

Secure Talk Podcast
Justin Beals
Secure Talk reviews the latest threats, tips, and trends on security, innovation, and compliance.
Host Justin Beals interviews leading privacy, security and technology executives to discuss best practices related to IT security, data protection and compliance. Based in Seattle, he previously served as the CTO of NextStep and Koru, which won the 2018 Most Impactful Startup award from Wharton People Analytics. He is the creator of the patented Training, Tracking & Placement System and the author of “Aligning curriculum and evidencing learning effectiveness using semantic mapping of learning assets,” published in the International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJet). Justin earned a BA from Fort Lewis College.
Host Justin Beals interviews leading privacy, security and technology executives to discuss best practices related to IT security, data protection and compliance. Based in Seattle, he previously served as the CTO of NextStep and Koru, which won the 2018 Most Impactful Startup award from Wharton People Analytics. He is the creator of the patented Training, Tracking & Placement System and the author of “Aligning curriculum and evidencing learning effectiveness using semantic mapping of learning assets,” published in the International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJet). Justin earned a BA from Fort Lewis College.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 2, 2024 • 48min
Reputation as a risk: understanding the security threat of harmful narratives
In this gripping episode of Secure Talk, hosted by Justin Beals, we dive deep into the fascinating intersection of technology, governance, and society. Our special guest, Mark Listes, CEO of Pendulum, discusses his journey from a coding enthusiast to a champion of cybersecurity and democracy. The episode takes a compelling turn as we explore a riveting case study on a data breach involving Carta and Linear. Discover how internal governance and public narratives play crucial roles in securing data and maintaining trust.

Mar 27, 2024 • 35min
Decoding Disaster: An Analysis of Four Pivotal Cybersecurity Breaches
The Secure Talk podcast, hosted by Justin Beals, presents a bonus episode discussing recent security breaches with guests Stephen Farrell of Ideagen, Paul Bingham of Western Governors University, Raffaele Mattone of Judy Security, and Alex Cox of LastPass. The episode covers the 23andMe data breach, Microsoft government email hacks, the Whitworth University ransomware attack, and insights on the LockBit ransomware takedown. It highlights breach responses, risks of consumer DNA data, and evolving cybercrime operations.

Mar 19, 2024 • 40min
Mastering Cyber Shadows: Alex Cox's Take On LockBit's Resilience And The Role Of Threat Intelligence
This Secure Talk podcast interviews Alex Cox, Director of Threat Intelligence for LastPass. We discuss the evolution of cybercrime, the significance of threat intelligence, and the recent takedown of the notorious ransomware group, Lockbit.
The conversation covers Alex’s background in law enforcement and cyber security, the progression of cybercrime from Zeus Trojan to ransomware, the entrepreneurial approach of cybercriminals in the development of ransomware operations, and the increasing complexity of cybercriminal organizations. The interview delves into the functioning of Lockbit, its business-focused model with customer support and blog site, and its resilience in resurfacing after takedowns. Furthermore, the conversation touches on the shifting landscape of cybercrime, the interplay between cybercriminal organizations and nation-states, and the challenges in combating cybercrime, including the use of cryptocurrency for money laundering. As the conversation concludes, Alex provides insights into the professional and adaptive nature of cybercriminals, emphasizing their vigilance in understanding the actions of cybersecurity professionals.
Overall, the interview offers valuable insights into the complex world of cyber threats, the role of threat intelligence, and the ongoing battle between cybercriminals and law enforcement.

Mar 5, 2024 • 45min
Preventing phishing and ransomware: how Raffaele Mautone is safeguarding mid-size businesses
Secure Talk invited CEO and Founder of Judy Security Raffaele Mautone to join us as a guest. The conversation focuses on a cybersecurity breach involving Whitworth University, covering the details of the breach, the response by the university, the challenges faced, and the importance of communication and disaster recovery plans in the event of a ransomware attack. The discussion also highlights the significance of having a multi-faceted approach to protecting data, including paper backups and encrypted data storage. The guest, Rafael, emphasizes the need for founders and small to mid-sized businesses to prioritize effective communication and response plans, as well as the potential vulnerabilities and risks they should be aware of in the cybersecurity landscape.

Feb 21, 2024 • 49min
The Accountant Turned FBI Agent: Paul Bingham’s Contribution to Cybersecurity
In this Secure Talk episode we welcome Paul Bingham, a former FBI Cybercrime Investigator and currently the Senior Vice President and Executive Dean at the College of Information Technology at Western Governors University. The discussion spans Paul’s 25 year career in the FBI fighting cybercrime, his transition to academia, and his insights on cybersecurity. Key points include advice for those interested in career paths like cybersecurity or FBI, Paul’s perspective on a Microsoft security breach, and understanding Western Governors University’s competency-based education approach.

Feb 8, 2024 • 40min
HealthTech, GAMP and 23andMe: A conversation with Stephen Ferrell, security leader in Life Sciences.
How do you secure critical infrastructure that provides life-saving products? Life Sciences, BioPharma, and Health Tech companies hold some of the most valuable and private data. Security guards these organizations against motivated hackers, legal liabilities, and patient privacy. We are speaking with Stephen Ferrell, a leader in security for the life sciences space. We’ll highlight the significance of GAMP and its risk-based approach. Finally, they analyze the 23andMe data breach and the risks associated with DNA data.

Jan 20, 2024 • 43min
Secure Talk has a new host! Measuring Security and the impact of AI on Security certification.
In this episode, Mark hands over the leadership of the SecureTalk podcast to Justin Beals, the CEO of StrikeGraph. They discuss security's complexity and measurement's role in ensuring effective security practices. Justin shares his perspective on security and how StrikeGraph helps organizations identify and operationalize the right security practices.
They also discuss the impact of AI on security and the growing demand for security standards and certifications. Justin outlines his plans for SecureTalk, which include continuing to make security an approachable conversation and bringing in experts to discuss the future of security.
The Secure Talk Cybersecurity Podcast
https://securetalkpodcast.com/

Aug 21, 2023 • 50min
Self-Sovereign Identities, Zero-Knowledge Credentials, and AI Digital Assistants
Chris Were is the Co-Founder and CEO of Verida, a network of decentralized data storage, messaging, and single sign-on solutions that enable interoperable ownership of personal data for Web3.
In this episode of Secure Talk, Chris talks about self-sovereign identities, zero-knowledge credentials, and crypto wallets, and explains how personal will unlock AI digital assistants.
Verida
https://www.verida.io/

Jul 27, 2023 • 45min
A Better Way to Deploy Cloud Infrastructure
Cory O'Daniel is the CEO and Co-Founder of Massdriver a company that provides self-service capabilities for deploying cloud infrastructure in an optimal manner for both cost and governance. Cory talks a bit about Massdriver's service and explains the challenges of traditional dev ops, and how dev ops is evolving. He also talks about what founders should look for when selecting a funding partner.
Massdriver
https://www.massdriver.cloud/
The Secure Talk Podcast
https://securetalkpodcast.com/

Jul 24, 2023 • 44min
Threat Modeling for Software Design & Development
Stephen de Vries is the Co-Founder and CEO of IriusRisk a cybersecurity firm that helps companies to identify threats and improve security processes in the design and rollout of software. Stephen explains how IriusRisk helps its customers and also talks about the changing regulatory and threat landscapes related to cybersecurity.
IriusRisk
https://www.iriusrisk.com/
The Secure Talk Podcast
https://securetalkpodcast.com/


