Life of a CISO with Dr. Eric Cole
The biggest threat to you and this country today is a cyber attack. Are you protected? Find out now with Dr. Eric Cole, former special agent for the CIA and current CEO of Secure Anchor.
Episodes
Everyone is racing to adopt AI, but almost nobody is talking honestly about the damage it can cause.
In this powerful episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole breaks down why companies do not need a Chief AI Officer and why AI belongs under cybersecurity leadership. From hallucinated answers and broken automation to the dangerous hype surrounding agentic AI, Dr. Cole explains why businesses are moving too ...
In this powerful episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole sits down with Eva Galperin to confront one of the most uncomfortable truths in cybersecurity today: that no one is coming to save us. This conversation goes far beyond firewalls and frameworks and dives straight into the human impact of technology, exposing how innovation without intention is quietly putting lives at risk. Eva shares raw insight from nearly two...
Anthropic just dropped a bombshell, claiming their new AI hacking tool is so powerful it could take down companies and critical infrastructure. But Dr. Eric Cole isn't buying the hype, and in this episode he breaks down exactly why.
The truth? This isn't magic. It's Cybersecurity 101 being automated. If attackers can use this tool against you, it's because the basics have been neglected, not because some A...
The war isn't coming. It's already here.
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole breaks down the reality no one is talking about. While the world focuses on bombs and military power, a far more dangerous battlefield is unfolding quietly in the background: cyber warfare.
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole sits down with guest Carlos Lobato to break down one of the biggest misconceptions in cybersecurity today: it is not about technology, it is about risk.
Carlos shares his journey from accounting and auditing into cybersecurity and explains how understanding business, finance, and communication gives professionals a major edge. Together, they reveal why many ...
What does it really take to build a successful cybersecurity career in today's fast-changing world?
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole sits down with Jesse Scott, a cybersecurity leader whose career spans NATO, Ernst & Young, CrowdStrike, Barclays, Amazon, Databricks, and startup leadership. Together, they break down what aspiring CISOs need to know about navigating big companies, fast-moving...
What does it really take to lead in cybersecurity today? In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole sits down with longtime cybersecurity executive and educator Mary Kotch for a sharp, honest conversation about the future of the industry. From breaking into the field to building a career that lasts, Mary shares why continuous learning, technical depth, and real-world experience matter more than ever.
What separates an average CISO from a world-class cybersecurity leader?
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole explains why the most influential security leaders don't just manage technology—they become the trusted authority executives rely on to make critical business decisions.
Dr....
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole sits down with cloud and AI expert Matt Lea to unpack the real risks and opportunities shaping cybersecurity today. They dive into AWS outages, cloud resiliency strategies, and how organizations should think about redundancy instead of blindly trusting a single provider. The conversation explores how CISOs can balance cost versus risk when designing cloud architectures a...
As 2026 begins, security leaders are facing growing uncertainty across technology, economics, and global risk. In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole challenges the fear-driven narrative around artificial intelligence and explains why CISOs must take the lead in guiding AI adoption, not reacting to it.
Dr. Cole break...
Ransomware isn't a technical problem—it's a leadership test.
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole welcomes back bestselling author and cybersecurity leader Zachary Lewis to break down the real-world realities of responding to a ransomware attack. Drawing from firsthand experience, they discuss why executive relationships, preparation, and credibility matter more than tools, how CISOs survive hi...
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole sits down with cybersecurity leader Matthew Webster to explore what it really takes to succeed in the modern CISO role. Matthew shares his journey from IT into federal and commercial cybersecurity, the lessons that shaped his leadership approach, and why technical skills alone aren't enough at the executive level.
Together, they discuss the importance of com...
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole explains why intellectual property is becoming the most important cybersecurity priority for organizations as artificial intelligence accelerates innovation and imitation. As AI makes products, services, and content easier to replicate, traditional approaches to data security are no longer enough. Dr. Cole breaks down why trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secret...
In this New Year's episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole reflects on the challenges of 2025 and delivers a powerful reset framework for CISOs entering 2026. Drawing from real-world coaching, executive leadership principles, and personal experience, Dr. Cole challenges security leaders to stop thinking like technologists and start acting like true chief officers.
This episode breaks down three essential ...
As we close out 2025 and prepare for 2026, Dr. Eric Cole breaks down what it truly takes to be a world-class CISO in the year ahead.
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Cole shares hard-earned lessons on leadership, health, resilience, and why taking care of yourself is foundational to protecting your organization. From personal reflection to executive-level strategy, this episode goes far beyond techni...
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole explains why world-class CISOs must think like chief officers—not technicians. Drawing from boardroom experience and real-world cyber events, he breaks down the three threats executives are most concerned about heading into 2026: ransomware, cloud failures, and AI.
Dr. Cole unpacks why the Land Rover Jaguar ransomware attack marked a turning point in cyberse...
In this powerful episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole shifts the focus from strategy, roadmaps, and organizational security, and puts the spotlight directly on YOU.
Instead of asking what you want or why you want it, Dr. Cole explains that the real key to becoming a world-class CISO is asking: Who do you need to become?
Dr. Cole breaks down the three types of CISOs, the difference between ...
In this special Thanksgiving episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole delivers one of his most personal and powerful messages yet. Before diving into the technical skills of executive briefings and CISO strategy, he shifts focus to something far more foundational: gratitude, giving, and appreciation—the mindset pillars that shape world-class cybersecurity leaders.
Dr. Cole shares why gratitude isn't just n...
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole explains the top priorities every CISO must focus on as we move into 2026. He begins by highlighting the importance of personal health and why nutrition, hydration, and daily habits directly impact your ability to lead and make smart decisions in cybersecurity. After facing his own health challenges and losing friends in the industry, he shares why health must be the sta...
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole sits down with Attila Torok, CISO at GoTo (formerly LogMeIn), to unpack what it really takes to move from security engineer to strategic leader.
Attila shares his journey, the advice that shaped his career, and why "relationships matter more than engineering skills."
From mastering executive communication in three bullet points to building you...
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