Episodes

  • Inside the DARPA AI Cyber Challenge: Securing Tomorrow’s Critical Infrastructure Through AI and Healthy Competition | An RSAC Conference 2025 Conversation with Andrew Carney | On Location Coverage with Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli

    Inside the DARPA AI Cyber Challenge: Securing Tomorrow’s Critical Infrastructure Through AI and Healthy Competition | An RSAC Conference 2025 Conversation with Andrew Carney | On Location Coverage with Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli
    Apr 28 2025
    During RSAC Conference 2025, Andrew Carney, Program Manager at DARPA, and (remotely via video) Dr. Kathleen Fisher, Professor at Tufts University and Program Manager for the AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC), guide attendees through an immersive experience called Northbridge—a fictional city designed to showcase the critical role of AI in securing infrastructure through the DARPA-led AI Cyber Challenge.Inside Northbridge: The Stakes Are RealNorthbridge simulates the future of cybersecurity, blending AI, infrastructure, and human collaboration. It’s not just a walkthrough — it’s a call to action. Through simulated attacks on water systems, healthcare networks, and cyber operations, visitors witness firsthand the tangible impacts of vulnerabilities in critical systems. Dr. Fisher emphasizes that the AI Cyber Challenge isn’t theoretical: the vulnerabilities competitors find and fix directly apply to real open-source software relied on by society today.The AI Cyber Challenge: Pairing Generative AI with Cyber ReasoningThe AI Cyber Challenge (AIxCC) invites teams from universities, small businesses, and consortiums to create cyber reasoning systems capable of autonomously identifying and fixing vulnerabilities. Leveraging leading foundation models from Anthropic, Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, the teams operate with tight constraints—working with limited time, compute, and LLM credits—to uncover and patch vulnerabilities at scale. Remarkably, during semifinals, teams found and fixed nearly half of the synthetic vulnerabilities, and even discovered a real-world zero-day in SQLite.Building Toward DEFCON Finals and BeyondThe journey doesn’t end at RSA. As the teams prepare for the AIxCC finals at DEFCON 2025, DARPA is increasing the complexity of the challenge—and the available resources. Beyond the competition, a core goal is public benefit: all cyber reasoning systems developed through AIxCC will be open-sourced under permissive licenses, encouraging widespread adoption across industries and government sectors.From Competition to CollaborationCarney and Fisher stress that the ultimate victory isn’t in individual wins, but in strengthening cybersecurity collectively. Whether securing hospitals, water plants, or financial institutions, the future demands cooperation across public and private sectors.The Northbridge experience offers a powerful reminder: resilience in cybersecurity is built not through fear, but through innovation, collaboration, and a relentless drive to secure the systems we all depend on.___________Guest: Andrew Carney, AI Cyber Challenge Program Manager, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) | https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-carney-945458a6/Hosts:Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine | Website: https://www.seanmartin.comMarco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine | Website: https://www.marcociappelli.com______________________Episode SponsorsThreatLocker: https://itspm.ag/threatlocker-r974Akamai: https://itspm.ag/akamailbwcBlackCloak: https://itspm.ag/itspbcwebSandboxAQ: https://itspm.ag/sandboxaq-j2enArcher: https://itspm.ag/rsaarchwebDropzone AI: https://itspm.ag/dropzoneai-641ISACA: https://itspm.ag/isaca-96808ObjectFirst: https://itspm.ag/object-first-2gjlEdera: https://itspm.ag/edera-434868___________ResourcesThe DARPA AIxCC Experience at RSAC 2025 Innovation Sandbox: https://www.rsaconference.com/usa/programs/sandbox/darpaLearn more and catch more stories from RSAC Conference 2025 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsac25___________KEYWORDSandrew carney, kathleen fisher, marco ciappelli, sean martin, darpa, aixcc, cybersecurity, rsac 2025, defcon, ai cybersecurity, event coverage, on location, conference______________________Catch all of our event coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/technology-and-cybersecurity-conference-coverageWant to tell your Brand Story Briefing as part of our event coverage? Learn More 👉 https://itspm.ag/evtcovbrfWant Sean and Marco to be part of your event or conference? Let Us Know 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/contact-us
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    28 mins
  • Why CISOs Should Still Say Yes to the Role—Even Now | A RSAC Conference 2025 Conversation with Tim Brown | On Location Coverage with Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli

    Why CISOs Should Still Say Yes to the Role—Even Now | A RSAC Conference 2025 Conversation with Tim Brown | On Location Coverage with Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli
    Apr 24 2025
    In this Chats on the Road to RSAC 2025, , Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli connect with Tim Brown, Chief Information Security Officer at SolarWinds, to unpack the critical issues facing CISOs today—and why the role remains worth pursuing.Brown is participating in multiple sessions at RSAC Conference 2025, including the CISO Bootcamp and Cyber Leaders Forum. Both are closed-door conversations designed to surface real concerns in a confidential, supportive setting. These aren’t theoretical discussions—they’re rooted in hard-earned experience. Brown, who has faced high-profile scrutiny and legal fallout from a past incident at SolarWinds, brings a uniquely personal perspective to these sessions.He points out that fear and hesitation are keeping many deputy CISOs from stepping up into the top role. His message to them: don’t be afraid of the position. Despite the weight of responsibility, the role offers real influence, the ability to shape enterprise architecture, and the opportunity to drive meaningful business decisions. Brown emphasizes the importance of community support and collective growth, noting that the cybersecurity industry—still relatively young—is maturing and finding its footing when it comes to accountability and resilience.Beyond leadership development, mental health and stress management are key themes in the Cyber Leaders Forum. Brown acknowledges the toll the job can take, even sharing that his own health suffered despite thinking he was managing stress well. This honest reflection opens the door for deeper conversations about personal well-being in high-pressure roles.He’s also appearing at the Cloud Security Alliance Summit with Chris Hoff, Chief Security Officer at LastPass, where they’ll discuss incident response and field questions from the audience. On Wednesday, Brown joins a breakfast session with Tactic and Hyperwise, guiding attendees through a crisis simulation based on lessons from the Sunburst attack. His focus? Helping others avoid being unprepared in a moment of chaos.From insider threat modeling to supply chain transparency and the challenges of monitoring runtime behavior, Brown is clear-eyed about where CISOs need to focus next.This episode isn’t just a preview of conference sessions—it’s a call to future security leaders to lean in, not back.___________Guest: Tim Brown, CISO, Solarwinds | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-brown-ciso/Hosts:Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine | Website: https://www.seanmartin.comMarco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine | Website: https://www.marcociappelli.com___________Episode SponsorsThreatLocker: https://itspm.ag/threatlocker-r974Akamai: https://itspm.ag/akamailbwcBlackCloak: https://itspm.ag/itspbcwebSandboxAQ: https://itspm.ag/sandboxaq-j2enArcher: https://itspm.ag/rsaarchwebDropzone AI: https://itspm.ag/dropzoneai-641ISACA: https://itspm.ag/isaca-96808ObjectFirst: https://itspm.ag/object-first-2gjlEdera: https://itspm.ag/edera-434868___________ResourcesRSAC Session: CLF Ask Me Anything Session with Tim Brown, CISO, SolarWinds: https://path.rsaconference.com/flow/rsac/us25/FullAgenda/page/catalog/session/1739404173721001x1MHRSAC Session: CISO Boot Camp Exclusive Fireside Chat with Tim Brown, CISO, SolarWinds: https://path.rsaconference.com/flow/rsac/us25/FullAgenda/page/catalog/session/1739403254724001isXhCSA Summit at RSAC 2025: Fireside Chat with Tim Brown and Chris Hoff: https://www.csasummitrsac.com/event/5b3547c2-c652-4f77-97de-5b094e746626/agenda?session=1452408b-c822-4664-87b8-38ce1276247bLearn more and catch more stories from RSA Conference 2025 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsa-conference-usa-2025-rsac-san-francisco-usa-cybersecurity-event-infosec-conference-coverageCatch all of our event coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/technology-and-cybersecurity-conference-coverageWant to tell your Brand Story Briefing as part of our event coverage? Learn More 👉 https://itspm.ag/evtcovbrfWant Sean and Marco to be part of your event or conference? Let Us Know 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/contact-us___________KEYWORDStim brown, sean martin, marco ciappelli, solarwinds, rsac 2025, ciso, cybersecurity, leadership, liability, stress, mental health, insider, resilience, incident, response, supply, chain, simulation, cloud, security, event coverage, on location, conference
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    22 mins
  • Community, Certification, and the Questions That Matter Most in Quantum Readiness and AI Governance | A Brand Story with Mary Carmichael and Dooshima Dabo’Adzuana from ISACA | A RSAC Conference 2025 Brand Story Pre-Event Conversation

    Community, Certification, and the Questions That Matter Most in Quantum Readiness and AI Governance | A Brand Story with Mary Carmichael and Dooshima Dabo’Adzuana from ISACA | A RSAC Conference 2025 Brand Story Pre-Event Conversation
    Apr 23 2025
    As anticipation builds for the RSAC Conference 2025, ISACA leaders Mary Carmichael and Dooshima Dabo’Adzuana join Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli to preview what the global technology and cybersecurity association has in store for attendees this year. With a focus on expanding community, AI governance, and professional development, their conversation reveals how ISACA is showing up with both timely insights and tangible resources.Mary Carmichael, President of ISACA’s Vancouver Chapter and a CPA focused on cybersecurity risk and governance, highlights the session she’s co-presenting with Dooshima Dabo’Adzuana: Third-Party AI: What Are You Really Buying? Their talk will explore the increasing complexity of evaluating AI solutions procured from vendors—especially those embedding large language models. Topics include due diligence during procurement, monitoring post-deployment, and assessing whether vendor practices align with internal risk and privacy requirements.Dooshima Dabo’Adzuana, a researcher at Boise State University and leader from ISACA’s Abuja Chapter, shares how ISACA members across regions are grappling with similar questions: What does AI mean for my organization? What risks do third-party integrations introduce? She emphasizes the importance of frameworks and educational tools—resources that ISACA is making readily available at their booth (South Expo #2268) and through new certification tracks in AI audit and security.Alongside the AI focus, visitors to the booth can explore results from ISACA’s Quantum Pulse Poll and access guidance on encryption readiness for a post-quantum future. The booth will also feature a selfie station and serve as a meeting point for the diverse ISACA community, with members from over 220 chapters worldwide.The conversation rounds out with a critical discussion on cybersecurity career development. Both Mary and Dooshima share personal stories of transitioning into the field—Mary from accounting, Dooshima from insurance—and call for broader recognition of transferable skills. They point to global tools, such as career pathway frameworks supported by ISACA and the UK Cyber Security Council, as essential for addressing the persistent workforce gap.This episode offers a preview of how ISACA is connecting global conversations on AI, quantum, and professional development—making RSAC Conference 2025 not just a tech showcase, but a community gathering rooted in learning and action.Stop by booth 2268 in the South Expo to explore how ISACA are equipping professionals with practical tools for AI governance, quantum readiness, and cybersecurity career growth—and how your organization can benefit from a stronger, more connected community.Learn more about ISACA: https://itspm.ag/isaca-96808Guests:Mary Carmichael, President of ISACA’s Vancouver Chapter | https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmichaelmary/Dooshima Dabo’Adzuana, a researcher at Boise State University and leader from ISACA’s Abuja Chapter | https://www.linkedin.com/in/dooshima-dabo-adzuana/ResourcesMary and Dooshima's session at RSA Conference: https://path.rsaconference.com/flow/rsac/us25/FullAgenda/page/catalog/session/1737642290064001tqyqLearn more about ISACA's AI resources: https://www.isaca.org/resources/artificial-intelligenceLearn more about ISACA's credentials: https://www.isaca.org/credentialingLearn more and catch more stories from ISACA: https://www.itspmagazine.com/directory/isacaLearn more and catch more stories from RSA Conference 2025 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsa-conference-usa-2025-rsac-san-francisco-usa-cybersecurity-event-infosec-conference-coverage______________________Keywords: ai, quantum, cybersecurity, risk, governance, audit, certification, encryption, rsa, rsac, third-party, compliance, career, skills, education, community, brand story, brand marketing, marketing podcast, brand story podcast______________________Catch all of our event coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/technology-and-cybersecurity-conference-coverageWant to tell your Brand Story Briefing as part of our event coverage? Learn More 👉 https://itspm.ag/evtcovbrfWant Sean and Marco to be part of your event or conference? Let Us Know 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/contact-us
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    23 mins
  • What’s Driving the Next Generation of Risk Management? | A Brand Story with Steve Schlarman, Senior Director, Product Management at Archer Integrated Risk Management | A RSAC Conference 2025 Brand Story Pre-Event Conversation

    What’s Driving the Next Generation of Risk Management? | A Brand Story with Steve Schlarman, Senior Director, Product Management at Archer Integrated Risk Management | A RSAC Conference 2025 Brand Story Pre-Event Conversation
    Apr 21 2025

    Ahead of the RSAC Conference, Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli sit down with Steve Schlarman, Director of Product Management at Archer, to talk risk, regulation, and where governance fits into the broader cybersecurity conversation.

    Steve represents a company that’s been at the center of governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) for nearly 25 years. But don’t mistake tenure for inertia—Archer is actively reshaping how organizations think about integrated risk management, especially through its latest platform, Archer Evolv. Steve shares how his team is focused on rethinking compliance not as a checkbox, but as a foundation for smarter, more strategic business decisions.

    What sets Archer Evolv apart? For one, the platform doesn’t just cater to full-time risk professionals. It’s built for anyone in the organization who touches compliance—even occasionally. Steve explains how the user experience has been redesigned to make it easier for non-experts to contribute, pulling in relevant data without bogging down daily operations.

    AI also plays a major role. After acquiring Compliance.AI, Archer has embedded large language models and automation into its compliance workflows—cutting down the time it takes to process regulatory updates and map controls. This means compliance professionals can spend less time scanning documents and more time advising the business.

    But this isn’t about technology for technology’s sake. Steve underscores the bigger question facing companies today: how much risk are they truly willing to accept? Regulation might kickstart the conversation, but it’s risk management that sustains it—and that requires clarity, context, and collaboration across the business.

    Archer’s team will be on site at RSAC, ready to demo the platform and share stories from the field. With over 1,200 customers worldwide, the company has no shortage of real-world examples to pull from. From frontline vulnerability assessments to strategic compliance mapping, Archer’s approach is centered on enabling better decisions—not just better dashboards.

    Stop by booth 3117 (https://itspm.ag/archervn5f) to see how they’re turning compliance into an engine for risk-aware growth—and how your team might benefit from a more purposeful approach to GRC.

    Learn more about Archer: https://itspm.ag/rsaarchweb

    Guest: Steve Schlarman, Senior Director, Product Management at Archer Integrated Risk Management | https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveschlarman/

    Resources

    Learn more and catch more stories from Archer: https://www.itspmagazine.com/directory/archer

    Learn more and catch more stories from RSA Conference 2025 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsa-conference-usa-2025-rsac-san-francisco-usa-cybersecurity-event-infosec-conference-coverage

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    Keywords: risk, compliance, governance, cybersecurity, ai, automation, regulation, grc, audit, resilience, controls, workflow, data, business continuity, product management, rsa, rsac2025, brand story, brand marketing, marketing podcast, brand story podcast

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    Catch all of our event coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/technology-and-cybersecurity-conference-coverage

    Want to tell your Brand Story Briefing as part of our event coverage? Learn More 👉 https://itspm.ag/evtcovbrf

    Want Sean and Marco to be part of your event or conference? Let Us Know 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/contact-us
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    22 mins
  • Why “Permit by Exception” Might Be the Key to Business Resilience | A Brand Story with Rob Allen, Chief Product Officer at ThreatLocker | A RSAC Conference 2025 Brand Story Pre-Event Conversation

    Why “Permit by Exception” Might Be the Key to Business Resilience | A Brand Story with Rob Allen, Chief Product Officer at ThreatLocker | A RSAC Conference 2025 Brand Story Pre-Event Conversation
    Apr 21 2025

    At this year’s RSAC Conference, the team from ThreatLocker isn’t just bringing tech—they’re bringing a challenge. Rob Allen, Chief Product Officer at ThreatLocker, joins Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli for a lively pre-conference episode that previews what attendees can expect at booth #854 in the South Expo Hall.

    From rubber ducky hacks to reframing how we think about Zero Trust, the conversation highlights the ways ThreatLocker moves beyond the industry’s typical focus on reactive detection. Allen shares how most cybersecurity approaches still default to allowing access unless a threat is known, and why that mindset continues to leave organizations vulnerable. Instead, ThreatLocker’s philosophy is to “deny by default and permit by exception”—a strategy that, when managed effectively, provides maximum protection without slowing down business operations.

    ThreatLocker’s presence at the conference will feature live demos, short presentations, and hands-on challenges—including their popular Ducky Challenge, where participants test whether their endpoint defenses can prevent a rogue USB (disguised as a keyboard) from stealing their data. If your system passes, you win the rubber ducky. If it doesn’t? They (temporarily) get your data. It’s a simple but powerful reminder that what you think is secure might not be.

    The booth won’t just be about tech. The team is focused on conversations—reconnecting with customers, engaging new audiences, and exploring how the community is responding to a threat landscape that’s growing more sophisticated by the day. Allen emphasizes the importance of in-person dialogue, not only to share what ThreatLocker is building but to learn how security leaders are adapting and where gaps still exist.

    And yes, there will be merch—high-quality socks, t-shirts, and even a few surprise giveaways dropped at hotel doors (if you resist the temptation to open the envelope before visiting the booth).

    For those looking to rethink endpoint protection or better understand how proactive controls can complement detection-based tools, this episode is your preview into a very different kind of cybersecurity conversation—one that starts with a challenge and ends with community.

    Learn more about ThreatLocker: https://itspm.ag/threatlocker-r974

    Guest: Rob Allen, Chief Product Officer, ThreatLocker | https://www.linkedin.com/in/threatlockerrob/

    Resources

    Learn more and catch more stories from ThreatLocker: https://www.itspmagazine.com/directory/threatlocker

    Learn more and catch more stories from RSA Conference 2025 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsa-conference-usa-2025-rsac-san-francisco-usa-cybersecurity-event-infosec-conference-coverage

    ______________________

    Keywords: rsac conference, cybersecurity, endpoint, zero trust, rubber ducky, threat detection, data exfiltration, security strategy, deny by default, permit by exception, proactive security, security demos, usb attack, cyber resilience, network control, security mindset, rsac 2025, event coverage, on location, conference

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    Catch all of our event coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/technology-and-cybersecurity-conference-coverage

    To see and hear more Redefining CyberSecurity content on ITSPmagazine, visit: https://www.itspmagazine.com/redefining-cybersecurity-podcast

    To see and hear more Redefining Society stories on ITSPmagazine, visit:
    https://www.itspmagazine.com/redefining-society-podcast

    Want to tell your Brand Story Briefing as part of our event coverage? Learn More 👉 https://itspm.ag/evtcovbrf

    Want Sean and Marco to be part of your event or conference? Let Us Know 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/contact-us
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    19 mins
  • Quantum Security, Real Problems, and the Unifying Layer Behind It All | A Brand Story Conversation with Marc Manzano, General Manager of the Cybersecurity Group at SandboxAQ | A RSAC Conference 2025 Brand Story Pre-Event Conversation

    Quantum Security, Real Problems, and the Unifying Layer Behind It All | A Brand Story Conversation with Marc Manzano, General Manager of the Cybersecurity Group at SandboxAQ | A RSAC Conference 2025 Brand Story Pre-Event Conversation
    Apr 21 2025
    We’re on the road to RSAC 2025 — or maybe on a quantum-powered highway — and this time, Sean and I had the pleasure of chatting with someone who’s not just riding the future wave, but actually building it.Marc Manzano, General Manager of the Cybersecurity Group at SandboxAQ, joined us for this Brand Story conversation ahead of the big conference in San Francisco. For those who haven’t heard of SandboxAQ yet, here’s a quick headline: they’re a spin-out from Google, operating at the intersection of AI and quantum technologies. Yes — that intersection.But let’s keep our feet on the ground for a second, because this story isn’t just about tech that sounds cool. It’s about solving the very real, very painful problems that security teams face every day.Marc laid out their mission clearly: Active Guard, their flagship platform, is built to simplify and modernize two massive pain points in enterprise security — cryptographic asset management and non-human identity management. Think: rotating certificates without manual effort. Managing secrets and keys across cloud-native infrastructure. Automating compliance reporting for quantum-readiness. No fluff — just value, right out of the box.And it’s not just about plugging a new tool into your already overloaded stack. What impressed us is how SandboxAQ sees themselves as the unifying layer — enhancing interoperability across existing systems, extracting more intelligence from the tools you already use, and giving teams a unified view through a single pane of glass.And yes, we also touched on AI SecOps — because as AI becomes a standard part of infrastructure, so must security for it. Active Guard is already poised to give security teams visibility and control over this evolving layer.Want to see it in action? Booth 6578, North Expo Hall. Swag will be there. Demos will be live. Conversations will be real.We’ll be there too — recording a deeper Brand Story episode On Location during the event.Until then, enjoy this preview — and get ready to meet the future of cybersecurity.⸻Keywords:sandboxaq, active guard, rsa conference 2025, quantum cybersecurity, ai secops, cryptographic asset management, non-human identity, cybersecurity automation, security compliance, rsa 2025, cybersecurity innovation, certificate lifecycle management, secrets management, security operations, quantum readiness, rsa sandbox, cybersecurity saas, devsecops, interoperability, digital transformation______________________Guest: Marc Manzano,, General Manager of the Cybersecurity Group at SandboxAQMarc Manzano on LinkedIn🌐 SandboxAQ WebsiteHosts:Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast [@RedefiningCyber] | On ITSPmagazine: https://www.itspmagazine.com/sean-martinMarco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast & Audio Signals Podcast | On ITSPmagazine: https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/marco-ciappelli____________________________This Episode’s SponsorsSandboxAQ:https://itspm.ag/sandboxaq-j2en____________________________ResourcesLearn more and catch more stories from RSA Conference 2025 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsa-conference-usa-2025-rsac-san-francisco-usa-cybersecurity-event-infosec-conference-coverage____________________________Catch all of our event coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/technology-and-cybersecurity-conference-coverageTo see and hear more Redefining CyberSecurity content on ITSPmagazine, visit: https://www.itspmagazine.com/redefining-cybersecurity-podcastTo see and hear more Redefining Society stories on ITSPmagazine, visit:https://www.itspmagazine.com/redefining-society-podcastWant to tell your Brand Story Briefing as part of our event coverage? Learn More 👉 https://itspm.ag/evtcovbrfWant Sean and Marco to be part of your event or conference? Let Us Know 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/contact-us
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    10 mins
  • AI, Security, and the Hybrid World: Akamai’s Vision for RSAC 2025 With Rupesh Chokshi, SVP & GM Application Security Akamai | A RSAC Conference 2025 Brand Story Pre-Event Conversation

    AI, Security, and the Hybrid World: Akamai’s Vision for RSAC 2025 With Rupesh Chokshi, SVP & GM Application Security Akamai | A RSAC Conference 2025 Brand Story Pre-Event Conversation
    Apr 21 2025
    The RSA Conference has long served as a meeting point for innovation and collaboration in cybersecurity—and in this pre-RSAC episode, ITSPmagazine co-founders Marco Ciappelli and Sean Martin welcome Akamai’s Rupesh Chokshi to the conversation. With RSAC 2025 on the horizon, they discuss Akamai’s presence at the event and dig into the challenges and opportunities surrounding AI, threat intelligence, and enterprise security.Chokshi, who leads Akamai’s Application Security business, describes a landscape marked by explosive growth in web and API attacks—and a parallel shift as enterprises embrace generative AI. The double-edged nature of AI is central to the discussion: while it offers breakthrough productivity and automation, it also creates new vulnerabilities. Akamai’s dual focus, says Chokshi, is both using AI to strengthen defenses and securing AI-powered applications themselves.The conversation touches on the scale and sophistication of modern threats, including an eye-opening stat: Akamai is now tracking over 500 million large language model (LLM)-driven scraping requests per day. As these threats extend from e-commerce to healthcare and beyond, Chokshi emphasizes the need for layered defense strategies and real-time adaptability.Ciappelli brings a sociological lens to the AI discussion, noting the hype-to-reality shift the industry is experiencing. “We’re no longer asking if AI will change the game,” he suggests. “We’re asking how to implement it responsibly—and how to protect it.”At RSAC 2025, Akamai will showcase a range of innovations, including updates to its Guardicore platform and new App & API Protection Hybrid solutions. Their booth (6245) will feature interactive demos, theater sessions, and one-on-one briefings. The Akamai team will also release a new edition of their State of the Internet report, packed with actionable threat data and insights.The episode closes with a reminder: in a world that’s both accelerating and fragmenting, cybersecurity must serve not just as a barrier—but as a catalyst. “Security,” says Chokshi, “has to enable innovation, not hinder it.”⸻Keywords: RSAC 2025, Akamai, cybersecurity, generative AI, API protection, web attacks, application security, LLM scraping, Guardicore, State of the Internet report, Zero Trust, hybrid digital world, enterprise resilience, AI security, threat intelligence, prompt injection, data privacy, RSA Conference, Sean Martin, Marco Ciappelli______________________Guest: Rupesh Chokshi, SVP & GM, Akamai https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupeshchokshi/Hosts:Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast [@RedefiningCyber] | On ITSPmagazine: https://www.itspmagazine.com/sean-martinMarco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast & Audio Signals Podcast | On ITSPmagazine: https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/marco-ciappelli____________________________This Episode’s SponsorsAKAMAI: https://itspm.ag/akamailbwc____________________________ResourcesLearn more and catch more stories from RSA Conference 2025 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsa-conference-usa-2025-rsac-san-francisco-usa-cybersecurity-event-infosec-conference-coverageRupesh Chokshi Session at RSAC 2025The New Attack Frontier: Research Shows Apps & APIs Are the Targets - [PART1-W09]____________________________Catch all of our event coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/technology-and-cybersecurity-conference-coverageTo see and hear more Redefining CyberSecurity content on ITSPmagazine, visit: https://www.itspmagazine.com/redefining-cybersecurity-podcastTo see and hear more Redefining Society stories on ITSPmagazine, visit:https://www.itspmagazine.com/redefining-society-podcastWant to tell your Brand Story Briefing as part of our event coverage? Learn More 👉 https://itspm.ag/evtcovbrfWant Sean and Marco to be part of your event or conference? Let Us Know 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/contact-us
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    23 mins
  • RSAC 2025 Preview: All Aboard the Innovation Express: RSAC Conference 2025 On Track for Cybersecurity’s Future with Cecilia Mariner | On Location Coverage with Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli

    RSAC 2025 Preview: All Aboard the Innovation Express: RSAC Conference 2025 On Track for Cybersecurity’s Future with Cecilia Mariner | On Location Coverage with Sean Martin and Marco Ciappelli
    Apr 15 2025
    All Aboard the Innovation Express: RSAC 2025 On Track for Cybersecurity’s FutureLet’s face it—RSAC isn’t just a conference anymore. It’s a movement. A ritual. A block party for cybersecurity. And this year, it’s pulling into the station with more tracks than ever before—figuratively and literally.In this On Location episode, we reconnect with Cecilia Murtagh Marinier, Vice President of Innovation and Scholars at RSAC, to dive into what makes the 2025 edition a can’t-miss experience. And as always, Sean and Marco kick things off with a bit of improvisation, some travel jokes, and a whole lot of heart.From the 20th Anniversary of the Innovation Sandbox (with a massive $50M investment boost from Crosspoint Capital) to the growing Early Stage Expo, LaunchPad’s Shark-Tank-style sessions, and the new Investor & Entrepreneur track, RSAC continues to set the stage for cybersecurity’s next big thing.And this year, they’re going bigger—literally. The expansion into the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts brings with it a mind-blowing immersive experience: DARPA’s AI Cyber City, a physically interactive train ride through smart city scenarios, designed to show how cybersecurity touches everything—from water plants to hospitals, satellites to firmware.Add in eight hands-on villages, security scholars programs, coffee-fueled networking zones, and a renewed focus on inclusion, mentorship, and accessibility, and you’ve got something that feels less like an event and more like a living, breathing community.Cecilia also reminds us that RSAC is a place for everyone—from first-timers unsure where to begin to seasoned veterans ready to innovate and invest. It’s about showing up, making a plan (or not), and being open to the unexpected conversations that happen in hallways, lounges, or over espresso in the sandbox village.And if you can’t make it in person? RSAC has made sure that everything is accessible online—600 speakers, 600 vendors, and endless ways to engage, reflect, and be part of the global cybersecurity story.So whether you’re hopping in the car, boarding a flight, or—who knows—riding a miniature DARPA train through Northridge City, one thing’s for sure: RSAC 2025 is going full speed ahead—and we’re bringing you along for the ride.⸻ 📺 FULL VIDEO👉 https://youtu.be/59mW2XNz0CE🧭 EXPLORE RSAC COVERAGE👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsac ⸻KEYWORDSRSAC 2025, cybersecurity innovation, DARPA Cyber City, AI in security, startup funding, Innovation Sandbox, LaunchPad, Early Stage Expo, cybersecurity community, security scholars, investor track, immersive tech experiences, smart cities, cyber education, cyber startup pitch, interactive cybersecurity, RSAC sandbox, CTFs, AI-powered defense, infosec industry trends__________________________________Guest: Cecilia Murtagh Marinier | Cybersecurity Advisor - Strategy, Innovation & Scholars at RSA ConferenceHosts:Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast [@RedefiningCyber] | On ITSPmagazine: https://www.itspmagazine.com/sean-martinMarco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast & Audio Signals Podcast | On ITSPmagazine: https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/marco-ciappelli____________________________This Episode’s SponsorsThreatLocker: https://itspm.ag/threatlocker-r974Akamai: https://itspm.ag/akamailbwcBlackCloak: https://itspm.ag/itspbcwebSandboxAQ: https://itspm.ag/sandboxaq-j2enArcher: https://itspm.ag/rsaarchwebDropzone AI: https://itspm.ag/dropzoneai-641____________________________ResourcesLearn more and catch more stories from RSA Conference 2025 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsa-conference-usa-2025-rsac-san-francisco-usa-cybersecurity-event-infosec-conference-coverage____________________________Catch all of our event coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/technology-and-cybersecurity-conference-coverageTo see and hear more Redefining CyberSecurity content on ITSPmagazine, visit: https://www.itspmagazine.com/redefining-cybersecurity-podcastTo see and hear more Redefining Society & Technology stories on ITSPmagazine, visit:https://www.itspmagazine.com/redefining-society-and-technology-podcastWant to tell your Brand Story Briefing as part of our event coverage? Learn More 👉 https://itspm.ag/evtcovbrfWant Sean and Marco to be part of your event or conference? Let Us Know 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/contact-us
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    28 mins
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