. This surge in regulation is creating a shift towards the containment and localization of data and we will continue to see this more and more in the years to come. The public will become increasingly aware of these challenges too, with individual data sovereignty on the horizon. This will allow individuals to control where their data is and how it is used, strengthening the correlation between identity and data protection. In this bonus podcast episode, Rob Elliss, Vice President of Sales, EMEA at Thales Cloud Security joins Neil Hughes to discuss the rise of the sovereign cloud. They discuss how data sovereignty is not just about localization; it is ensuring that nation-states can store their data in their own country and control access to it.
Episode 7: The Convergence of IT/OT
In today’s world, highly connected cyber-physical systems are the norm, and the lines between information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) are becoming blurred. Attacking OT systems presents a major threat not only to business disruption, but also to national economy and security. So how can we strengthen the security posture of critical infrastructure? Joining our regular host, Neira Jones, for this episode are François Lasnier, VP Authentication and Access Management Products at Thales and Sid Shaffer, VP and Chief Delivery Officer at ITEGRITI.
Episode 8: Ransomware – To Pay, or Not to Pay?
Over the past few years, there has been an increasing number of ransomware attacks, often targeted towards critical infrastructure with the potential to create a national emergency. The extent and impact of these attacks has turned ransomware into a global problem, affecting both public and private organizations. In this episode we explore the typical style of ransomware attacks, look at who is carrying them out, and discuss some best practice protective strategies. Joining our regular host, Neira Jones, for this episode are Paul Chichester, Director of Operations of the UK National Cyber Security Centre, and Bob Burns, Chief Product Security Officer at Thales.
Learn More about The Best Ways to Protect Against Ransomware
Episode 9: The Rise of Cyber Insurance
As more businesses are becoming more digital, the number and type of cyber risks they are exposed to increases. As it becomes more a matter of when and not if an attack occurs, cyber insurance becomes crucial for ensuring business continuity and mitigating the business impact of attacks. In this episode, we discuss what we mean by cyber insurance, and why we are seeing more companies take out policies. We will also look at what types of threats are covered and how cyber insurance jurisdiction works across different regions. The experts joining Neira Jones for this episode are Danna Bethlehem, Product Marketing Director at Thales and Anthony Dagostino, CEO and Co-Founder, Converge.
Learn More about How Cyber Insurance Works and the Types of Threats it Covers
Episode 10: Can a federal data privacy bill save the day?
The rapid adoption of emerging technologies, the shift to hybrid working and the move to the cloud is greatly increasing efficiency while adding dynamic cybersecurity challenges for organizations. In the Americas, the introduction of various new legislations and regulations has added another layer of complexity for businesses trying to manage the cybersecurity landscape. For this episode, Kevin Williams, VP Americas Sales at Thales Cloud Protection and Licensing and Michael Bahar, Partner and Co-Lead of Global Cybersecurity and Data Privacy at Eversheds Sutherland, join Neira Jones to discuss the current cybersecurity, privacy and regulatory landscape in the Americas.
Episode 11: Exploring Consumer Trust in a Digital World
Our insatiable appetite for digital services has no sign of slowing down. But as we consume more and our digital footprints grows, we are presented with a mounting challenge – cyber security. In fact, today data breaches are so endemic that it could be argued that consumers are becoming numb to the effects – they change their passwords, get a few reassuring emails from the company and more often than not nothing comes of it. Of course, businesses will feel the impact, and perhaps after repeated breaches consumers might start getting worried, but is the idea that a large data breach could seal an organizations fate too far fetched? Joining Neira Jones to discuss the Thales Consumer Trust Index in this episode are Philippe Vallée, Executive Vice-President, Digital Identity and Security at Thales and Professor Carsten Maple, Professor of Cyber Systems Engineering and Director for Cyber Security Research, at the University of Warwick.
Episode 12: The Human Element of Cybersecurity
Over the past few years, the definition of the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) has changed as business environments have evolved. With digital transformation, cloud and hybrid working taking an increasingly dominant role in the day-to-day operations of the typical organization, the CISO has a unique and highly valuable role to play. However, a shortage of qualified IT workers at a time of high demand has put many leaders in a difficult situation – is there a so called “skills gap”? Or does the industry have an “attitude gap”? In this episode, regular host Neira Jones is joined by Ashvin Kamaraju, Vice President Engineering at Thales and Thom Langford, CISO at DXC Technology.
Series 1 Podcasts
Episode 1: Real Threats for Real People – What has the pandemic taught us?
Are businesses being forced into digital transformation too quickly and therefore cutting corners? How to businesses adapt to the changing threat vectors as more valuable data gets pushed further out into the infrastructure due to remote working? These are some of the questions we are exploring with guests Rick Robinson and Todd Moore.
Learn More About Remote Access Challenges and Insider Threat Security
Episode 2: More digital, more risk: where is the trust?
More digital, means more ecommerce, more digital payments, more financial fraud and cybercrime and ultimately more risk. Many organisations within the payment sector are being pushed into digitisation more quickly as they move to operate online to keep cash flow – without doing necessary due diligence on the best solution or vendor and with security not really on their agenda. These are some of the issues we are exploring with guests Arthur van der Merwe and Simon Keates.
Episode 3: Do you know who I am? The digital identity challenge
More digital also means more interactions where the various parties are interacting without knowing each other. This is linked to the much needed focus on digital identity, IAM, CIAM, authentication, behavioural analytics. Has the pandemic forced people’s perception of digital identity to change as they have been forced to accept the digital transformation in their own lives? Our host Neira Jones discussed this topic with guests Sundaram Lakshmanan and Francois Lasnier.
Episode 4: Time for the crystal ball – What to expect in 2021
In this episode we are looking ahead at what we can expect in 2021 and reviewing how 2020’s remote working, separation from family and teams have changed us. Have a listen to some of the interesting insights from Neira’s guests, Troels Oerting, Chairman of the Board of the World Economic Forum’s Centre for Cybersecurity (C4C) and Ashvin Kamaraju, CTO and Vice President Engineering at Thales Cloud Protection & Licensing.
Episode 5: The Challenges of Digital Transformation
Many businesses have been forced to accelerate their digital transformation strategies due to the pandemic and doing it successfully has become a major challenge. What do organisations do to transform their infrastructure to where it needs to be from a technology standpoint? The new threats are here to stay – so what is the best DX practice from a technology point of view? How do you focus on the technology process and preservation of your infrastructure?
Episode 6: Data Beyond Borders: The Schrems II Aftermath
Are the current rules and regulations for securing information and maintaining privacy fit for purpose when you think about the future? Do you think work and lifestyle changes brought about by Covid-19 will have a regulatory impact that we need to plan for? Neira discusses these questions with Enza Iannopollo, Senior Analyst at Forrester and Thales’ own Mukesh Chandak, Business Development Director.
Episode 7: Cloud Now - Mitigating the Risks of Operating in the Cloud
More digital has meant more cloud. The pandemic and the shift to hybrid working has prompted an acceleration in the adoption of cloud technologies by IT leaders worldwide, which looks set to continue for the foreseeable future. Previously organizations have primarily looked at new application development and deployment for cloud, taking a ‘cloud first’ approach. However many have now pivoted towards a ‘cloud now’ approach. In this episode, Neira talks to Chris Harris, EMEA Technical Director at Thales and Vaughn Stewart, VP of Technology Alliance Partners, Pure Storage.
Learn More about Mitigating the Risks of Operating in the Cloud
Episode 8: 5G – With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility
5G is poised to change how digital technology-based solutions are delivered and consumed across different industry verticals by connecting people and devices using high quality services whenever wherever. In this episode Neira is joined by Prashant Deo, Senior Information Security Consultant at Tata Consultancy Services and Chen Arbel, Vice President Business Development, 5G & Cloud Security and Thales.
Learn More about 5G Network Connectivity Data Infrastructures
Bonus Episode: The Shift to Passwordless Authentication
Passwordless and FIDO authentication is one of the hottest topics on the radar of identity and access management professionals. While passwordless authentication offers convenience for end users, not all methods offer the same level of protection. In this special bonus edition podcast, Garrett Bekker, principal cybersecurity analyst at from 451 Research and Asaf Lerner, Director of Product Management at Thales discuss the merits and various angles of moving to passwordless.
Episode 9: The 2021 Thales Data Threat Report
The shift to remote work and the acceleration of the shift to cloud-based infrastructure have profoundly impacted security teams. With the security risks and threats that these changes pose, most organizations have some work to do to improve their security posture, according to the new 2021 Thales Data Threat Report. In this episode, Neira Jones is joined by Todd Moore, VP Encryption Products at Thales, to talk through the key findings of the report. They’ll take a look back at the key trends seen in 2020 and the impacts of the pandemic that have carried over into 2021.
Episode 10: IoT Security Trends
Organizations have only just begun discovering and benefiting from the opportunities provided by the Internet of Things. The ability to capture and analyze data from distributed connected devices offers the potential to optimize processes, create new revenue streams, and improve customer service. However, the IoT also exposes organizations to new security vulnerabilities introduced by increased network connectivity and devices that are not secured by design. And advanced attackers have demonstrated the ability to pivot to other systems by leveraging vulnerabilities in IoT devices. For this episode, host Neira Jones is joined by Ellen Boehm, VP, IoT Strategy and Operations at Keyfactor, and Paul Hampton, Senior Product Manager at Thales.
Episode 11: Quantum Computing
The threat and arrival of quantum computers is ever-present with physics breakthroughs, more Qubits, quantum “supremacy”, and cloud service providers designing quantum computers, but what does it really mean to data protection? Is it really the end of encryption as we know it? In Episode 11 of the Thales Security Sessions, host Neira Jones is joined by Mike Brown, CTO at Isara, and Michael Gardiner, Solution Architect at Thales, to discuss the ways in which quantum computing will change the technology landscape, and how organizations can deal with the potential security threats that quantum brings.
Bonus Episode: Encryption in Quantum Resistant Networks
Network security encompasses the security tools, policies, and techniques used to monitor, prevent, and respond to unauthorized network access. Having such a broad definition and, therefore, challenging approach, it is important that businesses know what key areas to focus on and what enterprise tech solutions they should look to ensure appropriate, airtight protection. Dr. Eric Cole, Founder and CEO of Secure Anchor Consulting, speaks with Julian Fay, CTO at Senetas, a global partner of Thales. The pair explore the primary concerns of network security within the realm of data in motion with the help of key findings from our latest global survey on the encryption of public/private networks.
Bonus Episode: Adopting the Shared Security Management Model
Shared security, also known as shared responsibility, is a cloud security management model that describes the distribution of enterprise data security management and accountability between a company and its cloud service provider(s). The framework essentially enables improved productivity and unparalleled agility, so why isn't every organization adopting it? Dr. Eric continues with Chris Martin at Thales, delving into the main areas of organizational risk concerning cloud migration and vendor native decisions before shedding light on the limitations of a single service provider. The guests then discuss the shared security model - its benefits and the implementation process. Final thoughts centre on what organizations need to understand about control over all users and effectively build a best practice shared security strategy.
Episode 12: Building a Trusted World for Crypto Payments
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have exploded in value—making them an ever-more attractive target for scammers and hackers. So is cryptocurrency secure? How can businesses and individuals make sure they protect their digital investments? And what are the key security measures that should be implemented to secure the cryptocurrency backend? In this episode, we’ll be exploring the current cryptocurrency landscape, and how we can make a trusted world for crypto payments. Joining our regular host Neira Jones for this episode, we have Nitin Gaur, Director, IBM Financial Sciences and Digital Assets and Krishna Ksheerabdhi, VP Product Marketing, Thales.
Thales Security Sessions Podcast awarded the
Gold 2022 Cybersecurity Excellence Award for
Best Cybersecurity Podcast
The 2022 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards honor individuals and companies that demonstrate excellence, innovation and leadership in information security. With over 900 entries in more than 250 award categories, the 2022 Awards program is highly competitive. All winners reflect the very best in innovation and excellence in tackling today’s urgent cybersecurity challenges.