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All links and images can be found on CISO Series We think of cybersecurity as a discipline. But when do ideas like best practices and NIST frameworks change into a system of belief? Check out this post for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation on this week's episode co-hosted by David Spark , the producer of CISO Series , and Davi Ottenheimer, principal, Flying Penguin . Joining is Joshua Copeland , director of security, Crescendo . In this episode: Tools, not religion The case for structured discipline The management problem underneath Fix the damn holes A huge thanks to our…

Defense in Depth

by CISO Series · English · Tech & Science

Defense in Depth, hosted by David Spark, Steve Zalewski, Geoff Belknap, and Edward Contreras, promises clear talk on cybersecurity's most controversial and confusing debates. Once a week we choose one controversial and popular cybersecurity debate and use the InfoSec community's insights to lead…

More from Defense in Depth

  1. 25 Jun 2026 · 28 min

    Is the "Attackers Only Need to Be Right Once" a Misnomer?

    All links and images can be found on CISO Series Check out this post for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation on this week's episode co-hosted by me, David Spark , the producer of CISO Series , and George Finney, CISO, University of Texas System. Joining is Sean Walls , CISO, Bob's Discount Furniture . In this episode: Asymmetric accounting Sometimes it really is that easy The spirit of the saying The cheapest way in A huge thanks to our sponsor, Native Security Native is the Cloud Security Control Plane. It helps enterprises enforce secure-by-design architecture across…

  2. 18 Jun 2026 · 55 min

    What It Takes To Be Successful in Cyber Media

    What It Takes To Be Successful in Cyber Media All links and images can be found on CISO Series Check out this post for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation on this week's episode co-hosted by me, David Spark , the producer of CISO Series , and Dave Bittner , producer and host, The CyberWire . Joining is Graham Cluley , host of Smashing Security podcast and Leo Laporte , founder of TWiT (This Week in Tech) and host of Security Now podcast. In this episode: Format follows function The decision gap Practitioner fingerprints Beyond the news cycle A huge thanks to our sponsor,…

  3. 11 Jun 2026 · 31 min

    CISOs Buy For Selfish and Politically Risk-Averse Reasons (Not Because Your Product is the Best)

    All links and images can be found on CISO Series Check out this post for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation on this week's episode co-hosted by me, David Spark , the producer of CISO Series , and Howard Holton , CEO, GigaOm . Joining is Tyler King , senior director - threat operations and response, Sinclair . In this episode: Career insurance In the trenches together Who are you actually selling to? Common sense, uncommon in sales A huge thanks to our sponsor, Material Security Legacy email security only watches the door. Material protects your entire cloud workspace—email,…

  4. 28 May 2026 · 33 min

    What Does the Next Generation of Cloud Security Look Like?

    All links and images can be found on CISO Series We know human-paced security controls can't be applied to autonomous AI agents. So what needs to change with CNAPP and cloud security? Check out this post for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation on this week's episode co-hosted by David Spark , the producer of CISO Series , and Steve Zalewski . Joining us is our sponsored guest, Dan Benjamin , vp product - data, identity, and AI security, Palo Alto Networks . In this episode: The detection ceiling A category gap, not a feature gap Resilience by design An insider threat with no…

  5. 21 May 2026 · 27 min

    The Dangers of Picking the Wrong Vendor

    All links and images can be found on CISO Series . Check out this post for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation on this week's episode co-hosted by David Spark , the producer of CISO Series , and Steve Zalewski . Joining us is our guest, Paul Guerra. In this episode: Read the contract How vendors win before the evaluation ends The fallout The real cost A huge thanks to our sponsor, Native Security Native makes secure-by-design inherent to how the cloud operates. It's the control plane for built-in cloud security, unifying and governing native controls, so security intent is…

  6. 14 May 2026 · 27 min

    Why Cyber Startups Need CISO Advisors

    All links and images can be found on CISO Series All security startups will tell you they talk to potential customers. The problem is that you limit your development when you only talk to CISOs who might buy. It's not the same guidance you'll get from a CISO who advises. Check out this post by Val Tsanev of the Cyber Risk Alliance for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation. This week's episode is co-hosted by me, David Spark , the producer of CISO Series , and Edward Contreras , senior evp and CISO, Frost Bank . Joining us is Steve Jensen , CISO, University of Maine System . In…

  7. 8 Oct 2026 · 33 min

    Can SMBs Get the Same Security as Everyone Else?

    All links and images can be found on CISO Series Check out this post for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation for this week's episode co-hosted by me, David Spark , the producer of CISO Series , and Steve Zalewski . Joining us is their sponsored guest, Mark Stockley , cybersecurity evangelist, ThreatDown . In this episode: The ripple effect The economics of ignoring SMB Let the defaults do the work Accountability doesn't get outsourced A huge thanks to our sponsor, ThreatDown ThreatDown MDR is a 24/7/365 security analyst service that explains and resolves suspicious endpoint…

  8. 1 Oct 2026 · 34 min

    Why Do We Keep Complaining About the Same Issues in Cybersecurity?

    All links and images can be found on CISO Series LinkedIn used to have a decent reputation among cybersecurity professionals. But lately, it feels like our feeds are relitigating the same debates every day, just with different faces. Has the situation changed? Check out this post by Allan Alford of NTT Global Data Centers for the discussion that is the basis of our conversation on this week's episode co-hosted by me, David Spark , the producer of CISO Series , and Geoff Belknap . Joining us is Howard Holton , founder, Phronia Counsel . In this episode: The clichés that say nothing A…

  9. 24 Sep 2026 · 35 min

    Securing AI-Generated Open Source Code

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  10. 21 Sep 2026 · 21 min

    BONUS EPISODE: Super Cyber Friday Express - Hacking Vendor Selection

    All links and images can be found on CISO Series This is a bonus episode of our brand new podcast, Super Cyber Friday Express — a 20-minute highlight version of our live one-hour show we do every available Friday at 1 p.m. Eastern. In this episode, David Spark is joined by Karl Mattson , founder and managing director of Squared Circle Ventures, and Howard Holton , founder and principal analyst at Phronia Counsel LLC, to discuss how your existing environment shapes what you buy next — and whether that's a strategy or just inertia. Watch the full one-hour show at Crowdcast . Subscribe to Super…

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