Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks

Patrick Wright, Forensic and Incident Response Lead at BP, discusses a malware incident that infiltrated a kitchen management system at a coffee retailer. He details the surprising operational challenges faced when the team decided to disconnect the system to mitigate risks. The conversation also uncovers the complexities of conducting forensic investigations under pressure. Wright emphasizes the necessity of individual awareness and proactive measures in combating cyber threats, making a strong case for increased vigilance across all levels of an organization.

In this discussion, Margaret Kelley, a Senior Consultant at Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42, dives deep into the world of cloud security. She highlights the critical dangers posed by cloud misconfigurations that often lead to breaches. Real-world examples illustrate how attackers exploit these vulnerabilities. Margaret also clarifies the shared responsibility model between organizations and cloud providers. Listeners gain practical strategies to tighten cloud defenses, manage permissions effectively, and stay ahead of emerging threats.

Dr. Daniel Ford, Chief Information Security Officer at Jovia Financial Credit Union, shares his extensive cybersecurity expertise. He emphasizes the importance of cyber hygiene and how it safeguards data and manages risks in our digital world. Key strategies discussed include utilizing multi-factor authentication and fostering cyber literacy. Ford also highlights the role of curiosity in success, the connection between cybersecurity and financial literacy, and the necessity of continuous education and proactive practices to build strong cyber defenses.

In this episode of Threat Vector, David Moulton, Director of Thought Leadership at Unit 42, sits down with Wendi Whitmore, Senior Vice President of Unit 42, to discuss the increasing speed and sophistication of cyber attacks. Wendi shares her extensive expertise, highlighting the evolving threat landscape, where cybercriminals focus on disrupting businesses and leveraging end-consumer pressure to extract higher ransoms. The conversation covers critical topics such as AI-driven attacks, ransomware trends, and the growing role of operational resilience. Wendi offers practical advice for organizations to adapt their defenses and reduce downtime, safeguarding their operations. This episode is packed with insights that help cybersecurity professionals stay ahead of modern threats.Join the conversation on our social media channels: Website: http://www.paloaltonetworks.com  Threat Research: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/LifeatPaloAltoNetworks/⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/palo-alto-networks/ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@paloaltonetworks Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/PaloAltoNtwks⁠⁠⁠⁠ About Threat VectorThreat Vector, Palo Alto Networks podcast, is your premier destination for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends.The podcast features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, Palo Alto Networks experts, and customers, providing crucial insights for security decision-makers.Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve with innovative solutions or understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape, Threat Vector equips you with the knowledge needed to safeguard your organization.Palo Alto NetworksPalo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile. ⁠http://paloaltonetworks.com⁠

In this episode of Threat Vector, David Moulton, Director of Thought Leadership at Unit 42, talks with Nir Zuk, Founder and CTO of Palo Alto Networks. They talk about Palo Alto Networks' predictions for 2025, focusing on the shift to unified data security platforms and the growing importance of AI in cybersecurity. Nir sheds light on how having more data leads to smarter threat analysis and why big players have the edge over startups. They also discuss quantum computing and whether its potential to break encryption is realistic or overhyped. This conversation offers practical advice for decision-makers on how to prepare for what's next in cybersecurity.Want to read all of Palo Alto Networks 2025 Predictions? Read The Convergence of Cybersecurity and AI: 7 Game-Changing Predictions for 2025Curious about Nir’s interview in Computer world from 2014? Revisit “How I Got Here: Nir Zuk, CTO, Palo Alto Networks”Join the conversation on our social media channels: Website: http://www.paloaltonetworks.com  Threat Research: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/LifeatPaloAltoNetworks/⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/palo-alto-networks/ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@paloaltonetworks Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/PaloAltoNtwks⁠⁠⁠⁠ About Threat VectorThreat Vector, Palo Alto Networks podcast, is your premier destination for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends.The podcast features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, Palo Alto Networks experts, and customers, providing crucial insights for security decision-makers.Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve with innovative solutions or understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape, Threat Vector equips you with the knowledge needed to safeguard your organization.Palo Alto NetworksPalo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile. ⁠http://paloaltonetworks.com⁠

Announcement: We are pleased to share an exciting announcement about Cortex XDR at the top of our show. You can learn more here. Check out our episode on "Cyber Espionage and Financial Crime: North Korea’s Double Threat" with Assaf Dahan, Director of Threat Research at Palo Alto Networks Cortex team.Join host David Moulton on Threat Vector, as he dives deep into the rapidly evolving XDR landscape with Allie Mellen, Principal Analyst at Forrester. With expertise in security operations, nation-state threats, and the application of AI in security, Allie offers an inside look at how XDR is reshaping threat detection and response. From tackling the SIEM market’s current challenges to optimizing detection engineering, Allie provides invaluable insights into the people, processes, and tools central to an effective SOC. This episode offers listeners a thoughtful exploration of how to navigate today's complex threat landscape and separate XDR hype from reality. Perfect for cybersecurity professionals looking to stay ahead in the field, tune in to hear expert perspectives on the next steps in cybersecurity resilience.Ready to go deeper? Join Josh Costa, Director of Product Marketing, Allie Mellen, Principal Analyst at Forrester and David Moulton, Director of Content and Thought Leadership for Unit 42 as they discuss the State of XDR https://start.paloaltonetworks.com/State-of-XDR-with-Forrester. Join the conversation on our social media channels: Website: http://www.paloaltonetworks.com  Threat Research: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/LifeatPaloAltoNetworks/⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/palo-alto-networks/ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@paloaltonetworks Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/PaloAltoNtwks⁠⁠⁠⁠ About Threat VectorThreat Vector, Palo Alto Networks podcast, is your premier destination for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends.The podcast features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, Palo Alto Networks experts, and customers, providing crucial insights for security decision-makers.Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve with innovative solutions or understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape, Threat Vector equips you with the knowledge needed to safeguard your organization.Palo Alto NetworksPalo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile. ⁠http://paloaltonetworks.com⁠

In this episode of Threat Vector, David Moulton speaks with Meerah Rajavel, CIO of Palo Alto Networks, and Niall Browne, CISO of the organization, about the importance of aligning IT strategy with cybersecurity. Meerah and Niall discuss how frictionless security, AI integration, and cloud solutions enable agility without compromising safety. They explore how the partnership between IT and security drives business outcomes, enhances customer trust, and ensures rapid incident response. Tune in to learn practical strategies for balancing innovation and security in today’s dynamic business environment.Join the conversation on our social media channels: Website: http://www.paloaltonetworks.com  Threat Research: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/LifeatPaloAltoNetworks/⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/palo-alto-networks/ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@paloaltonetworks Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/PaloAltoNtwks⁠⁠⁠⁠ About Threat VectorThreat Vector, Palo Alto Networks podcast, is your premier destination for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends.The podcast features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, Palo Alto Networks experts, and customers, providing crucial insights for security decision-makers.Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve with innovative solutions or understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape, Threat Vector equips you with the knowledge needed to safeguard your organization.Palo Alto NetworksPalo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile. ⁠http://paloaltonetworks.com⁠

Dive into the world of operational technology security, tackling the pressing need for zero trust strategies in safeguarding critical infrastructure. Experts discuss the complexities of achieving visibility in OT environments, especially with the rise of digital transformation. Budget constraints for cybersecurity leadership are scrutinized, emphasizing the importance of optimizing current measures. Gain insights on balancing security with operational efficiency while leveraging automation and AI to confront increasing cyber threats effectively.

Harriet Farlow, CEO of Mileva Security Labs and a PhD candidate in adversarial machine learning, discusses the critical intersection of AI and cybersecurity. She shares her transformative journey from physics to AI security, emphasizing urgent vulnerabilities inherent in AI technologies. Farlow advocates for proactive security measures and the importance of robust policy reforms. The conversation highlights unique attack surfaces in AI systems and stresses enhancing AI literacy among professionals to combat evolving threats.

In this episode of Threat Vector, host David Moulton speaks with Assaf Dahan, Director of Threat Research at Palo Alto Networks’ Cortex team, about the rising cyber threat from North Korea. Dahan, a cybersecurity expert with over 18 years of experience, discusses the nation's strategic shift towards cybercrime for financial gain, highlighting the scale and sophistication of their operations. Together, they examine the evolution of North Korea’s hacking capabilities—from high-profile attacks like the 2014 Sony hack to current, more calculated cyber operations, including crypto heists and malware targeting global financial institutions.Dahan breaks down how North Korea has leveraged cyber warfare as a cost-effective, asymmetric strategy, allowing the regime to target various sectors, from tech to defense, while evading accountability. With billions of dollars reportedly generated through cybercrime, North Korea’s unique blend of espionage, sabotage, and financial crime poses a dual threat to governments and businesses alike.Read the latest Threat Research on North Korean Threat Actors athttps://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/threat-assessment-north-korean-threat-groups-2024/ and https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/north-korea/ Join the conversation on our social media channels: Website: http://www.paloaltonetworks.com  Threat Research: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/LifeatPaloAltoNetworks/⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/palo-alto-networks/ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@paloaltonetworks Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/PaloAltoNtwks⁠⁠⁠⁠ About Threat VectorThreat Vector, Palo Alto Networks podcast, is your premier destination for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends.The podcast features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, Palo Alto Networks experts, and customers, providing crucial insights for security decision-makers.Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve with innovative solutions or understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape, Threat Vector equips you with the knowledge needed to safeguard your organization.Palo Alto NetworksPalo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile. ⁠http://paloaltonetworks.com⁠