

CISO Tradecraft®
CISO Tradecraft®
Welcome to CISO Tradecraft®, your guide to mastering the art of being a top-tier Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Our podcast empowers you to elevate your information security skills to an executive level. Join us on this journey through the domains of effective CISO leadership.
© Copyright 2025, National Security Corporation. All Rights Reserved
© Copyright 2025, National Security Corporation. All Rights Reserved
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 5, 2024 • 45min
#192 - From Cyber Burnout to VCISO Bliss (with Olivia Rose)
Join host G Mark Hardy in this episode of CISO Tradecraft as he welcomes Olivia Rose, an experienced CISO and founder of the Rose CISO Group. Olivia discusses her journey in cybersecurity from her start in marketing to becoming a VCISO. They delve into key topics including the transition from CISO to VCISO, strategies for managing time and stress, the importance of understanding board dynamics, and practical advice on mentoring new entrants in the cybersecurity field. Olivia also shares her insights on maintaining business alignment, handling insurance as a contractor, and building a personal brand in the cybersecurity community.
Olivia Rose: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliviarosecybersecurity/
Transcripts: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S42BepIh1QQHVWsdhhgx6x99U188q5eL
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
01:14 Olivia Rose's Career Journey
06:42 Challenges in Cybersecurity Careers
15:47 Communicating with the Board
22:57 Navigating Compliance and Legal Challenges
24:10 Building Strategic Relationships
25:46 Aligning Security with Business Goals
35:05 The Importance of Reputation and Branding

Jul 29, 2024 • 45min
#191 - From Breach to Bench (with Thomas Ritter)
In this episode of CISO Tradecraft, host G Mark Hardy continues an in-depth discussion with cybersecurity attorney Thomas Ritter on the legal considerations for cybersecurity leaders. The episode touches on essential topics such as immediate legal steps after a data breach, the importance of using correct terminology, understanding attorney-client privilege and discovery, GDPR's impact, data localization, and proactive measures CISOs should take. The conversation also explores the implications of evolving cybersecurity laws and regulations like the Digital Operations Resilience Act and the potential criminal liabilities for CISOs.
Thomas Ritter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-ritter-2b91014a/
Transcripts: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15xQINUOdziGdcEFfh5SN8lS7svtK0JCT
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Recap of Part 1
01:43 Starting the Discussion: Data Breaches
02:22 Legal Steps After a Data Breach
07:19 Understanding Attorney-Client Privilege
08:21 Discovery in Legal Cases
13:31 Staying Updated on Cybersecurity Laws
19:38 Impact of GDPR on Cybersecurity
32:00 Data Localization Challenges
34:55 Proactive Legal Preparedness
37:23 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Jul 22, 2024 • 45min
#190 - Lawyers, Breaches, and CISOs: Oh My (with Thomas Ritter)
In this episode of CISO Tradecraft, host G Mark Hardy interviews cybersecurity lawyer Thomas Ritter. They discuss key legal topics for CISOs, including regulatory compliance, managing third-party risk, responding to data breaches, and recent legislative impacts. Thomas shares his journey into cybersecurity law and provides practical advice and real-world examples. Key points include the challenges of keeping up with evolving regulations, the intricacies of vendor management, and the implications of recent Supreme Court rulings. They also touch on major breaches like SolarWinds and Colonial Pipeline, exploring lessons learned and the importance of implementing essential security controls.
Thomas Ritter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-ritter-2b91014a/ Transcripts: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EvZ_dOpFOLCSSv5ffqxCoMnLZDOnUv_K
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to CISO Tradecraft
00:48 Meet Thomas Ritter: Cybersecurity Lawyer
03:48 Legal Challenges for CISOs
04:54 Managing Third-Party Risks
13:01 Understanding Legal and Statutory Obligations
15:57 Supreme Court Rulings and Cybersecurity
32:57 Lessons from High-Profile Cyber Attacks
38:32 Ransomware Epidemic and Law Enforcement
43:30 Conclusion and Contact Information

Jul 15, 2024 • 34min
#189 - Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is essential for effective leadership in cybersecurity. The discussion highlights the differences between IQ and emotional intelligence and explores various EI models. Key traits such as self-awareness, empathy, and social skills are emphasized as crucial for leaders. Practical strategies for enhancing emotional intelligence are provided, showcasing its value in building trust and fostering communication. The episode also touches on how neurodiverse traits can benefit professionals in specialized fields.

Jul 8, 2024 • 25min
#188 - Securing Small Businesses
Securing Small Businesses: Essential Cybersecurity Tools and Strategies In this episode of CISO Tradecraft, host G Mark Hardy discusses cybersecurity challenges specific to small businesses. He provides insights into key tools and strategies needed for effective cybersecurity management in small enterprises, including endpoint management, patch management, EDR tools, secure web gateways, IAM solutions, email security gateways, MDR services, and password managers. Hardy also evaluates these tools against the CIS Critical Security Controls to highlight their significance in safeguarding small business operations.
Transcripts: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Hon3h950myI7A3jzGmj7YIwRXow5W1V5
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to CISO Tradecraft
00:40 Challenges of Cybersecurity in Small Businesses
01:15 Defining Small Business and Security Baselines
01:53 Top Cybersecurity Tools for Small Businesses
02:05 Hardware and Software Essentials
04:35 Patch Management Solutions
05:19 Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Tools
06:06 Secure Web Gateways and Website Security
11:21 Identity and Access Management (IAM)
12:57 Email Security Gateways
14:15 Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Solutions
14:54 Recap of Essential Cybersecurity Tools
15:41 Bonus Tool: Password Managers
18:33 Aligning with CIS Controls
24:48 Conclusion and Call to Action

Jun 24, 2024 • 20min
#187 - Ensuring Profitable Growth
Welcome to another episode of CISO Tradecraft with your host, G. Mark Hardy! In this episode, we dive into how CISOs can drive the profitable growth of their company's products and services. Breaking the traditional view of security as a cost center, Mark illustrates ways CISOs can support business objectives like customer outreach, service enablement, operational resilience, and cost reduction. Tune in for insightful strategies to improve your impact as a cybersecurity leader and a sneak peek at our upcoming CISO training class! If you would like to learn more about our class, drop us a comment: https://www.cisotradecraft.com/comment
Transcripts: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19SDBdQSTLc58sP5ynwzhuedNHzk7QPKj
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Profitable Growth for CISOs
01:16 Understanding Profit and Business Objectives
03:24 Enhancing Customer Experience through Cybersecurity
08:51 Service Enablement and Upselling Strategies
11:39 Ensuring Operational Resilience
13:36 Cost Reduction and Efficiency Improvements
18:31 Recap and Final Thoughts
19:10 Exciting Announcement: CISO Training Course

Jun 17, 2024 • 45min
#186 - AI Coaching (with Tom Bendien)
Exploring AI in Cybersecurity: Insights from an Expert - CISO Tradecraft with Tom Bendien In this episode of CISO Tradecraft, host G Mark Hardy sits down with AI expert Tom Bendien to delve into the impact of artificial intelligence on cybersecurity. They discuss the basics of AI, large language models, and the differences between public and private AI models. Tom shares his journey from New Zealand to the U.S. and how he became involved in AI consulting. They also cover the importance of education in AI, from executive coaching to training programs for young people. Tune in to learn about AI governance, responsible use, and how to prepare for the future of AI in cybersecurity.
Transcripts: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x0UTLiQY7hWWUdfPE6sIx7l7B0ip7CZo
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:59 Tom Bendien's Background and Journey
02:30 Diving into AI and ChatGPT
04:29 Understanding AI Models and Neural Networks
07:11 The Role of Agents in AI
10:10 Challenges and Ethical Considerations in AI
13:47 Open Source AI and Security Concerns
18:32 Apple's AI Integration and Compliance Issues
24:01 Navigating AI in Cybersecurity
25:09 Ethical Dilemmas in AI Usage
27:59 AI Coaching and Its Importance
32:20 AI in Education and Youth Engagement
35:55 Career Coaching in the Age of AI
39:20 The Future of AI and Its Saturation Point
42:07 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Jun 10, 2024 • 47min
#185 - Ethics and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
In this episode of CISO Tradecraft, host G Mark Hardy delves into the complex intersection of ethics and artificial intelligence. The discussion covers the seven stages of AI, from rule-based systems to the potential future of artificial superintelligence. G Mark explores ethical frameworks, such as rights-based ethics, justice and fairness, utilitarianism, common good, and virtue ethics, and applies them to AI development and usage. The episode also highlights ethical dilemmas, including privacy concerns, bias, transparency, accountability, and the impacts of AI on societal norms and employment. Learn about the potential dangers of AI and how to implement and control AI systems ethically in your organization.
Transcripts: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10AhefqdhkT0PrEbh8qBZVn9wWS6wABO6
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to CISO Tradecraft
01:01 Stages of Artificial Intelligence
03:33 Ethical Implications of AI
05:24 Business Models and Data Security
13:52 Ethical Frameworks Explained
23:18 AI and Human Behavior
25:44 The TikTok Feedback Loop and Digital Addiction
26:54 AI's Unpredictable Capabilities
28:25 The Ethical Dilemmas of AI
30:57 Generative AI and Its Implications
42:10 The Role of Government and Society in AI Regulation
45:49 Conclusion and Ethical Considerations

Jun 3, 2024 • 16min
#184 - Complexity is Killing Us
In this episode of CISO Tradecraft, host G Mark Hardy explores the challenges complexity introduces to cybersecurity, debunking the myth that more complex systems are inherently more secure. Through examples ranging from IT support issues to the intricacies of developing a web application with Kubernetes, the discussion highlights how complexity can obscure vulnerabilities, increase maintenance costs, and expand the attack surface. The episode also offers strategies to tackle complexity, including standardization, minimization, automation, and feedback-driven improvements, aiming to guide cybersecurity leaders toward more effective and less complex security practices.
Transcripts: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J0rPr0HxULpeVJMIwXKXqHuCfnXn4gDu
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:03 The Misconception of Complexity in Cybersecurity
02:41 Real-World Complexities and Their Impact on IT
10:06 Simplifying Cybersecurity: Strategies and Solutions
14:48 Conclusion: Embracing Simplicity in Cybersecurity

May 27, 2024 • 44min
#183 - Navigating the Cloud Security Landscape (with Chris Rothe)
This episode of CISO Tradecraft features a conversation between host G. Mark Hardy and Chris Rothe, co-founder of Red Canary, focusing on cloud security, managed detection and response (MDR) services, and the evolution of cybersecurity practices. They discuss the genesis of Red Canary, the significance of their company name, and the distinctions between Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) and MDRs. The conversation also covers the importance of cloud security, the challenges of securing serverless and containerized environments, and leveraging open-source projects like Atomic Red Team for cybersecurity. They conclude with insights on the cybersecurity labor market, the value of threat detection reports, and the future of cloud security.
Red Canary: https://redcanary.com/
Chris Rothe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/crothe/
Transcripts: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XN4Bp7Sa2geGCVaHuqMRmJckms4q7_L6