Security used to be a headache. Now it is a growth engine.

In this episode of IT Visionaries, host Chris Brandt sits down with Taylor Hersom, Founder and CEO of Eden Data and former CISO, to break down how fast growing companies can turn cybersecurity and compliance into a true competitive advantage. Taylor explains why frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and emerging AI standards such as ISO 42001 are becoming essential for winning enterprise business. He also shares how to future proof controls, connect compliance work to real business goals, and avoid the costly pitfalls that stall companies during scale.

Taylor also highlights the biggest blind spots in AI security, including model training risks, improper data handling, and the challenges created by relying on free AI tools. If you are building a SaaS product or selling into large companies, this conversation shows how trust, transparency, and strong security practices directly drive revenue.

Key Moments:

00:00 — The Hidden Risks of Scattered Company Data

04:11 — Why Early-Stage Teams Lose Control of Security

08:22 — Compliance Becomes a Competitive Advantage

12:33 — SOC 2 vs ISO 27001: What Founders Need to Know

16:44 — Framework Overload and How to Navigate It

20:55 — Mapping Security Controls to Business Objectives

25:06 — The Gap Between Compliance Audits and Real Threats

29:17 — Startup Security Blind Spots That Lead to Breaches

33:28 — Rising AI Risks Leaders Aren’t Preparing For

37:39 — Building Customer Trust Through Transparency

41:50 — Protecting AI Models and Sensitive Customer Data

46:01 — Why Free AI Tools Create Hidden Data Exposure

50:12 — Automating Security Controls for Scale

54:23 — Continuous Compliance Beats Annual Audits

58:34 — Final Takeaways on Security, Trust, and Growth

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