AI Disruption, Cyber Risk, and Doing the Right Thing

How do you balance business priorities and AI trends with truly effective cybersecurity practices—and make sure you’re still doing right by employees and customers? My friend Matt Alderman, Chief Product Officer at CyberSaint and host of the Business Security Weekly podast, joins me to talk about this and more for this TechSpective Podcast episode. Matt’s career spans decades in cybersecurity, from early consulting days to product leadership at several well-known companies. Beyond his own hands-on experience, he’s got a deep appreciation for how fast technology and security threats evolve—and how leaders must adapt. In this episode, Matt and I touch on: The buzz around AI and what it actually means for cybersecurity teams How automation and platform consolidation are reshaping budgets and tools The tricky intersection of ethics, risk management, and real-world security Observations on leadership and moral responsibility in an increasingly complex digital world One of the most compelling parts of my conversation with Matt Alderman was about the human side of business decisions—especially when it comes to hiring and layoffs. In an industry driven by growth metrics and investor expectations, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that behind every headcount number is a real person with a life and family. Matt shared some personal stories and reflections that bring this reality into sharp focus. We talked about how leaders can—and should—factor empathy and ethics into their decision-making, even when the financial pressure is high. Letting people go might be a business necessity at times, but doing so with compassion and transparency matters. On the flip side, companies also need to be careful about overhiring in the first place, which often leads to the inevitable cycle of cutbacks. Doing the right thing and running a smart business aren’t mutually exclusive. It was great catching up with Matt, sharing stories of what worked, what didn’t, and where cybersecurity is headed next. Get a unique perspective on how AI can simultaneously empower attackers and defenders, and how boardroom decisions (and moral compasses) factor into cybersecurity strategies. You won’t want to miss this episode.