The Cyber Security Matters Podcast

Join us for Episode 61 of the Cybersecurity Matters Podcast as we sit down with Austin Gadient, CTO and Co-Founder of Vali Cyber, a company revolutionising Linux and hypervisor security. Austin shares his journey from the Air Force Academy's competitive hacking team to securing the nation's satellite infrastructure, and ultimately co-founding Vali Cyber after raising $20 million in funding.In this conversation, we explore the critical security gaps Austin discovered while working with satellite systems in the US Air Force, the unique challenges of protecting Linux environments where traditional Windows-focused tools fall short, and how these real-world problems led to the creation of Vali Cyber. Austin discusses the father-son founding team dynamic, managing technical and business responsibilities as a startup CTO, and building a company culture that values diverse thinking and psychological safety.Key ThemesFrom hacking competitions to satellite securityLinux security gaps in satellite systemsBuilding startups with family as co-foundersPrioritisation over balance in startup lifeTechnical culture as competitive advantageLeadership through listening, not commandingHiring for learning ability over experienceHypervisor security as emerging threat category Missionary selling in nascent marketsStrategic investment for execution runwayChapters:00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:04 Austin's Journey into Cybersecurity03:52 Founding Valley Cyber06:23 Balancing Engineering and Business08:26 Company Culture and Team Dynamics10:59 Industry Diversity and Talent Acquisition18:12 Hypervisor Security and Market Education24:10 Future of Cybersecurity and Final ThoughtsAbout the Guest:Austin Gadient is the CTO and Co-Founder of Vali Cyber, leading the development of high-performance Linux and hypervisor security solutions. He continues to serve as a Distinguished Security Engineer in the US Air Force Reserve, managing advanced space cyber capabilities. With experience securing satellite infrastructure and driving security research, Austin brings deep technical expertise to the emerging field of hypervisor security.Website: www.valicyber.comThe Cybersecurity Matters Podcast is brought to you by neuco, a global recruitment agency that specialises in sourcing brilliant people for groundbreaking companies in the cybersecurity space.

In Episode 60 of the Cybersecurity Matters Podcast, we sit down with Boris Goncharov, Chief Strategy Officer at Plainsea and Co-Founder of AMATAS. With over 20 years of experience in information security, Boris brings a refreshingly unconventional perspective to cybersecurity, shaped by his background in fine art and philosophy.Boris shares his fascinating journey from aspiring painter to cybersecurity leader, revealing how his early experiences with gaming sparked an interest in understanding how systems work and can be manipulated. He discusses how creative thinking and artistic perspectives enhance security problem-solving, offering unique insights that challenge traditional approaches to the field.Key Topics Covered:From fine art and philosophy to cybersecurity leadershipHow gaming influenced security mindset and hacking curiosityThe psychology behind social engineering attacksAI deepfakes transforming the cyber threat landscapeBalancing security paranoia with business enablementWhy the human factor remains the biggest vulnerabilityFoundational security practices that still work todayThe exhausting reality of constant learning in cybersecurityCareer advice: stubbornness, discipline, and sacrifice requiredChapters: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:16 Boris' Unconventional Path to Cybersecurity07:11 The Role of Creativity in Cybersecurity12:59 Challenges and Insights in Building Cybersecurity Teams25:29 Leadership Realizations and Communication30:13 The Evolution of Cybersecurity32:51 Complexity and Security Challenges38:43 Practical Cybersecurity AdviceAbout Boris Goncharov: Boris Goncharov is Chief Strategy Officer at Plainsea and Co-Founder of AMATAS, with over 20 years of experience in information security. His expertise spans information security strategy and management, cloud security, social engineering, penetration testing, and physical security. Boris has led enterprise-wide security programs across diverse industries and is an experienced instructor, having taught official CEH, ECIH, and CISSP courses since 2010. He is a frequent speaker at international security conferences.About Plainsea: Plainsea provides strategic cybersecurity solutions helping organisations navigate complex security challenges and build resilient defences against evolving threats.About AMATAS: AMATAS is redefining how businesses protect themselves against emerging threats through innovative security approaches and strategic consulting.The Cybersecurity Matters Podcast is brought to you by neuco, a global recruitment agency that specialises in sourcing brilliant people for groundbreaking companies.

In Episode 59 of the Cybersecurity Matters Podcast, we sit down with Norman Currie, Head of Customer & Partner Experience at Bricklayer AI. With two decades of cybersecurity leadership across market-leading companies including McAfee, Hunters, Expel, and Optiv, Norman brings invaluable insights into building successful security organisations.Norman discusses how Bricklayer is taking a unique approach to AI-driven security operations by providing platform flexibility rather than selling fixed agents. Unlike many AI security vendors, Bricklayer allows customers to define their own procedures and build custom agents with specialised skill sets, giving security leaders control over AI outcomes.Key Topics Covered:Bricklayer's differentiated approach to agentic AI platformsWhy soft skills matter more than technical knowledge in cybersecurity careersHow to separate AI hype from substance in security productsWhether legacy vendors can compete with AI-native startupsThe future of customer success and channel roles in an AI-enabled worldCareer advice for cybersecurity professionals and industry newcomerChapters:00:00 Introduction to Bricklayer AI Platform03:09 Traditional AI Security Approaches03:40 Bricklayer's Unique Approach04:00 Customizable Security Actions04:24 Utilizing Specialized Skill Sets04:57 Flexibility in Defining Procedures05:15 Building Your Own Agents05:38 Conclusion and Market PositionAbout Norman Currie:Norman Currie is Head of Customer & Partner Experience at Bricklayer AI, where he applies his extensive experience in partner ecosystems, go-to-market strategy, and technical alliances. With leadership roles at McAfee, Hunters, Expel, Xox (now Optiv), and other market leaders, Norman specialises in building high-performance teams and scaling organisations through strategic partnerships.About Bricklayer AI:Bricklayer AI is an agentic AI platform focused on cybersecurity that provides customers with flexibility to define security procedures and build custom agents with specialised skill sets. Recently announcing the closure of their seed funding round, Bricklayer is experiencing significant demand from both direct customers and channel partners.Bricklayer AIs - https://www.bricklayer.ai/The Cybersecurity Matters Podcast is brought to you by neuco, a global recruitment agency that specialises in sourcing brilliant people for groundbreaking companies.

In Episode 58 of the Cybersecurity Matters podcast, we sit down with Tim Ward, Co-Founder and CEO of Redflags, to explore how behavioural science is transforming cybersecurity. With nearly 30 years of experience in corporate IT and cybersecurity consulting, Tim shares why traditional security awareness training often fails and how real-time contextual nudges can create lasting behaviour change.We discuss the limitations of phishing simulations, the importance of measuring actual behaviour change rather than training completion, and how data-driven insights can identify the 10% of users causing 80% of risk. Tim explains practical behavioural models like EAST and Mindspace that security teams can implement immediately, and why the industry is shifting from security awareness to human risk management.Whether you're a CISO, security leader, or cybersecurity professional looking to reduce human risk more effectively, this episode offers actionable insights on applying psychology to security challenges.Key Topics Covered:• Why phishing simulations don't create lasting behaviour change• Applying nudge theory and behavioural science to cybersecurity• Real-time contextual interventions vs traditional training• Measuring behaviour change and demonstrating ROI• Using data analytics to identify risk outliers• Managing AI risks and LLM usage• Critical security decision points to focus on• Building security teams and startup culture• Career advice for cybersecurity professionalsChapters:00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:01 Journey into Cybersecurity02:10 Entrepreneurial Influences and Early Ventures04:37 Challenges and Growth in Entrepreneurship09:18 Recruitment and Company Culture17:29 Cybersecurity Awareness and Industry Insights25:40 Future of Human-Centric Security32:27 Advice for Aspiring Cybersecurity ProfessionalsAbout Tim Ward:Tim Ward is the Co-Founder and CEO of Redflags (previously Think Cyber), a company that applies behavioural science to reduce operational risk in cybersecurity. With nearly 30 years of experience, Tim has worked in corporate IT and cybersecurity consulting, including serving as Global Head of Information Systems for BAE Systems. He studied Computer Science and AI at university and completed an MBA, with a particular interest in motivation and behavioural psychology. Tim is passionate about understanding what makes people tick and how to apply that knowledge to make security more effective.RedFlags - https://redflags.io/The Cybersecurity Matters Podcast is brought to you by neuco, a global recruitment agency that specialises in sourcing brilliant people for groundbreaking companies. https://www.neuco-group.com/

In Episode 57 of the Cybersecurity Matters Podcast, we welcome Rune Knudsen, CEO and Co-Founder of Moxso, a Copenhagen-based cybersecurity company revolutionising how organisations approach human-less security through AI-driven adaptive security awareness.Rune shares his entrepreneurial journey from consultant to CEO, discussing the challenges of building a fast-growing startup in Denmark's competitive cybersecurity landscape. He offers candid insights into early-stage financial pressures, recruitment strategies for hypergrowth companies, and the importance of building a strong office-first culture.We dive deep into Moxso's human-centric approach to cybersecurity training, exploring how AI and behavioural intelligence can transform security awareness from a dreaded compliance checkbox into engaging, personalised learning. Rune explains why traditional generic training fails and how adaptive content tailored to individual risk profiles drives real behaviour change.Topics Covered:• Rune's path from consulting to cybersecurity entrepreneurship• Co-founding Moxso in 2021 and securing seed funding• The financial and emotional challenges of startup life• Best leadership advice: taking pride in your team's success• Recruiting and retaining talent in hypergrowth environments• Building bottom-up problem-solving culture• Why Moxso chose an office-first approach• Making cybersecurity training engaging and relevant• AI-driven adaptive security awareness platforms• Understanding individual risk profiles and behavioural intelligence• The future of personalised security training• Balancing work intensity with employee wellbeingChapters:00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:01 Journey into Cybersecurity02:10 Entrepreneurial Influences and Early Ventures04:37 Challenges and Growth in Entrepreneurship09:18 Recruitment and Company Culture17:29 Cybersecurity Awareness and Industry Insights25:40 Future of Human-Centric Security32:27 Advice for Aspiring Cybersecurity ProfessionalsAbout Rune Knudsen:Rune Knudsen is the CEO and Co-Founder of Moxso, leading the company's mission to make cybersecurity effortless, efficient, and integrated. Under his leadership, Moxso has become one of Denmark's fastest-growing cybersecurity startups, securing seed funding in August 2024 and scaling across Europe with its AI-driven adaptive security awareness platform.Moxso: https://moxso.com/The Cybersecurity Matters Podcast is brought to you by neuco, a global recruitment agency that specialises in sourcing brilliant people for groundbreaking companies.