S4E15: Tom Pace - Firmware, IoT and Cyber Physical Systems (CPS)

Chris: First off, tell us a bit about NetRise, what you all do, and what your focus is on?

Chris: There's been a tremendous focus as of late on software supply chain security, as you know, but much of it focuses on things such as Cloud, SaaS, Containers etc. at NetRise you all take a focus on Firmware, IoT and Cyber Physical Systems (CPS). Why is that and what are some concerns folks overlook with these vectors?

Nikki: You just announced the launch of ETHOS - a cooperation between several organizations to investigate threat indicators and looking into emerging trends in attacks. Can you talk a little bit about how this idea came together and what ETHOS will be doing? 

Nikki:You have a lot of expertise around IoT and IIoT, can you talk about some emerging trends in cyber threats and concerns around the connectivity of devices? 


Chris: I know you guys focus a fair bit on SBOM. For those not required to have one due to policy or regulations, what are the benefits of doing so?


Chris: I know you all have experience and expertise with vulnerabilities in products. Does SBOM help address scenarios where the product itself may have no identified vulnerabilities or CVE's but components identified in its SBOM do?

Chris: I noticed you're also a USMC veteran, so first, thanks for your service. As a fellow veteran, as I recently walked the RSAC floor this past week I noticed how many leaders in the industry had former military experience. Have you noticed anything similar in Cyber and has your military experience served you in any ways as you have went on to go into industry cyber roles and now as a CEO?

Nikki: You have such great experience between threat hunting, incident response, to now being a CEO / Co-founder and Advisor to multiple other companies. What has that transition been like and do you have any advice for any other practitioners out there that may be interested in starting their own organization? 

Nikki: What's your favorite book, podcast, or other media right now? Anything we should be checking out? 

Nikki: What are some of the big things going on at NetRise right now? Any other projects you and the team are working on that you would like to share?