What Makes a Successful Security Vendor Demo?

More from Defense in Depth All episodes →

1. 

   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…

2. 

   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…

3. 

   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…

4. 

   7 May 2026 · 32 min

   Breaking the Reactive Cycle of Cybersecurity

   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 sponsored guest, Rob Allen. In this episode: The vulnerable stack Changing the structural economics Change the terrain The cost-benefit equation A huge thanks to our sponsor, ThreatLocker ThreatLocker makes Zero Trust practical. With Default Deny, Ringfencing, and Elevation Control, CISOs get real control that's easy to manage and built to scale.…

5. 

   30 Apr 2026 · 38 min

   How Do You Know If Your Backups Will Survive a Ransomware Attack?

   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 sponsored guest, Heath Renfrow , co-founder, Fenix24 . In this episode: Knowing which systems to save first Recovery is a business conversation, not an IT ticket Not all systems are created equal Recovery knowledge as a governed asset A huge thanks to our sponsor, Fenix24 Fenix24 is the world's leading breach recovery firm, providing rapid ransomware…

6. 

   16 Apr 2026 · 28 min

   Should You Use Native or 3rd Party Cloud Management Tools?

   Should You Use Native or 3rd Party Cloud Management Tools? All links and images can be found on CISO Series . Check out this post from Steve Zalewski 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 Edward Contreras , senior evp and CISO, Frost Bank . Joining us is their sponsored guest, Gal Ordo , co-founder and CPO, Native . In this episode: More tools, more problems A gap in design Catching what slips through Competence over complexity A huge thanks to our sponsor, Native Security Native makes…

7. 

   9 Apr 2026 · 29 min

   How Should We Measure the Performance of a CISO?

   How Should We Measure the Performance of a CISO? All links and images can be found on CISO Series . Check out this post from the cybersecurity subreddit 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 Edward Contreras , senior evp and CISO, Frost Bank . Joining them is Jason Richards , vp, information security, CHG Healthcare . In this episode: Likability as a career strategy The storytelling gap How the math actually gets done The unofficial scorecard A huge thanks to our sponsor, ThreatLocker…

8. 

   2 Apr 2026 · 26 min

   How to Be Less Busy and More Effective in Cyber

   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 Ross Young , co-host, CISO Tradecraft . Joining them is Dan Walsh , CISO, Datavant . Be sure to check out Ross's book Cybersecurity's Dirty Secret: Why Most Budgets Go to Waste. In this episode: Patterns hiding in plain sight Activity vs. advancement The human cost Frameworks about frameworks A huge thanks to our sponsor, Fenix24 Fenix24 is the world's leading breach recovery firm,…

9. 

   26 Mar 2026 · 32 min

   How to Engage With a CISO When They Express Interest

   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 them is Adam Palmer , CISO, First Hawaiian Bank . Be sure to check out David's book, Three Feet from Seven Figures: One-on-One Engagement Techniques to Qualify More Leads at Trade Shows. In this episode: Lead with insight, not persuasion Recognize the opportunity when it arrives Strategy over features Keep it efficient A huge thanks to our sponsor, Endor…

10. 

    19 Mar 2026 · 33 min

    Who is Responsible for the Conflict Between Security and Developers?

    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 is their sponsored guest, Matt Brown , solutions architect, Endor Labs . In this episode: The development disconnect Functionality first, security second The incentive problem Speed as the common ground A huge thanks to our sponsor, Endor Labs Discover how AI coding agents are reshaping software supply chain risk in the State of Dependency Management.…