In this week’s episode of The Future of Security Operations podcast, Thomas is joined by Josh Lemos, CISO at GitLab.
Throughout his 15-year career in security, Josh has led teams at ServiceNow, Cylance, and Square. Known for his expertise in AI-driven security strategies, Josh is also a board member with HiddenLayer. He drives innovation at GitLab with a relentless focus on offensive security, identity management, and automation.
In this episode:
[02:05] His early career path from mechanic to electrical engineer to security leader
[03:35] Josh’s philosophy on hiring and mentoring, plus his tips for creating networking opportunities
[05:30] How he applies technical foundations from his practitioner days to his work as CISO
[07:40] Building product security at ServiceNow from the ground up
[10:40] “Down and in” versus “up and out” - adopting a new leadership style as CISO at Square
[12:17] Josh’s experience as an early AI and security researcher at Cylance
[16:15] What’s surprised Josh most about the evolution of AI
[18:50] Why Josh calls today’s models “AI version 1.0” - and what he thinks it will take to upgrade to version 2.0
[22:45] The LLM security threats Josh is most worried about, as a board member with Hidden Layer
[26:30] “Expressing exponential value” - what excited Josh most about becoming CISO at GitLab
[27:45] Why GitLab prioritizes “intentional transparency”
[32:45] How GitLab automates and orchestrates its Tier 1 and Tier 2 security processes
[34:10] How GitLab’s security team uses GitLab internally
[37:35] The secret to recruiting, hiring, and managing a remote, global team
[39:45] The importance of in-person collaboration for building trust and connection
[41:45] Downsizing, bootstrapping, and problem-solving: Josh’s predictions for the future of SecOps
[46:10] Connect with Josh
Where to find Josh:
Where to find Thomas Kinsella:
Resources mentioned:
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