Cyber Rants - The Refreshingly Real Cybersecurity Podcast
Episodes
Episode 136 - Inside CTEM: The New Standard for Cyber Risk
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Silent Sector breaks down what cybersecurity really looks like beyond the buzzwords. We dive into CTEM and why continuous exposure ma...
Episode 135 - Cyber Insurance: Promises, Pitfalls, and the Fine Print
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cyber insurance is meant to provide assurance when incidents occur—but too often, organizations face confusion, denied claims, and unclear coverage....
Episode 134 - AWS Outage Fallout and Planning Ahead for 2026 Budgets
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, the Silent Sector team dives into the recent AWS shutdown, exploring what may have caused the disruption and the ripple effects it ha...
Episode 133: Trust, But Verify: Recognizing and Preventing Fraud Before It Starts
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fraud happens when pressure, opportunity, and rationalization align. From data manipulation to asset theft, it often stems from weak controls—like a...
Episode 132: Why Managers Matter in Cybersecurity
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we explore the critical role managers play in protecting their teams from cybersecurity threats. From understanding cyber risk as a b...
Episode 131: Insider Threats: What to Watch For & How to Report
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
 In this cybersecurity awareness training episode, we’re digging into one of the most overlooked risks in any organization: insider threats. From m...
Episode 130: Securing the Keys to the Kingdom — Privileged Account Protection
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we're focusing on the cybersecurity risks tied to privileged accounts — the high-level access that IT professionals and admins hold....
Episode #129 - Financial Professional Security Awareness Training
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we break down the real-world risks of cyber threats targeting finance professionals — including a recent incident where funds were ...
Episode #128 - Executive Cybersecurity Awareness Training
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we're launching a brand-new series of free cybersecurity training content designed to empower executive leaders and high-profile indiv...
Episode 127 - The Hidden Risks Within: CIA Lessons on Insider Threats
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Former CIA officer Michele Assad joins the Cyber Rants Podcast to reveal the hidden dangers of insider threats, from Nation-State recruitment to false...
Episode 126 - Eric O'Neill on Espionage, Insider Threats, and Cybersecurity's Future
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Lauro and Zach are joined by Eric O'Neill, a former FBI agent who brought down Robert Hanssen, the most notorious and damaging spy in ...
Episode #125: End of Year Cyber Hustle
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Let's face it, the end of the year can be stressful as tech teams push to get security and compliance efforts done. Zach and Lauro have seen it a...
Episode #124: Urgent Release - Major Two Factor Authentication Vulnerability Discovered
25 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this urgent episode, the Cyber Rants crew welcomes Silent Sector’s Principal Cybersecurity Architect, Brian Contario, to discuss his game-changin...
Episode #123 - Data-Centric Security: The Future of Cyber Defense
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lauro and Zach welcome Denzil Wessels, Founder & CEO of Dymium, to explore groundbreaking innovations in database security. Denzil introduces Dymi...
Episode #122 - Prevent SaaS Data Leakage & Shadow IT
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Cyber Rants Podcast, Zach and Lauro are joined by Yasir Ali, CEO of Polymer, to dive deep into the critical issue of data leaka...
Episode #121 - Mastering the Art of Social Engineering with Chris Hadnagy
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Cyber Rants Podcast, we sit down with Chris Hadnagy, a prominent speaker at RSA, Black Hat, and DefCon's SE Capture the Fl...
Episode #120 - Defending Against Personal Cyber Attacks
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Financial scams and cyber breaches are hitting more Americans than ever. This week, Zach and Lauro dive into common personal scams and cyber attacks, ...
Episode #119 - Cyber Risk Visibility With Dan DeCloss
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Zach and Lauro welcome pen tester, CISO, and entrepreneur, Dan DeCloss. From navigating organizational challenges to systemizing vulnerabil...
Episode #118 - Leadership Insights with a Navy SEAL Turned Tech Entrepreneur
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Cyber Rants, Zach and Lauro sit down with Ty Smith, a former Navy SEAL turned successful tech entrepreneur, to uncover invaluable l...
Episode #117 - Securing Critical API Connections
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Cyber Rants, Zach and Lauro are joined by Jeremy Snyder, CEO of Firetail, to explore the intricacies of safeguarding vital API conn...
Episode #116 - Navigating Post-Breach Communication
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's cyber landscape, breaches are often disclosed by criminals before victims are even aware, leaving companies scrambling to manage the f...
Episode #115 - What is Cyber Resilience?
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's not a matter of if an organization is going to be attacked, but when. This week, the guys dive into discussing what organizations should be ...
Episode #114 - The 2024 Cybersecurity Crystal Ball
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When the turn of the year comes, so do the projections of Zach, Mike, and Lauro. Sharing both obvious reminders and concepts that are not widely known...
Episode #113 - The Return of Chris Rock - Cyber Mercenary
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We are thrilled to welcome back Chris Rock, a cyber mercenary with the expertise to dismantle individuals, institutions, and even entire nations. Join...
Episode #112 - Cyber Score Sites: Fact or Fiction
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In a digital realm rife with misinformation, the guys dissect the reliability of cyber score sites like Security Scorecard that rate the security leve...
Episode #111 - Planning for Disaster & Hoping for the Best
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Let's face it, disasters are prone to strike anytime and almost always when least expected. Most businesses can't afford to stop operations ...
Episode #110 - Vendor Risk Management - Views from Both Sides
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The guys are asked regularly, "How can vendor risk management be quicker and easier?" After all, the process can be quite time-consuming. Ot...
Episode #109 - 4th Quarter Madness
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Let's face it, the end of the year is the busiest time in many areas of business - but fear not! Cybersecurity shouldn't be an end-of-year r...
Episode #108 - From the Frontlines to Firewalls: Veterans in Cybersecurity
08 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Zach and Lauro are joined by Milton Chavez, as all three guests have one unique connection - they're all U.S. Army Veterans that have ...
Episode #107 - Hacking Humans Face-to-Face
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Zach and Lauro talk about some critical but often overlooked topics including in-person social engineering attacks, the nuances of change m...
Episode #106 - Executives Under Attack
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cyber criminals continue to increase their focus on executives and other high-profile individuals. Using well crafted and targeted attack methods, cri...
Episode #105 - Navigating Cybersecurity Expertise for Rent: Insights from vCISOs and Their Clients
25 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys talk about vCISO challenges from the perspectives of both the vCISOs and their clients. But wait - what does it really mean to be ...
Episode #104 - Meet the Cyber Mercenary who can Overthrow a Government - Chris Rock
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys welcome one of the most interesting figures in cybersecurity! Meet Chris Rock, the hacker and cyber mercenary who can overthrow a ...
Episode 103 - SEC and FTC Regulations
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It seems like there is a new cybersecurity regulation popping up every week and with so many changes, it can be hard to keep track. This week the guys...
Episode #102 - How does AI affect cybersecurity (and the world)?
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For better or for worse, Artificial Intelligence has been dominating the news. Is it really what people say? What does easy access to AI tools mean fo...
Episode #101 - How to Use Cybersecurity to Grow Revenue!
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Enterprise customers want to work with vendors that are secure and reputable. This week, the guys discuss how smart companies leverage their cybersecu...
Episode #100 - The 100th Episode Milestone!
08 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys celebrate the 100th episode of The Cyber Rants Podcast! They share Silent Sector’s origins as a company and how Cyber Rants was ...
Episode #99 - Penetration Testing: When we show up at your door...
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve covered various forms of remote penetration testing, so in this episode we get up close and personal. On-site penetration testing has its own ...
Episode #98 - Network Penetration Testing 101
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys discuss network penetration testing which is a critical aspect of cyber risk management. They share how internal and external netw...
Episode #97 - How to Prepare for Your SOC 2 Audit - Part 5
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys reach the epic conclusion of the SOC 2 audit preparation series. They finish the Security Trust Services Criteria, discussing Cont...
Episode #96 - How to Prepare for Your SOC 2 Audit - Part 4
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys return to helping you prepare for your SOC 2 audit. This time, they discuss Control Categories 5 and 6 in the Security Trust Servi...
Episode #95 - The Legal Side of Cyber Protection
27 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We all know that data breaches are nightmares and the legal ramifications can be far worse than the breach itself. So what can we do to protect oursel...
Episode #94 - Web Application Penetration Testing 101
20 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Web applications are drastically different and like anything, are prone to vulnerabilities. Application penetration tests come in all shapes and sizes...
Episode #93 - How to Prepare for Your SOC 2 Audit (Part 3)
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As we get deeper into the SOC 2 Preparation series, the guys discuss the controls around monitoring activities, tracking deficiencies, and assessing r...
Episode #92 - How to Prepare for Your SOC 2 Audit (Part 2)
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys continue their series on how to prepare for your SOC 2 audit by discussing controls in Section 3 of the Security Trust Services Cr...
Episode #91 - How to Prepare for Your SOC 2 Audit (Part 1)
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Planning to go through your very first SOC 2 audit? If so, this series will be a binge worthy and enlightening adventure! This week, the guys walk you...
Episode # 90 - Supercomputing with Ken Wiley
23 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys welcome IT leader Ken Wiley, who shares about cutting-edge work in the field of supercomputing, insights gained from a highly succ...
Episode #89 - The Cybersecurity Committee
23 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The development of a cybersecurity committee will accelerate your company's alignment to a cybersecurity framework and compliance requirements. ...
Episode #88 - New Year, New Insights (New You?)
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys talk about navigating the cybersecurity environment in 2023. From advancements and changes to cybersecurity practices, to economic...
Episode #87 - Reshaping Cybersecurity Education with Ed Vasko
21 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys welcome cybersecurity expert and entrepreneur, Ed Vasko. Ed shares his insights from decades of experience and reveals a much-need...
Episode #86 - The Hard Truth About What You Can't Outsource
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Sorry to say it, but nobody else can secure your organization from the outside. The reality is, every company has a significant amount of work that mu...
Episode #85 - What Our Crystal Ball Says About 2023
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When the calendar begins to turn, the infamous Cyber Rants crystal ball comes into view once more. This week, the guys discuss their predictions and c...
Episode #84 - Conversations at the Executive and Board Level with guest Caren Shiozaki
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week the guys (and "Skippy the Intern") are joined by special guest, Caren Shiozaki, to discuss cybersecurity considerations among exec...
Episode #83 - Cyber Insurance Insights & What You Need to Know
07 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Cyber insurance is critical for risk management and the requirements are changing rapidly. With rate increases averaging 25-45% per year and many comp...
Episode #82 - Developing a Strong Tech Community
24 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys welcome Founder and President of the Idaho Technology Council, Jay Larsen. They discuss his journey to building Idaho's premi...
Episode #81 - An Unreasonable Fear of Cybersecurity Professionals
17 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Unfortunately, there are some IT professionals who feel threatened when a 3rd party cybersecurity team is engaged. While it's the exception rathe...
Episode #80 - How to Start a Career in Cybersecurity
10 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Thinking about a career in cybersecurity? This week, the guys share their thoughts about getting into the cybersecurity field. They share the pros and...
Episode #79 - Zeroish Trust
04 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As technology's most widespread and trusted vendors are compromised, who can you really trust in today's environment? This week, the guys di...
Episode #78 - Dispelling Misconceptions About the Cloud
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Cloud services can offer tremendous benefits and cloud computing environments have become a standard across all industries. However, marketing hype le...
Episode #77 - It's Ransomware Season!
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ransomware can infect your on-premise or cloud environments at any given time but we've noticed that ransomware attacks seem to spike during cert...
Episode #76 - The Almighty Enterprise Cyber Risk Assessment
29 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's cyber risk assessment season! This is the time of year when many organizations seem to perform their annual cyber risk assessment. Unfortuna...
Episode #75 - Off the Cuff Rants of The Week!
15 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys discuss some cybersecurity trends, tips, and words to the wise that are timely and relevant in today's technology-centric wor...
Episode #74 - An Expert's Approach to Attracting & Retaining the Best Technology Professionals
01 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Does your company recruit IT and cybersecurity staff with the same methods used to fill other positions? If so, don't miss this episode. This wee...
Episode #73 - Backup and Recovery with Mr. Backup Himself - W. Curtis Preston
25 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Cyber criminals are heavily focused on compromising backups so their attacks are as crushing and painful as possible for the victims. Good backups and...
Episode #72 - More Fun with PCI DSS Compliance!
11 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys discuss one of their favorite topics, Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS)! Companies that transmit, process, o...
Episode #71 - Managing Cybersecurity in a Changing Economy
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Inflation and other economic factors are affecting companies large and small. Some organizations are cutting budgets but still have security and compl...
Episode #70 - Securing Complex Organizations and Subsidiaries
20 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Building and managing a cybersecurity program can be confusing for organizations with multiple product lines, subsidiaries, or industry divisions. How...
Episode #69 - News, Notes, and... Goodwill Hacking?
06 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys reconvene after a mini-hiatus and talk about some topics and tips in the news today such as Goodwill Ransomware HackingSafe Brows...
Episode #68 - Cybersecurity Offense - Can you hack back?
16 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Is there really such a thing as "offense" in cybersecurity? This week, the guys discuss how it's possible to proactively protect organi...
Episode #67 - Cybersecurity That Grows Your Revenue!
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Think that cybersecurity is all about protecting data and achieving compliance? Think again! This week the guys share real-world examples about compan...
Episode #66 - Dissecting Cybersecurity Frameworks - Part 2
02 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys continue to walk through the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, by discussing the Detect, Respond, and Recover control categories. They...
Episode #65 - Dissecting Cybersecurity Frameworks - Part 1
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A cybersecurity framework is the foundation of any good cyber risk management program but many people are not familiar with what a framework really is...
Episode #64 - Healthcare Cybersecurity and the Wonders of HIPAA Compliance
11 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys discuss cybersecurity for healthcare companies. From medical facilities and laboratories, to MedTech, benefits companies, and heal...
Episode #63 - Physical Security Controls for Data Protection & Compliance
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week the guys discuss physical security controls (and lasers) to ensure that your organization is both secure and compliant! Cybersecurity doesn&...
Episode #62 - Eric Adams, FedRAMP Expert
28 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys are joined by Eric Adams, experienced CISO and FedRAMP Strategist discuss what precisely is FedRAMP, why should organizations cons...
Episode #61 - Wild and Wacky Headlines
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys deviate a little from the usual format and discuss some of the latest trends in Cybersecurity, and rant on what's on their mi...
Episode #60 MSSP vs. vCISO vs. Cybersecurity Program Development
07 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's a wild market for cybersecurity services, often confusing buyers and selling companies less than ideal solutions. The question is, what cybe...
Episode #59 - Getting The Most from Your Cyber Security Provider
28 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It is important to know what you're getting into when you invest in a cybersecurity services firm to help with security and compliance! There are...
Episode #58 - Red Team Testing & Other Colorful Methods
21 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What do you think of when you hear "Red Team vs. Blue Team"? Board or video games, military exercises, or cybersecurity terms? This week the...
Episode #57 - People > Robots
14 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In today's Cybersecurity Gold Rush, we see so many new technology products claiming to solve the world's problems and companies promoting th...
Episode #56 - Compliance and Security with a Remote Workforce
31 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The transition to a remote workforce has left many companies wondering how they'll achieve compliance with various requirements like CMMC, ISO 27...
Episode #55 - The Joys of IR Plans & Security Questionnaires
17 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week the guys discuss some of the bigger cybersecurity struggles for mid-market and emerging companies. Developing an effective incident response...
Episode #54 - What Our Crystal Ball Says About 2022
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week the guys reunite for the first episode of 2022 by taking a look into the future. With their crystal ball of predictions, the guys look into ...
Episode #53 - Cyber Insurance - Can I Be Protected?
20 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Cyber insurance is a critical part of any risk management program and something that every company must have. Finding the right policy with the proper...
Episode #52: The Vast Capabilities of Open Source Intelligence
13 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Cyber criminals can learn more about you than you ever realized. Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) often exposes information that you didn't reali...
Episode #51 - The Who's Who of Cybersecurity
06 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
If your organization is growing and is getting ready to build its own InfoSec team, this week's episode is for you. The guys discuss the "Wh...
Episode #50 - Compliance Vs. Security
22 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Is being compliant the same as being secure? If you're meeting all the requirements, are you adequately protected? This week, the guys discuss th...
Episode #49 - Translating Cyber Risk to Dollars and Cents
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Are your executives and board members struggling to understand cyber risk? This week, the guys are joined by David Moon of Arx Nimbus, a company tha...
Episode #48: What's Going Well in Cybersecurity Today? More than you might think...
08 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week the guys discuss the good steps forward that are making the cybersecurity industry strong, from awareness to technologies, education to grow...
Episode #47 - Small Business Cybersecurity with David Baker
01 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys welcome a new member to the team, longtime technology professional, David Baker! They discuss his experience in helping small busi...
Episode #46 - Wireless Pen Testing is both Awesome and Revealing
26 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys discuss wireless penetration testing and explain many of the common findings that are revealed through the testing process. They p...
Episode #45 - Cyber Crime - Do People Care?
19 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There is a lot of news about cyber attacks but the big question is, "Do people actually care?" This week the guys rant about cyber crime and...
Episode #44: What Is Silent Sector?
11 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week the guys share what Silent Sector is all about, from the origins of the company to what makes the services and methodologies stand apart. Th...
Episode #43 - Top 5 Tips for Personal Cyber Protection
27 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys share simple tips that individuals and very small businesses can use to protect themselves and their data from cyber criminals, ev...
Episode #42 - Lessons and Silver Linings of the COVID Pandemic
13 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week the guys share what they saw in the cybersecurity and IT industries from the start of COVID to the current day. They share what went poorly ...
Episode #41 - Both Sides of the Vendor Vetting Process
02 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For some organizations, vendor vetting for cyber risk management is a process that runs like a well-oiled machine. For most, it's a tedious and c...
Episode #40 - Protect Your People From Themselves
30 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys discuss technical controls to protect your employees and protect your company from its own employees. From honest mistakes to gros...
Episode #39 - Combining Passion and Career with Heather Monthie, PhD
16 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week, the guys welcome Heather Monthie, PhD, who's illustrious career has blended her passions for cybersecurity, aviation, and education. S...
Episode #38 - The Joy of Cybersecurity Policies!
10 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nobody loves cybersecurity governance documentation like we do! This week, the guys discuss cybersecurity policies and why the proper policies make al...
Episode #37 Keeping Your Data... Your Data
02 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From PII and PHI to intellectual property and sensitive business information, the guys talk about how to keep your sensitive data from leaking to the ...