
Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson
Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President and Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at Microsoft, talks with cybersecurity thought leaders and influential industry experts about the trends shaping the cyber landscape and what should be top-of-mind for the C-suite and other key decision makers. Ann and her guests explore the risk and promise of emerging technologies, as well as the impact on how humans work, communicate, consume information, and live in this era of digital transformation. Please note, the opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and are not endorsed by, nor do they necessarily reflect opinions of, Microsoft or Ann Johnson.
Latest episodes

Jun 15, 2021 • 25min
Strengthening the Global Supply Chain Against Cybersecurity Threats
Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President, Security, Compliance, and Identity at Microsoft discusses the recent cyberattacks on the US supply chain with Admiral (RET) Michael Rogers, former Head of United States Cyber Command. Mike gives his perspective on the frailty of today’s supply chain (particularly in the US) and the massive risk of failing to secure it. Don’t miss this fascinating discussion about the growing sophistication of cybercrime and the necessity of public-private partnerships to stop it.Resources: View Ann Johnson on LinkedInRelated:Listen to: Security UnlockedListen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcastsSecurity Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.

Nov 1, 2020 • 33min
Taking a “When, Not If” Approach to Cybersecurity
Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President, Business Development, Security, Compliance, and Identity at Microsoft, speaks with Executive Vice President and Head of Mandiant Intelligence at FireEye, Sandra Joyce. With the U.S. election upon us, misinformation is at a fever pitch as bad actors aim to disrupt and erode confidence in our democratic system. Ann and Sandra discuss the relationship between attribution and accountability in these scenarios, the rise of ransomware as a national security issue, and how understanding the scale of the threat landscape can help organizations respond—swiftly and thoroughly—to a breach.Resources: View Sandra Joyce on LinkedInView Ann Johnson on LinkedInRelated:Listen to: Security UnlockedListen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcastsSecurity Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.

Oct 26, 2020 • 27min
Amplifying Cybersecurity’s Diverse Voices To Strengthen the Industry: Part 2
Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President, Business Development, Security, Compliance, and Identity at Microsoft, discusses diversity in cybersecurity with Camille Stewart, head of security policy and election integrity for Android and Google Play, and Lauren Zabierek, executive director of the Cyber Project at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center. Camille and Lauren, whose #ShareTheMicInCyber campaign amplifies Black practitioners in tech, share insights on how organizations and individuals can identify blindspots, encourage uncomfortable dialogue, and nurture inclusivity in the industry. Listen to the second episode in this two-part discussion on how excluding diverse voices weakens our approach to security on a national scale, as well as the vulnerabilities we risk when bias is baked into technology.Resources: View Camille Stewart on LinkedInView Ann Johnson on LinkedInRelated:Listen to: Security UnlockedListen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcastsSecurity Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.

Oct 19, 2020 • 27min
Amplifying Cybersecurity’s Diverse Voices To Strengthen the Industry: Part 1
? Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President, Business Development, Security, Compliance, and Identity at Microsoft, discusses diversity in cybersecurity with Camille Stewart, head of security policy and election integrity for Android and Google Play, and Lauren Zabierek, executive director of the Cyber Project at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center. Camille and Lauren, whose #ShareTheMicInCyber campaign amplifies Black practitioners in tech, share insights on how organizations and individuals can identify blindspots, encourage uncomfortable dialogue, and nurture inclusivity in the industry. Listen to the first episode in this two-part discussion on how excluding diverse voices weakens our approach to security on a national scale, as well as the vulnerabilities we risk when bias is baked into technology.Resources: View Camille Stewart on LinkedInView Ann Johnson on LinkedInRelated:Listen to: Security UnlockedListen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcastsSecurity Unlocked is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.

Oct 12, 2020 • 38min
Fortifying Security Strategies With a Cyber Mindset
Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President, Business Development, Security, Compliance, and Identity at Microsoft, and Jules Okafor, CEO/founder of RevolutionCyber and diversity and anti-racism influencer, discuss the attitudes that keep the cybersecurity industry from fully realizing its potential. Jules presents her cyber mindset perspective, urging security professionals to prioritize value and positive outcomes for customers, not just technology sales. Join their talk about how by truly listening—not scrambling for an easy button—the industry also can make meaningful progress in changing behaviors, sustaining difficult conversations, and becoming more inclusive.Resources: View Jules Okafor on LinkedInView Ann Johnson on LinkedInRelated:Listen to: Security UnlockedListen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcastsAfternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.

Oct 5, 2020 • 32min
Working Through It: Operational Resilience in the Face of Disaster
Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President, Business Development, Security, Compliance, and Identity at Microsoft, shares a conversation with Bret Arsenault, Microsoft’s Chief Information Security Officer, to talk about his role in the company’s response to the pandemic. Ann and Bret usher in National Cybersecurity Awareness Month with a discussion about the new rules of engagement for a largely remote workforce and the pressures it places on many companies. Hear their perspectives on the importance of data and the modern CISO to security, productivity, and employee wellness.Resources: View Bret Arsenault on LinkedInView Ann Johnson on LinkedInRelated:Listen to: Security UnlockedListen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcastsAfternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.

Sep 28, 2020 • 28min
Cybersecurity Becomes a Business Imperative
Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President, Business Development, Security, Compliance, and Identity at Microsoft, talks about perceptions of cybersecurity with information security researcher, political scientist, author, and Fulbright Scholar Tarah Wheeler. They dive into how security and risk management have ascended within organizations, as well as the importance of looking beyond cybercrime to the people most affected by the fallout. Their conversation considers the physics of encryption vs. the right to data privacy, imposter syndrome in the cybersecurity community, and what people do when given power and anonymity.Resources: View Tarah Wheeler on LinkedInView Ann Johnson on LinkedInRelated:Listen to: Security UnlockedListen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcastsAfternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.

Sep 21, 2020 • 31min
Privacy, the Pandemic, and Protecting Our Cyber Future
Cybersecurity expert Theresa Payton joins Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President for Business Development, Security, Compliance, and Identity at Microsoft, to talk about election security, socially engineered attacks, and Theresa’s book “Manipulated: Inside the Cyberwar to Hijack Elections and Distort the Truth.” Ann and Theresa unpack how the cyberoperatives behind misinformation campaigns choose their targets, their narratives, and the conversations they seek to influence. Listen for perspectives on the pandemic and the power of human-centered design to combat cybercrime.Resources: View Theresa Payton on LinkedInView Ann Johnson on LinkedInRelated:Listen to: Security UnlockedListen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcastsAfternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.

Sep 14, 2020 • 30min
Evaluating Individual and Organizational Cyber Risk in a Pandemic
Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President, Business Development, Security, Compliance & Identity at Microsoft, talks with James Turner, an industry analyst who works to support CISOs and strengthen the resilience of the economies of Australia and New Zealand. Ann and James talk about the importance of communication and collaboration among governments and private organizations, as well as the emphasis the COVID-19 pandemic has put on cooperation in the cybersecurity industry. Hear their perspectives for CISOs grappling with an escalating threat landscape and their guidance for weathering the challenges presented by this moment.Resources: View Ann Johnson on LinkedInRelated:Listen to: Security UnlockedListen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcastsAfternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.

Jun 22, 2020 • 26min
Litigating the New Frontier: How Tech Law Protects Consumers and Fosters Innovation
Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President for the Cybersecurity Solutions Group at Microsoft, hosts a conversation with Gabe Ramsey, a technology litigation partner and Microsoft’s outside counsel, taking part in the company’s recent efforts to dismantle botnets. Ann and Gabe talk about the importance of private-public partnerships in deterring and disrupting cybercrime, as well as the ability to scale a defense strategy. Listen for their perspectives on persistence in botnet takedowns, privacy laws and their implications for tech companies’ responsible use of data, and the ethics of facial recognition and AI bias.Resources: View Gabe Ramsey on LinkedInView Ann Johnson on LinkedInRelated:Listen to: Security UnlockedListen to: Security Unlocked: CISO Series with Bret Arsenault Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcastsAfternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of The CyberWire Network.