The Connectivity Cloud Podcast

Cybersecurity Predictions 2026: What Security Leaders Learned in 2025

In this special compilation episode of The Connectivity Cloud Podcast with Cloudflare, Lia Kazandzhieva, Marketing Campaign Manager at Cloudflare revisits the most impactful conversations from 2025 with leading CISOs and security experts to distill the lessons that will define 2026 and beyond. What You'll Learn * How the CISO role has transformed from technical gatekeeper to strategic business partner * The real impact of AI on both offensive and defensive security operations * Why the human element remains the first line of defense in modern cybersecurity * How cloud transformation drives business resilience and agility beyond technology migration * Why zero trust has evolved from buzzword to business necessity * The universal challenge of regulatory complexity across industries and geographies * Which emerging threats are genuinely concerning versus fear-based marketing * Practical advice from security leaders on navigating transformation in 2026 Featured Guests: This compilation features insights from leading security professionals who appeared on The Connectivity Cloud Podcast in 2025, including: * Olivier Busolini, Group Head of Information Security at Mashreq * Mostafa Hassanin, Group CISO at SMG Swiss Marketplace Group * Yevhen Baliutov, Chief Information Security Officer at Raiffeisen Bank * Sam Rhea, VP of Emerging Technology and Incubation at Cloudflare * Ange Ferrari, SVP and CISO at METRO AG * Andy Dean, Head of Technical Operations at AllSaints * Christian Reilly, Field CTO of EMEA at Cloudflare * Stephanie Cohen, Chief Strategy Officer at Cloudflare * João Pedro Gonçalves, CISO and Managing Director at EQT Group * Vladimir Krupnov, Threat Intelligence Lead at Revolut * Blake Darché, Head of Cloudforce One and Threat Intelligence at Cloudflare * Michael Tremante, Senior Director of Product at Cloudflare If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, and don’t forget to rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify - we appreciate all feedback from our listeners! The Connectivity Cloud Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]

Inside Cybersecurity's New Arms Race with Vladimir Krupnov and Blake Darché

In this episode of The Connectivity Cloud Podcast with Cloudflare, host Mark Dembo is joined by Vladimir Krupnov, Threat Intelligence Lead at Revolut, and Blake Darché, Head of Cloudforce One and Threat Intelligence at Cloudflare, to expose the evolving tactics of cybercriminals and what it really takes to stop them. What You’ll Learn * Why threat intelligence must focus on actionability before data collection * How AI is transforming both offensive and defensive security operations * The growing challenge of fake employee profiles and why KYE is becoming as critical as KYC * Why cross-industry collaboration is essential for effective cybercrime disruption * How to prioritize security investments by focusing on fundamental controls before advanced threats * Why geopolitical conflicts continue to drive DDoS attacks and supply chain risks remain a critical concern for organizations Vladimir Krupnov is the Threat Intelligence Lead at Revolut, where he oversees global threat intelligence functions focusing on emerging threats, fraud infrastructure, social engineering, and disinformation campaigns. With a background in economics and digital risk protection, he specializes in turning threat signals into actionable intelligence for real-time cybercrime disruption. Blake Darché is the Head of Cloudforce One and Threat Intelligence at Cloudflare, leading a team dedicated to monitoring, analyzing, and responding to global cyber threats. With nearly 20 years in information security, he brings vast experience in threat operations and cybersecurity strategy, while also serving as an active investor and adviser to several cybersecurity startups. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, and don’t forget to rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify - we appreciate all feedback from our listeners! Episode Resources: * Vladimir Krupnov on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vladcyber/] * Blake Darché on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakedarche/] * Revolut Website [https://www.revolut.com/] * Mark Dembo on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdembo/] * Cloudflare Website [https://www.cloudflare.com/] The Connectivity Cloud Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]

How This Bank CISO Can Redeploy His Infrastructure in Minutes

In this episode of The Connectivity Cloud Podcast with Cloudflare, host Mark Dembo is joined by Yevhen Baliutov, Chief Information Security Officer at Raiffeisen Bank, to share his playbook for turning security from a cost center into a strategic asset, through language fluency, self-confidence, and measurable value. What You’ll Learn * How to communicate security value across departments by speaking each stakeholder's language * The critical balance between multiple backups and rapid infrastructure redeployment capabilities for robust disaster recovery * Why implementing AI requires both security guardrails and cultural transformation to maximize value while minimizing risks * How to build engineering-first security programs that create lasting organizational value * Why developing next-generation security talent requires balancing technical skills with business acumen * How to implement security measures that enable rather than block business innovation Yevhen Baliutov serves as Chief Information Security Officer at Raiffeisen Bank and Academic Director of the Cyber Security bachelor's program at Kyiv School of Economics. With over 16 years of leadership experience across diverse sectors, he has established himself as an innovator in transforming security from a necessity into a strategic business enabler. In his dual roles, Yevhen champions an engineering-first approach to security, focusing on creating practical value while nurturing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. His expertise spans security transformation, AI adoption, and crisis management, particularly valuable given his experience operating during challenging geopolitical circumstances. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, and don’t forget to rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify - we appreciate all feedback from our listeners! Episode Resources: * Yevhen Baliutov on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/yevhenbaliutov/?originalSubdomain=ua] * Raiffeisen Bank Ukraine Website [https://raiffeisen.ua/] * Kyiv School of Economics Website [https://university.kse.ua/?gclid=undefined] * Mark Dembo on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdembo/] * Cloudflare Website [https://www.cloudflare.com/] The Connectivity Cloud Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]

Why the Next Big App Might Be Built by an AI Agent

In this episode of The Connectivity Cloud Podcast with Cloudflare, host Mark Dembo shows what it really means to build without friction, from spinning up and deploying a live website in 120 seconds to transforming it with GenAI and then debugging it using agentic AI. What You’ll Learn * How to deploy global web applications in minutes without managing infrastructure, certificates, or scaling * The practical benefits of Cloudflare's automated multi-region deployment across 340+ data centers * Why agentic AI represents the next evolution in development * How AI agents can independently diagnose and fix production issues by interfacing with deployment platforms Mark Dembo serves as a Senior Manager at Cloudflare, where he focuses on "making developers happy and successful." With vast expertise in cloud platforms and developer tooling, he leads initiatives to enhance developer velocity and streamline application deployment processes. At Cloudflare, Mark has been vital in building a platform that serves over 3 million developers worldwide, focusing on removing friction from the development process and enabling rapid deployment at enterprise scale. His work spans traditional development practices and cutting-edge AI integration, particularly in implementing agentic AI solutions that transform how developers build, deploy, and maintain applications. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, and don’t forget to rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify - we appreciate all feedback from our listeners! Episode Resources: * Mark Dembo on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdembo/] * Cloudflare Website [https://www.cloudflare.com/] * The gaps in web application security article [https://www.cloudflare.com/en-gb/the-net/waap-gaps/] * Code Mode: the better way to use MCP blog [ https://blog.cloudflare.com/code-mode/] * More from The Connectivity Cloud Podcast  [https://www.cloudflare.com/connectivity-cloud-podcast/#episodes] The Connectivity Cloud Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]

How Retailers Are Fighting Back Against Fraud with Andy Dean and Christian Reilly

In this episode of The Connectivity Cloud Podcast with Cloudflare, host Mark Dembo is joined by Andy Dean, Head of Technical Operations at AllSaints, and Christian Reilly, Field CTO of EMEA at Cloudflare, to unpack what real-world digital transformation looks like, specifically how enterprises can navigate the complex balance between security and scalability, from managing multi-vendor environments to modernizing legacy infrastructure. What You’ll Learn * How to successfully transition from legacy infrastructure to cloud-native architecture while maintaining business continuity * The strategic framework for choosing between building custom solutions versus leveraging SaaS platforms * Why securing loyalty programs and gift card systems requires different approaches than traditional payment processing * How to manage security across hundreds of vanity domains without compromising performance * Why collaboration and change management are crucial non-technical factors in successful digital transformation * How AI is reshaping retail experiences, from virtual fitting rooms to personalized shopping journeys Andy Dean is the Head of Technical Operations at AllSaints, bringing over 20 years of experience in leading technical operations across multiple industries. He specializes in IT transformation and ecommerce scalability, having successfully spearheaded key cloud migrations and security improvements at AllSaints to ensure brand resilience during peak sales periods. Christian Reilly serves as Field CTO of EMEA at Cloudflare, where he helps enterprises navigate the intersection of performance, security, and scalability. With vast experience in technology leadership, Christian focuses on assisting businesses to tackle growing challenges in the digital age, ensuring seamless and secure cloud operations at scale. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode, and don’t forget to rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify - we appreciate all feedback from our listeners! Episode Resources: * Andy Dean on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-dean-cmgr-mcmi-90893213/] * Christian Reilly on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/reillychristian/] * AllSaints Website [https://careers.allsaints.com/] * Mark Dembo on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdembo/] * Cloudflare Website [https://www.cloudflare.com/] The Connectivity Cloud Podcast is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so [https://www.fame.so/?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=masters-of-community-with-david-spinks?utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=bcast&utm_campaign=fame-client]