Data Security Decoded
Data Security Decoded provides actionable, vendor-agnostic insights to reduce data security risk and improve resilience outcomes. Designed for cybersecurity and IT professionals who want practical insights on preparing for attacks before they happen, so they can respond effectively when they inevitably do. Episodes feature insights from researchers, crafters of public policy, and senior cybersecurity leaders, to help organizations reduce risk and improve resilience. Data Security Decoded provides practical advice, proven strategies, and in-depth discussions on the latest trends and challenges in data security, helping listeners strengthen their organizations' defenses and recovery plans.
Episodes
Defending the Authentication Flow: Device Code Phishing with Selena Larson
This episode delivers critical battlefield stories regarding the operational reality of modern identity based threats. Selena Larson, Staff Threat Researcher and Lead, Intelligence Analysis and Strategy at Proofpoint and Host of the DISCARDED podcast and the Only Malware in the Building podcast, joins host Caleb Tolin to detail the specific mechanics of device code phishing campaigns, revealing
Beyond the Doomsday: Operational Resilience, Identity Sprawl, and Back-to-Basics Cyber Defense
In this comprehensive roundtable episode, a powerhouse panel of seasoned security professionals—Cynthia Kaiser, Matt Castriotta, Allison Wikoff, John Fokker, Amit Malik, and Joe Hladik—joins host Caleb Tolin to confront the uncomfortable realities facing modern organizations. As digital infrastructure becomes more interconnected, traditional defense playbooks are being constantly challenged by sop
The Anatomy of Cloud Ransomware with Matt Castriotta
Are your cloud security controls actually protecting your infrastructure, or are they just keeping the lights on? With host Caleb Tolin, Matt Castriotta, Field CTO for Cloud at Rubrik, breaks down the tactical gaps exposed when organizations blindly replicate data center mindsets in public cloud networks. Castriotta charts the history of high-profile incidents from the Colonial Pipeline timeline u
Running the Inverted Offensive Campaign with Adam Karcher
What happens when the adversary’s dwell time is measured in years, but your defense is measured in tickets? Adam Karcher, FBI Supervisory Special Agent, Cyber Division, and a member of the Bureau’s AI Working Group, joins host Caleb Tolin to break down the "convergent evolution" of modern cyber threats. Karcher explains why defenders are often stuck in a cleanup cycle, while threat actors operate
Protecting the Neglected: Measuring County Cyber Risk with Dr. Ido Sivan Sevilla
Dr. Ido Sivan Sevilla joins host Caleb Tolin to break down battlefield stories from a massive analysis of over 3,000 local government entities. Dr. Sivan Sevilla, who serves as an Assistant Professor at the UMD College of Information and holds joint positions at the Hebrew University School of Public Policy & Governance and the School of Computer Science and Engineering, brings a multidisciplin
The Terrorist Designation: A New Red Line for Ransomware with Cynthia Kaiser
In this episode, host Caleb Tolin explores the battlefield of enterprise defense, which has moved from simple data theft to ultra heinous crimes that put patient outcomes at risk. Guest Cynthia Kaiser shares Battlefield Stories from her time at the FBI and her current work as SVP of the Ransomware Research Center at Halcyon, illustrating how the industrialization of cybercrime has reac
The Three-Layer Strategy for Autonomous Agent Governance with Joe Hladik and Amit Malik
The race for AI dominance has created a dangerous imbalance between business velocity and cyber resilience. In this episode, host Caleb Tolin is joined by Joe Hladik, Head of Rubrik Zero Labs, and Staff Security Researcher Amit Malik to break down the findings of their latest report on agentic adoption. The discussion centers on the Agentic Paradox. This is the technical reality that tools designe
Detecting Adversary Intent: Analyzing Behavioral Tells in Admin Logs with Allison Wikoff
Adversaries are already logging into your network using your own admin credentials. In this episode, Caleb Tolin sits down with Allison Wikoff to move past the identity clichés and analyze the specific behavioral signals that separate routine IT maintenance from state-sponsored sabotage. They dissect why resilience is not a flash of genius during a crisis, but a mindset that organizations can adop
Downtime in Healthcare is Fatal: Achieving Resilience in Health & Life Sciences
Cybersecurity in healthcare is undergoing a critical shift. What was once viewed as a back-office IT concern is now directly tied to patient safety and clinical outcomes. In this episode of Data Security Decoded, host Caleb Tolin sits down with John Fokker, Vice President of Threat Intelligence Strategy at Trellix, to explore new findings that reveal a significant increase in inpatient mortality r
AI Takes Over RSAC Conference (Now What?) with Dave Bittner.
In this RSAC Conference recap, Dave Bittner, Host of The CyberWire Daily, joins Data Security Decoded host Caleb Tolin from the guest seat to unpack the biggest theme dominating the conference: artificial intelligence, and, more specifically, agentic AI.
From wall-to-wall AI messaging across San Francisco to in-depth conversations with security leaders and analysts, one thing became clear: the in
Your Backups Are Talking — Are You Listening?
Security teams spend enormous effort chasing the latest threats, yet often overlook one of the most revealing sources of truth already in their environment: backups. In this episode of Data Security Decoded, host Caleb Tolin sits down with Kyle Fiehler, Transformation Analyst at Rubrik Zero Labs, to explore why backup data has become a critical — and largely ignored — form of security telemetry.
AI Moves Fast. Privacy Has to Move Faster.
AI promises speed, scale, and efficiency—but it also magnifies privacy risk in ways many organizations aren’t prepared for. In this episode, Caleb Tolin welcomes Ojas Rege of OneTrust for a practical, wide-ranging conversation on how data privacy and governance must evolve alongside enterprise AI adoption.
Ojas explains why AI fundamentally changes the privacy conversation: the same systems that
The Real Risks of Agentic AI in the Enterprise
As enterprises race to adopt AI, many are discovering that traditional security models no longer hold. In this episode of Data Security Decoded, host Caleb Tolin is joined by Camille Stewart-Gloster, CEO of CAS Strategies and former Deputy National Cyber Director, to unpack how AI is redefining cyber risk at every layer of the organization.
Camille explains why identity-based attacks are so effec
When Hacktivists Target Water Utilities: Inside a Russian-Aligned OT Attack
Russian-aligned hacktivist groups are increasingly targeting industrial control systems and OT environments—and sometimes it’s shockingly easy. In this episode, Daniel dos Santos, VP of Research at Forescout, walks through how his team used a honeypot to observe an attack against a simulated water treatment facility. We explore attacker motivations, common entry points, and what defenders must pri
How Rubrik Zero Labs Uses LLMs to Analyze Malware at Machine Speed
AI is changing how malware is built—and how it’s caught. In this episode, Caleb Tolin is joined by Amit Malik, Staff Security Researcher at Rubrik Zero Labs, to unpack how large language models are transforming malware analysis, enabling defenders to sift through thousands of samples and surface truly novel threats. From Chameleon malware abusing WSL to AI-generated attack code, this conversation
Ransomware, Remote Access, and the OT Reality Check
In this episode of Data Security Decoded, Cybersecurity veteran Dawn Cappelli joins host Caleb Tolin to unpack the rapidly evolving threat landscape facing operational technology environments. With decades of experience spanning CERT, Rockwell Automation, and now Dragos, Dawn breaks down how geopolitical conflicts, empowered hacktivists, and ransomware are reshaping OT risk. She shares the five cr
The Hidden Risk in Your Stack
In this episode of Data Security Decoded, host Caleb Tolin sits down with Hayden Smith, CEO of Hunted Labs, as he breaks down how software supply chain attacks really work, why open source dependencies create unseen exposure, and what modern threat actors are doing to exploit trust at scale. Caleb and Hayden dive deep into real-world attacks, emerging TTPs, AI-powered threat hunting, and what orga
Top CISO Priorities and Global Digital Trust with Morgan Adamski
Welcome to Data Security Decoded. Join host Caleb Tolin in conversation with Morgan Adamski who leads Cyber, Data, and Tech Risk at PwC and is a former US national security leader who spent 16 years tracking nation-state threats inside the US government. Coming out of a career spent inside secure facilities without windows or phones and working to address China’s prepositioning in US critical infr
Agentic AI and Identity Sprawl
In this episode of Data Security Decoded, join host Caleb Tolin as he welcomes back Joe Hladik, Head of Rubrik Zero Labs, to unpack the findings from their new report, Identity Crisis: Understanding & Building Resilience Against Identity-Driven Threats, Joe breaks down how the explosion of non-human identities, from API keys to AI agents, is rewriting the threat landscape and forcing security lead
Secure by Design, Secure by Default, Secure by Demand
Welcome to Data Security Decoded. Join host Caleb Tolin in conversation with Lauren Zabierek, Senior Vice President for the Future of Digital Security at the Institute for Security and Technology. A former CISA leader and long-time national security professional, Lauren unpacks the principles of Secure by Design, Secure by Default, and Secure by Demand and how these frameworks are reshaping the so
Three Threats Reshaping Financial Services: Identity, Supply Chain, and AI
Cyber resilience in financial services is often treated as a checklist of tools and controls, rather than what it truly is: a system of people, intelligence, and collaboration working together.
In this episode of Data Security Decoded, join Caleb Tolin as he sits down with Troy Wells, Intelligence Officer at FS-ISAC and former U.S. Army intelligence officer, to explore how principles like t
Scattered Spider: the Evolution of Identity-Based Ransomware
Identity-based ransomware is no longer a fringe tactic; it’s becoming the playbook of today’s most dangerous adversaries. Scattered Spider, a financially motivated e-crime group, has shifted the model from smash-and-grab encryption to a far more devastating combination of double extortion, social engineering, and hypervisor encryption attacks.
In this episode of Data Security Decoded, host Caleb
Five-Year Plans, Forever Wars: China's Blueprint for Cyber Dominance
Chinese state-backed cyber operations are often misunderstood as a single, centrally controlled machine. In reality, they are fragmented, diverse, and strategically aligned with China’s national objectives, from economic development to critical infrastructure positioning.
In this episode of Data Security Decoded, join Caleb Tolin as he sits down with Mei Danowski, Co-Founder of Natto Though
Breaking the Intelligence-Defense Divide with Scott Scher
Cyber threat intelligence is often misunderstood, seen as a niche reporting function instead of the connective tissue that links defenders, leaders, and strategy. In this episode of Data Security Decoded, join Caleb Tolin as he sits down with Scott Scher, a cyber threat intelligence (CTI) expert with an unconventional backstory, to explore how his off‑grid years shaped his view on resilience
The Geopolitical Security Playbook: When Nations Clash in Cyberspace
In this episode of Data Security Decoded, host Caleb Tolin sits down with Dustin Droullard, a cyber threat intelligence expert and former Army intelligence analyst, to discuss how global conflict is increasingly playing out in cyberspace, from digital espionage to civilian-targeted cyber operations. This episode highlights why organizations must rethink their cyber risk strategies in light o
HIPAA 2.0, Minimum Viable Hospitals, and Strategies for Cyber Resilience within Healthcare
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast, brought to you by Rubrik Zero Labs. In each episode, we discuss cybersecurity with thought leaders and industry experts, getting their take on trends, themes, and how they see data security evolving. This is a must-listen for security and IT leaders looking to better understand trends shaping data security and how they can achieve cyber resilience.
Securing the Software Supply Chain
Navigating Modern Cybersecurity: From Supply Chain Risks to AI Evolution. In this episode of Data Security Decoded, Allison Wikoff, a 20-year veteran in information security and threat intelligence, explores current cybersecurity challenges, emerging threats, and practical defensive strategies for organizations of all sizes.
What You'll Learn:
How to prioritize vulnerability management by
AI-Driven Cyber Defense in Action: How AI Agents Are Saving SOC Analysts From Burnout
AI-powered SOC platforms are revolutionizing cybersecurity by dramatically reducing false positives and enabling analysts to focus on high-value security work. In this episode of Data Security Decoded, join Caleb Tolin as he sits down with Grant Oviatt, Head of Security Operations at Prophet Security, to explore how AI agents are transforming security operations centers (SOCs) and reshaping
Making Generative AI Transparent
In this episode of Data Security Decoded, host Caleb Tolin sits down with Gabrielle Hibbert, a social policy expert and researcher, about her innovative work developing a nutrition labeling system for generative AI tools. This framework aims to bridge the gap between complex AI technology and consumer understanding, while addressing critical transparency and data privacy concerns.
What You'
The State of Data Security: A Distributed Crisis
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast by Rubrik Zero Labs. In this episode, our host Caleb Tolin speaks with Joe Hladik, a veteran security expert with two decades of experience, to explore the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, incident response, and the critical challenges of data security in today's distributed environments.
What You'll Learn:
How the cybersecurity landscape
Data Weaponization: How Cyber Attacks Impact the Vulnerable
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast by Rubrik Zero Labs. In this episode, our host Caleb Tolin speaks with Pavlina Pavlova, a researcher and cybersecurity advocate focusing on data weaponization and its disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations.
Pavlina defines data weaponization as using data to manipulate, deceive, coerce, or attack someone to inflict harm. Her research i
Civilian Cyber Corps: Protecting Underfunded Organizations
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast by Rubrik Zero Labs. In this episode, our host, Caleb Tolin, is joined by Michael Razeeq, a cybersecurity policy researcher specializing in advocating for Civilian Cyber Corps (C3s). Michael shares insights into how these volunteer forces, C3s, are transforming community cyber defense, addressing workforce shortages, and providing both preventive
How to Effectively Train Your Employees on Cybersecurity
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast. In this episode, our host, Richard Cassidy, is joined by Carolin Desirée Toepfer, founder of Cyttraction and CISO as a Service for multiple organizations across Europe and North America. Carolin shares her journey from building websites and online communities to becoming a cybersecurity leader, offering insights into the unique challenges of Euro
Regulatory Readiness and Resilience with Kris Lovejoy, Global Security and Resilience Practice Leader at Kyndryl
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast, brought to you by Rubrik Zero Labs. In each episode, we discuss cybersecurity with thought leaders and industry experts and get their take on trends, themes, and how they see data security evolving. This is a must-listen for security and IT leaders looking to better understand trends shaping data security and how they can achieve cyber resilience.
Bridging Cyber Policy Gaps for Rural and Underserved Communities with Nicole Tisdale
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast, brought to you by Rubrik Zero Labs. In each episode, we discuss cybersecurity with thought leaders and industry experts, getting their take on trends, themes, and how they see data security evolving. This is a must-listen for security and IT leaders looking to better understand trends shaping data security and how they can achieve cyber resilience.
Bridging the Gap Between IT and Security with Marcela Escobar-Alava and Joe Stenaka, CIO and CISO of the U.S. Social Security Administration
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast, brought to you by Rubrik Zero Labs. In each episode, we discuss cybersecurity with thought leaders and industry experts, and get their take on trends, themes, and how they see data security evolving. This is a must-listen for security and IT leaders looking to better understand trends shaping data security and how they can achieve cyber resilience.
Navigating Cybersecurity Through Leadership Transitions with Maria Roat, Former US Deputy Federal CIO
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast, brought to you by Rubrik Zero Labs. In each episode, we discuss cybersecurity with thought leaders and industry experts, and get their take on trends, themes, and how they see data security evolving. This is a must-listen for security and IT leaders looking to better understand trends shaping data security and how they can achieve cyber resilience.
Embracing Conscious Leadership and AI Integration with Aysha Khan, CIO and CISO at Treasure Data
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast, brought to you by Rubrik Zero Labs. In each episode, we discuss cybersecurity with thought leaders and industry experts, and get their take on trends, themes, and how they see data security evolving. This is a must-listen for security and IT leaders looking to better understand trends shaping data security and how they can achieve cyber resilience.
Cultivating a Year-Round Cybersecurity Culture: Data Security Decoded Greatest Hits
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast, brought to you by Rubrik Zero Labs. In each installment, we discuss cybersecurity with thought leaders and industry experts to get their take on trends, themes, and how they see data security evolving. This is a must-listen for security and IT leaders looking to better understand trends shaping data security and how they can achieve cyber resilienc
Navigating Data Governance and Compliance Challenges with Candy Alexander, CISO & Security Practice Lead at NeuEon
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast, brought to you by Rubrik Zero Labs. In each installment, we discuss cybersecurity with thought leaders and industry experts, and get their take on trends, themes, and how they see data security evolving. This is a must-listen for security and IT leaders looking to better understand trends shaping data security and how they can achieve cyber resilie
Building a Cyber Resilient Healthcare System with Anahi Santiago, Chief Information Security Officer at ChristianaCare
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast, brought to you by Rubrik Zero Labs. In each installment, we discuss cybersecurity with thought leaders and industry experts, and get their take on trends, themes, and where they see the sector going next. This is a must-listen for security and IT leaders looking to better understand trends shaping data security and how they can achieve cyber resilie
Measuring Your Data’s Risk Exposure with Bipul Sinha, CEO, Chairman, and Co-Founder of Rubrik
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast, brought to you by Rubrik Zero Labs. In each installment, we discuss cybersecurity with thought leaders and industry experts, and get their take on trends, themes, and where they see the sector going next. This is a must-listen for security and IT leaders looking to better understand trends shaping data security and how they can achieve cyber resili
Preparing for Breaches: the Importance of Incident Response Plans and Exercises
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast, brought to you by Rubrik Zero Labs. In each installment, we discuss cybersecurity with thought leaders and industry experts, and get their take on trends, themes, and where they see the sector going next. This is a must-listen for security and IT leaders looking to better understand trends shaping data security and how they can achieve cyber resili
The Impact of Cyber Events on Patient Care
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast, brought to you by Rubrik Zero Labs. In each installment, we discuss cybersecurity with thought leaders and industry experts, and get their take on trends, themes, and where they see the sector going next. This is a must-listen for organizations and individuals looking to secure their data and achieve cyber resilience.
We're excited to kick off a
What CISOs Must Consider During a Breach with Amy Bogac, CISO at Elevate Textiles
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast, brought to you by Rubrik Zero Labs. Each episode features senior cybersecurity leaders and other luminaries with unique perspectives about the current state of data security. We explore rising trends and themes across cybersecurity and unpack what that means for organizations looking to secure their data and achieve cyber resilience.
In this episo
Ransomware: A Major Threat to Data Security with Renata Spinks of CyberSec International
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast, brought to you by Rubrik Zero Labs. Each episode features senior cybersecurity leaders and other luminaries with unique perspectives about the current state of data security. We explore rising trends and themes across cybersecurity and unpack what that means for organizations looking to secure their data and achieve cyber resilience.
In this epis
War Fighting in Cybersecurity: Lessons from the Military with Renata Spinks, Former SES - Deputy CIO IC4, US Marine Corp
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast, brought to you by Rubrik Zero Labs. Each episode features senior cybersecurity leaders and other luminaries with unique perspectives about the current state of data security. We explore rising trends and themes across cybersecurity and unpack what that means for organizations looking to secure their data and achieve cyber resilience.
In this episo
Driving Strategic Excellence in Cybersecurity: Insights from Sue Bergamo, CISO and CIO at BTE Partners
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast, brought to you by Rubrik Zero Labs. Each episode features senior cybersecurity leaders and other luminaries with unique perspectives about the current state of data security. We explore rising trends and themes across cybersecurity and unpack what that means for organizations looking to secure their data and achieve cyber resilience. Come and join
The Impact of Ransomware on Hospitals and Patient Care with Hannah Neprash, PhD of the University of Minnesota, School of Public Health
Welcome to the Data Security Decoded podcast, brought to you by Rubrik Zero Labs. Each episode of the podcast features senior cybersecurity leaders and other luminaries with unique perspectives about the current state of data security. We explore rising trends and themes across cybersecurity and unpack what that means for organizations looking to secure their data and achieve cyber resilience.
Communicating Cyber Risk to Executives and Boards with Shamane Tan
In this episode of Cyber Security Decoded from Rubrik Zero Labs, host Steve Stone is joined by Chief Growth Officer at Sekuro and Best-Selling Author Shamane Tan to discuss differences in the cybersecurity landscape between the US and APAC, communication strategies for CISOs, building trust for better cybersecurity outcomes, improving organizational resilience, and diversity in the cybersecurity f
How Generative AI Will Accelerate Cybersecurity with Sherrod DeGrippo
In this episode of Cyber Security Decoded, host Steve Stone, Head of Rubrik Zero Labs, is joined by Sherrod DeGrippo, Director of Threat Intelligence Strategy at Microsoft to discuss the cyber threat landscape. In this episode, you'll hear insights on:
- How AI will act as a catalyst and accelerate everything security and IT teams are doing
- The (debatable) value of Threat Models
- If threat int
The Evolving Role of the CISO and the Language of Resilience with Marene Allison
In this episode of Cyber Security Decoded, Steve Stone, Head of Rubrik Zero Labs, is joined by a former CISO at Johnson & Johnson to discuss the ever-evolving role of the CISO. They discuss what she has learned from the biggest threat intrusions in her career, how the role of the CISO is evolving to adapt to new cyber threats, and what we can tactically do to empower more professionals from differ
Manipulating Science for the Greater Good with Kavitha Mariappan
Hear from Steve Stone, Head of Rubrik Zero Labs, and Kavitha Mariappan, EVP of Customer Experience and Transformation at Zscaler, as they discuss the cybersecurity landscape, Rubrik and Zscaler's partnership and integration, and what security transformation has looked like over recent years for various organizations.
In this episode, you'll learn about:
The latest threats and trends in cybers
The Hard Truths of Data Security with Wendi Whitmore
Hear from Steve Stone, Head of Rubrik Zero Labs, and Wendi Whitmore, SVP of Unit 42 at Palo Alto Networks, as they discuss the cyber threat landscape, what security and IT teams must prioritize to build cyber resilient organizations, and how important it is to bring awareness to cybersecurity as a career option to diversify and expand the security workforce.
In this episode, you'll learn about:
Leading A Cybersecurity Organization Through Periods of Burnout with Sandra Joyce
Steve Stone, Head of Rubrik Zero Labs, is joined by Sandra Joyce, VP of Mandiant Intelligence at Google Cloud, to discuss leading mission-driven teams through periods of burnout, the gaps private sector cybersecurity teams experience in partnering with the public sector, information sharing on cyberattacks, and more.
About Sandra Joyce:
Sandra Joyce is a cybersecurity leader and has been head of
Making Cyber Resilience Accessible to Every Organization with Suzette Kent
In this episode, Steve Stone, Head of Rubrik Zero Labs, is joined by Suzette Kent, former Federal CIO and current Partner at McKinsey & Company, to discuss private sector and public sector cybersecurity partnerships, the transformation over the past decade on security and IT priorities, key considerations for CIOs and CISOs to help their organizations achieve cyber resilience, and more.
About Suz
Dissecting The Human Impact of Cybercrime with Wendi Whitmore
In this inaugural episode of Cyber Security Decoded, Steve Stone, Head of Rubrik Zero Labs, is joined by Wendi Whitmore, SVP of Unit 42 at Palo Alto Networks. In this episode, Steve and Wendi discuss the findings in Rubrik Zero Labs' very first State of Data Security report, the cybersecurity implications of conflicts like the war in Ukraine, the need for information sharing between threat intelli
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