Cyber Talks

Agentic AI in the SOC: Risk, Reliability, and the Future of Security Operations

Agentic AI is moving from hype to reality, reshaping how enterprises operate, and how cyber defenders must adapt. In this CyberTalks episode, Mark Gillett (Chief Product Officer, eSentire) is joined by Ben Wilde (Head of Innovation, Georgian) to break down the risks, reliability challenges, and opportunities presented by autonomous AI agents. In this episode, we explore: * How AI agents expand the enterprise attack surface * Why “agent security” may soon be its own discipline * Guardrails security leaders need before adoption * The balance between automation and human oversight in the SOC * A practical crawl–walk–run model for implementing agentic AI If you’re a CISO, SOC architect, or IT leader, this episode will help you cut through the hype and prepare your team for the next frontier of AI-driven cybersecurity. -- Have a question for us? Reach out: hello@esentire.com --- About Cyber Talks From ransomware attacks to supply chain compromises, eSentire’s Cyber Talks podcast will delve into the world of the latest cyber threats that are impacting businesses globally. Join our team of security experts as we speak with C-level executives and security practitioners about the cyber risks affecting their business and how they’re addressing these challenges. About eSentire eSentire, Inc., the Authority in Managed Detection and Response (MDR), protects the critical data and applications of 2000+ organizations in 80+ countries, across 35 industries from known and unknown cyber threats by providing Exposure Management, Managed Detection and Response and Incident Response services designed to build an organization’s cyber resilience & prevent business disruption. Founded in 2001, eSentire protects the world’s most targeted organizations with 65% of its global base recognized as critical infrastructure, vital to economic health and stability. By combining open XDR platform technology, 24/7 threat hunting, and proven security operations leadership, eSentire's award-winning MDR services and team of experts help organizations anticipate, withstand and recover from cyberattacks. For more information, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.esentire.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/www.esentire.com] and follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@eSentire⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/esentire].

The Hidden Costs of M&A: A CISO’s Perspective on Cyber Due Diligence

In this episode of Cyber Talks, Greg Crowley and Dwayne Smith delve into the critical role of cybersecurity in mergers and acquisitions (M&A). They discuss how cyber risks can significantly affect company valuations and the challenges that arise during these transactions. Dwayne shares his experiences, highlighting the importance of educating stakeholders about potential security issues that could derail deals. The conversation emphasizes the need for robust security measures, including identity management and threat intelligence, to mitigate risks and ensure successful integrations. Topics discussed include: * The impact of security breaches and incidents on M&A valuation and deal terms * What red flags can derail a merger or acquisition (privacy incidents, regulatory violations, unresolved breaches) * The most useful cybersecurity metrics and reports for due diligence * Real-world examples of integrating security tools and policies post-acquisition—and lessons learned * The role of threat intelligence and dark web monitoring in uncovering hidden risk * How to avoid post-acquisition surprises related to legacy code or unsupported infrastructure * Top security investments sellers should make to maximize future valuation -- Have a question for us? Reach out: hello@esentire.com --- About Cyber Talks From ransomware attacks to supply chain compromises, eSentire’s Cyber Talks podcast will delve into the world of the latest cyber threats that are impacting businesses globally. Join our team of security experts as we speak with C-level executives and security practitioners about the cyber risks affecting their business and how they’re addressing these challenges. About eSentire eSentire, Inc., the Authority in Managed Detection and Response (MDR), protects the critical data and applications of 2000+ organizations in 80+ countries, across 35 industries from known and unknown cyber threats by providing Exposure Management, Managed Detection and Response and Incident Response services designed to build an organization’s cyber resilience & prevent business disruption. Founded in 2001, eSentire protects the world’s most targeted organizations with 65% of its global base recognized as critical infrastructure, vital to economic health and stability. By combining open XDR platform technology, 24/7 threat hunting, and proven security operations leadership, eSentire's award-winning MDR services and team of experts help organizations anticipate, withstand and recover from cyberattacks. For more information, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.esentire.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/www.esentire.com] and follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@eSentire⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/esentire].

In Conversation With Tia Hopkins, Chief Cyber Resilience Officer & Field CTO

In today's episode of the Cyber Culture Café series, Andy and John speak to Tia Hopkins, Chief Cyber Resilience Officer & Field CTO. As Chief Cyber Resilience Officer & Field CTO, Tia Hopkins is focused on engaging with the cybersecurity community, providing thought leadership, supporting strategic customer and partner engagements, and working closely with the sales, marketing, product, engineering, and customer success teams to drive security outcome-focused initiatives. She has spent the past 20+ years of her career in various IT and IT Security roles and has over a decade of experience in the managed services space. Outside of her role at eSentire, Tia is also an adjunct professor of Cybersecurity at Yeshiva University and is currently pursuing her PhD in Cybersecurity Leadership. -- Cybersecurity isn't just about platforms and processes—it’s about people. If relationships matter in cybersecurity, this is where they begin. So, we're introducing a new, breakout series from the eSentire Cyber Talks Podcast – the Cyber Culture Café series! In this series, John Moretti and Andy Lalaguna will sit down for a candid conversation with one of the key players behind the eSentire customer experience. This series is all about pulling back the curtain and putting the spotlight on the people who power eSentire’s world-class cybersecurity services. Join us for a relaxed and revealing discussion covering day-to-day challenges, personal motivation, industry observations, and the unique value each guest brings to the eSentire mission. Get to know the voices behind the protection—and why our people are at the core of everything we do. -- Have a question for us? Reach out: hello@esentire.com --- About Cyber Talks From ransomware attacks to supply chain compromises, eSentire’s Cyber Talks podcast will delve into the world of the latest cyber threats that are impacting businesses globally. Join our team of security experts as we speak with C-level executives and security practitioners about the cyber risks affecting their business and how they’re addressing these challenges. About eSentire eSentire, Inc., the Authority in Managed Detection and Response (MDR), protects the critical data and applications of 2000+ organizations in 80+ countries, across 35 industries from known and unknown cyber threats by providing Exposure Management, Managed Detection and Response and Incident Response services designed to build an organization’s cyber resilience & prevent business disruption. Founded in 2001, eSentire protects the world’s most targeted organizations with 65% of its global base recognized as critical infrastructure, vital to economic health and stability. By combining open XDR platform technology, 24/7 threat hunting, and proven security operations leadership, eSentire's award-winning MDR services and team of experts help organizations anticipate, withstand and recover from cyberattacks. For more information, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.esentire.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/www.esentire.com] and follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@eSentire⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/esentire].

In Conversation With Ciaran Luttrell, VP of Global Security Operations

In today's episode of the Cyber Culture Café series, Andy and John speak to Ciaran Luttrell, VP of Global Security Operations. As the VP, Global Security Operations, Ciaran began our European HQ and Security Operations Centre in Cork, Ireland in 2015, and led its initial setup and continued growth to form part of a best-of-breed 24/7/365 Global SOC function with 150 team members. He is responsible for all of eSentire's SOC teams with a focus on strategic direction and execution of continuous improvement initiatives across people, processes and technology. -- Cybersecurity isn't just about platforms and processes—it’s about people. If relationships matter in cybersecurity, this is where they begin. So, we're introducing a new, breakout series from the eSentire Cyber Talks Podcast – the Cyber Culture Café series! In this series, John Moretti and Andy Lalaguna will sit down for a candid conversation with one of the key players behind the eSentire customer experience. This series is all about pulling back the curtain and putting the spotlight on the people who power eSentire’s world-class cybersecurity services. Join us for a relaxed and revealing discussion covering day-to-day challenges, personal motivation, industry observations, and the unique value each guest brings to the eSentire mission. Get to know the voices behind the protection—and why our people are at the core of everything we do. -- Have a question for us? Reach out: hello@esentire.com --- About Cyber Talks From ransomware attacks to supply chain compromises, eSentire’s Cyber Talks podcast will delve into the world of the latest cyber threats that are impacting businesses globally. Join our team of security experts as we speak with C-level executives and security practitioners about the cyber risks affecting their business and how they’re addressing these challenges. About eSentire eSentire, Inc., the Authority in Managed Detection and Response (MDR), protects the critical data and applications of 2000+ organizations in 80+ countries, across 35 industries from known and unknown cyber threats by providing Exposure Management, Managed Detection and Response and Incident Response services designed to build an organization’s cyber resilience & prevent business disruption. Founded in 2001, eSentire protects the world’s most targeted organizations with 65% of its global base recognized as critical infrastructure, vital to economic health and stability. By combining open XDR platform technology, 24/7 threat hunting, and proven security operations leadership, eSentire's award-winning MDR services and team of experts help organizations anticipate, withstand and recover from cyberattacks. For more information, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.esentire.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/www.esentire.com] and follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@eSentire⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/esentire].

Tackling People, Process, and Perception in Cybersecurity

In this episode of Cyber Talks, we speak with Craig Peppard, CISO at Ivari Canada, about why people and processes - not just technology - are the real frontline in cybersecurity. The conversation unpacks the limitations of traditional security awareness training, explores how to move beyond blame to address systemic process failures, and highlights the growing importance of soft skills like empathy and storytelling in security leadership. They also dive into the evolving role of the CISO, the rise of embedded security roles like CISOs, and why mentoring and inclusive hiring practices are essential for building future-ready security teams. -- Have a question for us? Reach out: hello@esentire.com --- About Cyber Talks From ransomware attacks to supply chain compromises, eSentire’s Cyber Talks podcast will delve into the world of the latest cyber threats that are impacting businesses globally. Join our team of security experts as we speak with C-level executives and security practitioners about the cyber risks affecting their business and how they’re addressing these challenges. About eSentire eSentire, Inc., the Authority in Managed Detection and Response (MDR), protects the critical data and applications of 2000+ organizations in 80+ countries, across 35 industries from known and unknown cyber threats by providing Exposure Management, Managed Detection and Response and Incident Response services designed to build an organization’s cyber resilience & prevent business disruption. Founded in 2001, eSentire protects the world’s most targeted organizations with 65% of its global base recognized as critical infrastructure, vital to economic health and stability. By combining open XDR platform technology, 24/7 threat hunting, and proven security operations leadership, eSentire's award-winning MDR services and team of experts help organizations anticipate, withstand and recover from cyberattacks. For more information, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.esentire.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/www.esentire.com] and follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@eSentire⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/esentire].