Guardians of the Data

Navigating the Data Maze - Brian Cherry - Guardians of the Data - Episode # 43

What data do you have, where does it live, and who has access to it? These three questions sit at the heart of every data security challenge and according to Brian Cherry, most organizations still can't answer them.  In this episode, Brian, a Global Director of Information Security with over 20 years in cybersecurity, joins Ward to dig into the sprawling reality of data security: why data never stays where you think it does, how shadow IT and bad governance quietly create massive exposure, and why AI is raising the stakes on all of it.  Brian also shares how curiosity, mentorship, and asking the right questions shaped his entire career and why those same instincts are the most powerful tools any security professional can have.   Takeaways: * Know your data before you protect it. You can't secure what you can't find. Start by asking four foundational questions: What data needs protection? Where does it live? Have you truly looked everywhere? And who has access and how did they get it? These questions sound simple, but most organizations haven't fully answered any of them. * Act like an investigative journalist when talking to the business. Going into stakeholder conversations without pretending to have all the answers actually gets you further. When people feel like they're teaching you, they open up and that's when you learn where the real data risks are hiding. * Governance isn't sexy, but it's where the real power is. Red team exercises find problems, but governance is what actually prevents them. Policies, controls, and proper data classification programs are what keep businesses from accidentally creating their own worst security incidents. * AI is amplifying your existing data problems, not creating new ones. If sensitive data is scattered in shared directories, staging environments, or forgotten backups, any AI tool with access to it becomes a liability. Getting AI-ready means solving the fundamentals first classification, access control, and visibility. * Find a mentor, and be one. A mentor who pushes you to understand the business side of security, not just the technical side, can completely change your trajectory. And when you've made it, look back. The best investment you can make in the profession is helping someone else ask the next question. Quote of the Show: * "If you don't ask questions, you're never going to know the answer. That's where my career started, and it's still the most powerful tool I have." - Brian Cherry Links: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherrybrian/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cherrybrian/]  Ways to Tune In: * Transistor: https://guardiansofthedata.show/ [https://guardiansofthedata.show/]   * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5gZXInkb12Qrs2Lyv0hstQ [https://open.spotify.com/show/5gZXInkb12Qrs2Lyv0hstQ]  * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guardians-of-the-data/id1826819323 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guardians-of-the-data/id1826819323]  * Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0754cdde-f1c4-4f6c-92a2-e263f7840eb8/guardians-of-the-data [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0754cdde-f1c4-4f6c-92a2-e263f7840eb8/guardians-of-the-data] * iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-guardians-of-the-data-285972170/ [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-guardians-of-the-data-285972170/] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuardiansoftheDataPod [https://www.youtube.com/@GuardiansoftheDataPod]

Fighting AI Risk with AI - Kevin Feck - Guardians of the Data - Ep #42

What would happen if your AI searched all your data right now? Today’s guest, Kevin Feck, Director of Data Protection and Security Architect, joins Ward to unpack how AI is reshaping the data security landscape. With over two decades in cybersecurity, Kevin shares why the industry’s long-standing challenges of data classification, access control, and visibility have suddenly become urgent in the age of AI. From the risks of copilots and LLMs to the reality of “AI readiness,” this conversation dives into what organizations are getting wrong and how to fix it. Kevin also breaks down why trying to “boil the ocean” with data security initiatives often fails, how to scope efforts effectively, and why security teams must evolve from perceived roadblocks to true business enablers.   Takeaways: * Classify Your Data Before Connecting AI to It: AI tools like Copilot can instantly surface sensitive data that used to take weeks to find manually. Granular, contextual data classification is the foundation. * Correlate Sensitive Data With Permissions: Knowing where your sensitive data lives isn't enough. Lock it down to authorized users so AI agents can only access what they should. * Fight AI with AI: Regex based DLP tools are no longer sufficient. Invest in AI powered data security that can understand context, not just patterns. * Build an AI Governance Program: Get lawyers, procurement, security, and technical staff aligned on what "AI" actually means in each vendor contract. Not all "AI" is equal. * Treat User Education as a Core Security Control: No tool is 100% effective without trained users. Ongoing security awareness training is essential to make data classification stick culturally. * Prioritize "Better Together" over a single pane of glass fantasy: No one tool covers every environment perfectly. Integrated tooling with shared intelligence is more effective than waiting for a perfect unified solution. * Hire For Passion, Not Just Credentials: In a field evolving daily, someone deeply motivated to do the right thing will outperform a technically skilled person who is just checking boxes. Quote of the Show: “It’s always been about the data. Tell me what that data is and I’ll tell you how much I have to care about it.” - Kevin Feck Links: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-feck-756ab91/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-feck-756ab91/]  Ways to Tune In: * Transistor: https://guardiansofthedata.show/ [https://guardiansofthedata.show/]   * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5gZXInkb12Qrs2Lyv0hstQ [https://open.spotify.com/show/5gZXInkb12Qrs2Lyv0hstQ]  * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guardians-of-the-data/id1826819323 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guardians-of-the-data/id1826819323]  * Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0754cdde-f1c4-4f6c-92a2-e263f7840eb8/guardians-of-the-data [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0754cdde-f1c4-4f6c-92a2-e263f7840eb8/guardians-of-the-data] * iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-guardians-of-the-data-285972170/ [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-guardians-of-the-data-285972170/] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuardiansoftheDataPod [https://www.youtube.com/@GuardiansoftheDataPod]

AI Governance: Navigating the Speed of Change - Sweeney Williams - Guardians of the Data - Ep #41

How can organizations govern AI responsibly when the technology (and the risks) are evolving faster than ever? In this episode of Guardians of the Data, Ward sits down with Sweeney Williams, Head of Responsible AI, to unpack the biggest challenge facing data security today ... speed. With over 20 years of experience spanning cybersecurity, privacy, and AI governance, Sweeney shares how the rapid acceleration of AI is reshaping everything from geopolitical competition to regulatory approaches and security threats. What once felt like a manageable evolution now demands constant adaptation, forcing organizations to rethink how they govern, secure, and deploy AI in real time. The conversation explores why traditional approaches to regulation and risk management are struggling to keep up, how bad actors are leveraging AI to scale attacks, and why organizations can’t afford to wait for clarity before taking action. Sweeney also outlines practical steps for building a strong AI governance foundation, emphasizing the importance of fundamentals like data governance, transparency, and cross-functional collaboration.   Takeaways: * Speed is the Defining Challenge of AI. AI isn’t just evolving quickly. It’s forcing rapid change across regulation, geopolitics, and security. Organizations are struggling to keep pace with constant shifts in capabilities and expectations. * Regulation is Lagging and May Stay That Way. Global attitudes toward AI regulation have shifted dramatically, with many regions prioritizing innovation and competitiveness over strict governance. * AI is Amplifying Security Risks. Bad actors are using AI to launch more sophisticated and scalable attacks, lowering the barrier to entry and increasing the pressure on security teams. * Fundamentals Still Matter! Strong data governance, transparency, access controls, and bias mitigation remain essential, even as the technology evolves. * You Can’t Wait for Clarity! Organizations that delay action until regulations stabilize risk falling behind. The best time to build AI governance is now. * Third party AI Risk is a Growing Blind Spot. Vendors are rapidly embedding AI into their products, often without clear visibility, making third party risk management more complex than ever. Quote of the Show: * “The best time to plant your AI governance tree… is right now.” - Sweeney Williams Links: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweeney-williams-00762564/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweeney-williams-00762564/]  Ways to Tune In: * Transistor: https://guardiansofthedata.show/ [https://guardiansofthedata.show/]   * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5gZXInkb12Qrs2Lyv0hstQ [https://open.spotify.com/show/5gZXInkb12Qrs2Lyv0hstQ]  * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guardians-of-the-data/id1826819323 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guardians-of-the-data/id1826819323]  * Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0754cdde-f1c4-4f6c-92a2-e263f7840eb8/guardians-of-the-data [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0754cdde-f1c4-4f6c-92a2-e263f7840eb8/guardians-of-the-data] * iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-guardians-of-the-data-285972170/ [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-guardians-of-the-data-285972170/] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuardiansoftheDataPod [https://www.youtube.com/@GuardiansoftheDataPod]

AI Is a Tsunami: Why Teams Are Playing Catch-Up - Ben Rothke - Guardians of the Data - Episode #40

Are security teams already behind on AI? And what does it take to catch up? In this episode of Guardians of the Data, Ben Rothke joins the show to break down the biggest data security challenges facing organizations today and why many of them are harder to solve than ever before. With over 30 years in cybersecurity, Ben shares a grounded perspective on how the landscape has evolved from simpler perimeter-based models to today’s world of data sprawl, AI-driven threats, and overwhelming complexity. He explains why AI isn’t just another trend, but a “tsunami” that’s fundamentally changing how both attackers and defenders operate. The conversation dives into why so many organizations are playing catch-up, how shadow IT and poor foundations create long-term risk, and why the most dangerous security problems can’t be solved with a single tool or quick fix. Ben also offers practical guidance on how teams can approach AI more responsibly, starting with clear use cases, strong guardrails, and embedding security from the very beginning.   Takeaways: * Get Security Involved From the Start: Before deploying any new technology, especially AI, loop in information security from day one. Don't retrofit security after the fact; it's far more costly and risky. * Define Your Use Case Before Buying Tools: Ask "What is my problem, and how will this tool solve it?" Don't buy enterprise AI or security tools because they're on the Gartner Hype Cycle. Start with a clearly defined use case. * Create AI Policies and Guardrails Now: If your organization hasn't done it yet, immediately establish policies and processes governing how AI tools can be used: what data can be entered, by whom, and under what conditions. * Document Before You Deploy: Create detailed design documents for any AI or IT system before rollout, covering use cases, security controls, privacy controls, and support plans. Undocumented "shadow IT" becomes tomorrow's critical vulnerability. * Address Data Sprawl Proactively: Inventory where your data lives across servers, cloud, mobile, and third-party vendors. You can't protect what you don't know you have. * Take Third-Party Supply Chain Risk Seriously: Even a single weak vendor can expose massive amounts of data. Vet your software supply chain rigorously. Quote of the Show: * “In the last year and change, the challenge of AI has just been a tsunami.” - Ben Rothke Links: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrothke/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/benrothke/]  Ways to Tune In: * Transistor: https://guardiansofthedata.show/ [https://guardiansofthedata.show/]   * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5gZXInkb12Qrs2Lyv0hstQ [https://open.spotify.com/show/5gZXInkb12Qrs2Lyv0hstQ]  * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guardians-of-the-data/id1826819323 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guardians-of-the-data/id1826819323]  * Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0754cdde-f1c4-4f6c-92a2-e263f7840eb8/guardians-of-the-data [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0754cdde-f1c4-4f6c-92a2-e263f7840eb8/guardians-of-the-data] * iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-guardians-of-the-data-285972170/ [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-guardians-of-the-data-285972170/] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuardiansoftheDataPod [https://www.youtube.com/@GuardiansoftheDataPod]

The Unstructured Data Problem Not Yet Solved - Brent Bigelow - Guardians of the Data - Episode #39

How much of your company’s data is completely unknown? And what risk is it creating? In this episode, Ward sits down with Brent Bigelow: security consultant, President of the Charlotte ISSA, and a cybersecurity veteran with nearly four decades of experience. They unpack one of the most persistent and overlooked challenges in data security: unstructured data. Brent shares why unstructured data remains the “wild west” of security, how it quietly grows through everyday business operations, and why most organizations still struggle to get their arms around it, especially in the context of mergers and acquisitions. The conversation explores how “shadow business” contributes to data sprawl, why traditional approaches like classification and DLP fall short, and how the rise of AI is accelerating both the risk and complexity of managing unknown data. Brent also reflects on his career journey from the pre-internet era to today’s AI-driven landscape, offering hard-earned lessons on sustainability, leadership, and staying curious in a rapidly evolving field.   Takeaways: * Audit Your Unstructured Data: You can't protect what you don't know you have. Dedicate a formal project to discovering, cataloging, and classifying unstructured data across your organization, especially after mergers and acquisitions. * Establish and Enforce a Data Governance Policy: Policy is the "stake in the sand." Define where data should live, in what formats, and who owns it. Without written policy, you have nothing to point to when a breach or compliance issue surfaces. * Watch Out For "Shadow Business," Not Just Shadow IT: Business units are storing data in unauthorized places just as often as rogue IT does. Extend your data governance conversations beyond IT to include business unit leaders. * Control Privilege and Access as People Leave: When employees move on, they often take data access, or even the data itself, with them. Enforce least-privilege and revoke access promptly at offboarding. * Treat AI Ingestion of Unstructured Data as a Risk: If your organization is deploying Copilot, generative AI, or any LLM that touches internal data, understand what unstructured data it's consuming. Garbage in, garbage out, and the "garbage" could be sensitive or regulated data. * Don't Let Duplicate Data Pollute Your AI Models: Version control and de-duplication matter more now than ever. Unmanaged duplicates degrade AI output quality and can introduce conflicting or outdated information into critical workflows. * Know Your Data Classification Framework and Actually Use It: Internal use, confidential, public. Make sure employees understand how to label data and where each classification belongs. Quote of the Show: * “Unstructured data is no different than the ocean: it just keeps rising.” - Brent Bigelow Links: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-bigelow-02b7791/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-bigelow-02b7791/]  * Website: https://www.charlotteissa.org/ [https://www.charlotteissa.org/]  Ways to Tune In: * Transistor: https://guardiansofthedata.show/ [https://guardiansofthedata.show/]   * Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5gZXInkb12Qrs2Lyv0hstQ [https://open.spotify.com/show/5gZXInkb12Qrs2Lyv0hstQ]  * Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guardians-of-the-data/id1826819323 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guardians-of-the-data/id1826819323]  * Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0754cdde-f1c4-4f6c-92a2-e263f7840eb8/guardians-of-the-data [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0754cdde-f1c4-4f6c-92a2-e263f7840eb8/guardians-of-the-data] * iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-guardians-of-the-data-285972170/ [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-guardians-of-the-data-285972170/] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuardiansoftheDataPod [https://www.youtube.com/@GuardiansoftheDataPod]