The Business of Cybersecurity

Deepfakes, AI Agents, and the Collapse of Traditional Identity Security

How do you defend trust in a world where AI can imitate voices, generate highly convincing phishing attacks, and automate fraud at a scale humans can barely keep up with? In this episode of Business of Cybersecurity, I sit down with Mary Ann Miller from Prove to discuss how AI is reshaping fraud, identity, and cybersecurity in ways many organizations are still struggling to understand fully. With decades of experience across banking, fintech, and fraud prevention, Mary Ann brings a unique perspective on the growing collision between customer experience, digital identity, and AI-driven attacks. We explore how cybercriminals are using contextual AI-powered phishing campaigns that feel increasingly believable, why account takeover attacks are evolving into AI-assisted operations, and what happens when human intuition is no longer enough to identify deepfakes and manipulated content online. Mary Ann explains why the traditional idea of identity verification at login is beginning to break down, especially as one-time passwords and legacy authentication methods become easier to exploit. The conversation also examines the rise of “continuous identity,” in which organizations must continually evaluate trust signals across the customer journey rather than relying on a single authentication event. Mary Ann shares why many organizations are investing heavily in AI innovation while simultaneously lacking the controls needed to defend themselves against AI-driven fraud. We also discuss how non-human identities, AI agents, and automated interactions are introducing new risks that many businesses are still unprepared for. There is also a fascinating discussion around how AI has quietly powered fraud detection systems for decades, from early neural networks monitoring payment anomalies to today’s far more advanced machine learning systems. But as organizations race to introduce AI-powered customer experiences, Mary Ann warns that customer trust and adoption cannot be taken for granted. She shares the example of Walmart reportedly seeing a major drop in conversions during an AI-driven commerce experiment, highlighting how businesses are still learning where AI genuinely improves experiences and where it creates friction. Mary Ann also offers practical advice for boards and security leaders on how to proactively test their defenses through fraud red-team exercises, why organizations need to recognize AI-generated attack patterns earlier, and how businesses can rethink identity in a world where both humans and machines participate in digital interactions. If you care about the future of trust, authentication, fraud prevention, and cybersecurity in the AI era, this conversation offers a valuable look at the challenges already unfolding behind the scenes.

When Identity Becomes The Front Line Of Cybersecurity

What happens when the biggest cybersecurity weakness inside your organization isn’t your infrastructure, but the people using it every day? In this episode of Business of Cybersecurity, I speak with David Cottingham, president of rf IDEAS, about why identity has become one of the most targeted attack surfaces in modern business. From phishing attacks powered by AI to the growing risks tied to compromised credentials, David explains why traditional password habits continue to expose organizations across healthcare, manufacturing, finance, and enterprise environments. Our conversation looks at the uncomfortable reality that while businesses have spent years hardening infrastructure, attackers have shifted their attention toward human behavior. David shares why fully passwordless environments may still be out of reach for many organizations, but why the move toward stronger authentication methods, secure second factors, mobile credentials, passkeys, and biometric workflows is already reshaping how businesses think about trust and access. We also discuss the growing tension between stronger security and employee productivity. From clinicians accessing patient records in hospitals to workers authenticating on factory floors, David explains why security tools only succeed when they fit naturally into real-world workflows. The episode also explores the convergence of physical and logical security, the dangers of outdated proximity cards, and how layered security strategies still matter in an age shaped by AI-driven threats. Along the way, David shares what he’s hearing from organizations at industry events, why many leaders feel overwhelmed by identity decisions, and how companies can future-proof their authentication strategies without disrupting existing systems overnight. If identity is now the new perimeter, how should organizations rethink trust before the next breach forces the conversation?

Index Engines On Why Cyber Resilience Has Become A Boardroom Issue

What happens when ransomware stops being treated as a cybersecurity problem and starts being viewed as a direct threat to business survival? In this episode of Business of Cybersecurity, I sat down with Jim McGann, CMO at Index Engines, to unpack why 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most dangerous years yet for organizations facing increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. Jim shared how ransomware gangs are evolving into highly organized operations powered by AI, automation, and ransomware-as-a-service models that dramatically lower the barrier to entry for attackers. From healthcare systems and transportation networks to retailers and city infrastructure, no sector appears off limits anymore. We explored why traditional disaster recovery strategies built for floods or hardware failures are no longer enough when attackers actively corrupt backups, manipulate databases, and target recovery systems themselves. A major focus of our conversation centered on the idea of “Return on Risk” or ROR, a shift away from viewing cybersecurity purely through an ROI lens. Jim explained why boards and executives need to stop treating ransomware as an isolated IT issue and instead recognize it as a business continuity crisis capable of damaging reputation, customer trust, revenue, and regulatory standing in a matter of hours. He shared real-world stories of organizations discovering their backups had been deleted, deepfake scams impersonating executives, and attackers infiltrating recovery planning meetings themselves. We also discussed how Index Engines’ CyberSense platform approaches cyber resilience differently by validating the integrity of recovery data and helping organizations identify clean copies of data with a 99.99% detection SLA for ransomware corruption. Jim explained why assuming compromise has become essential and why organizations must rehearse recovery strategies long before disaster strikes. This conversation goes far beyond technical defenses. It examines trust, operational resilience, leadership accountability, and what happens when businesses fail to answer one simple but uncomfortable question: “How quickly can we recover if everything goes down tomorrow?” Are organizations finally starting to accept that prevention alone is no longer enough, or are too many still hoping they will somehow avoid becoming the next headline? Useful Links * Connect with Jim McGann [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcgann/] * Learn more about Index Engines [https://indexengines.com/] Please check the partners of the Tech Tech Talks Network * Learn more about the NordLayer Browser [https://nordlayer.com/browser/] * Visit Denodo.com [http://Denodo.com]

The Internet Will Never Be This Secure Again, IEEE's Kevin Curran on AI and Cybersecurity

What happens when one of the world’s most experienced cybersecurity educators looks at the future of AI and quietly admits that the internet may never be this secure again? In this episode of Business of Cybersecurity, I sat down with IEEE member and cybersecurity professor Kevin Curran for a conversation that moved far beyond theory and into the real-world risks, opportunities, and uncomfortable truths shaping the next era of digital security. Kevin brought a fascinating perspective to the discussion, shaped by nearly three decades teaching computer science and cybersecurity at Ulster University, alongside years working with industry leaders, legal cases, and global media. Together, we explored how cybersecurity evolved from an afterthought into one of the most in-demand career paths in the world. Kevin explained why the rise of online commerce, social media, cloud services, and cryptocurrency completely transformed the threat landscape, creating an environment where cybercrime became financially rewarding and increasingly sophisticated. The conversation also tackled the growing cybersecurity talent gap and why AI is simultaneously creating new risks and new career opportunities. Kevin shared why he believes certifications still matter in cybersecurity, why platforms like TryHackMe are helping democratize access to cyber training, and why younger professionals have an advantage if they become truly AI-native. He also offered a candid look at how AI agents, autonomous workflows, and rapidly evolving models are reshaping both education and enterprise security practices in real time. One of the most thought-provoking moments came when Kevin discussed the emotional side of working in technology during a period of relentless acceleration. From AI burnout to fears around agentic systems and nation-state threats, he spoke openly about the pressure many professionals are feeling as they try to keep pace with constant disruption. Rather than resisting change, Kevin argues that the future belongs to people with strong judgment, domain expertise, and the ability to work alongside AI systems responsibly. We also discussed the balancing act facing business leaders today. Organizations want innovation and productivity gains from AI, but they also need governance, compliance, and protection against entirely new attack vectors like prompt injection, malicious plugins, and compromised AI agents. Kevin shared practical advice for anyone looking to future-proof their career in cybersecurity, particularly around understanding agent architectures, AI workflows, and how trust models are changing inside modern organizations. If you work in cybersecurity, technology leadership, education, or simply want a clearer understanding of where AI and cyber risk are heading next, this episode offers a thoughtful and surprisingly human conversation about a rapidly changing industry. After listening, do you share Kevin’s concerns that today may eventually feel like the safest period of the internet we will ever experience? Please check the partners of the Tech Tech Talks Network * Learn more about the NordLayer Browser [https://nordlayer.com/browser/] * Visit Denodo.com [http://Denodo.com]

Commvault On Cyber Recovery Why Disaster Plans Fall Short

What happens when cyber resilience shifts from an IT concern to something that directly impacts revenue, operations, and even national stability? In this episode of The Business of Cybersecurity, I sit down with Mark Molyneux, Field CTO for Northern Europe at Commvault, to break down the UK’s Cyber Security and Resilience Bill and what it really means for organizations trying to stay ahead of increasingly complex threats. At first glance, legislation like this can feel distant, something for compliance teams to worry about later. But as Mark explains, the reality is far more immediate. This bill has been years in the making, shaped by a growing pattern of incidents that have moved beyond isolated IT problems and into events with real economic and societal impact. The conversation quickly shifts from what the bill says to why it matters right now, especially as cyber threats continue to evolve faster than regulation can keep up. One of the most valuable takeaways from our discussion is the distinction between disaster recovery and true cyber recovery. Many organizations believe they are prepared because they have invested heavily in backup systems and failover environments. But as Mark highlights, those assumptions can break down quickly when core systems, identities, or trusted environments are compromised. In those moments, traditional recovery metrics no longer apply, and the focus turns to how quickly a business can return to a clean, operational state. We also explore the risk of treating new regulation as a simple compliance exercise. There is always a temptation to do the minimum required and move on. However, recent real-world incidents have changed the tone of the conversation. Leadership teams are starting to recognize that resilience is about survival, not certification. That shift in mindset is where meaningful progress begins. Mark shares practical guidance for organizations at different stages of their journey. Whether it is selecting a single cybersecurity framework, running realistic tabletop exercises with executive teams, or defining what a minimum viable company actually looks like during a crisis, the emphasis is on taking action now rather than waiting for legislation to dictate the pace. There is also an honest discussion about the limits of regulation. Laws and frameworks will always lag behind the speed of technological change, especially as AI begins to reshape how attacks are launched and executed. That puts the responsibility back on organizations to go further than compliance and build resilience that reflects their real-world risk. This episode is a reminder that cyber resilience is no longer about preventing every possible attack. It is about ensuring the business can continue when something goes wrong. So as new legislation begins to take shape and expectations rise, are you confident your organization could recover quickly from a serious cyber event, or are you still relying on assumptions that have yet to be tested? Please check the partners of the Tech Tech Talks Network * Learn more about the NordLayer Browser [https://nordlayer.com/browser/] * Visit Denodo.com [http://Denodo.com]