In this episode of Security Matters, host David Puner sits down with Marene Allison, former Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of Johnson & Johnson, for a candid and wide-ranging conversation on trust, identity, and leadership in cybersecurity. From securing global vaccine supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic to navigating the rise of AI and machine identities, Marene shares hard-earned insights from her decades-long career in national security and the private sector.

They explore what it means to be a mission-driven CISO, how to build trust from the boardroom to the front lines, and why identity has always been the true perimeter. Marene also reflects on her post-CISO chapter and the evolving role of cybersecurity leaders in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

In this episode of Security Matters, host David Puner welcomes Kevin Bocek, CyberArk SVP of Innovation, for an insightful discussion on the critical role of machine identity in modern cybersecurity. As digital environments become increasingly complex, securing machine identities has never been more crucial.

According to the CyberArk 2025 Identity Security Landscape, machine identities now outnumber human identities by more than 80 to 1. As organizations scale cloud workloads and automation, these identities are becoming a critical part of the cybersecurity frontline. From TLS certificate outages to API key exposures, failures in machine identity management can lead to outages, breaches, and cascading system failures. In this episode of Security Matters, Kevin Bocek explains why this moment is pivotal for getting machine identity right—and how Zero Trust principles, automation, and visibility are essential to building cyber resilience.

We also explore the future of identity security—from AI kill switches and agentic AI to quantum threats—and how identity can serve as both a safeguard and a kill switch in the age of autonomous systems.

Whether you're a cybersecurity professional or simply interested in the latest security trends, this episode offers valuable insights into the importance of machine identity in safeguarding our digital world. Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow Security Matters for more expert discussions on the latest in cybersecurity.

In this episode of Security Matters, host David Puner sits down with Eric Olden, co-founder and CEO of Strata Identity, and a pioneer in modern identity management. Eric shares his career journey, from founding Simplified to leading Oracle's global identity division, and discusses the critical importance of resilience in identity systems.

Discover how organizations can eliminate single points of failure, test their backup plans and ensure their digital operations remain robust even in the face of unexpected outages. Eric also delves into the concept of identity orchestration, explaining how it can unify multiple identity systems and enhance security.

Tune in to learn about the latest trends in identity management, including the intersection of AI and identity, and gain insights into how businesses can proactively assess and mitigate risks associated with identity outages.

Don't miss this engaging conversation filled with practical advice and forward-thinking strategies to help safeguard your organization's identity infrastructure.

In this episode of Security Matters, host David Puner, dives into the world of evolving cyberthreats with Bryan Murphy, Senior Director of CyberArk's Incident Response Team. Imagine a scenario where an attacker uses AI-generated deepfakes to impersonate your company's VP of finance, gaining unauthorized access to your environment. Bryan Murphy shares insights on how these sophisticated attacks are turning identity into the attack surface and why your first line of defense might be as simple as a video call. Learn about the latest trends in social engineering, credential tiering and the importance of visual verification in incident response. Don't miss this eye-opening discussion on how to protect your organization from the ever-evolving threat landscape.

In this episode of the Security Matters podcast, host David Puner sits down with Lior Yaari, CEO and co-founder of Grip Security, for a discussion that covers the concept of identity debt and its implications for modern cybersecurity. Lior shares insights from his experience in Israel's elite Unit 8200 and explains why identity is now the new security perimeter. They delve into the challenges organizations face in managing SaaS applications, the impact of generative AI on cybersecurity and the importance of proactive identity governance. Tune in for tips on how to protect your organization from within and stay ahead of evolving threats.

Imagine receiving an urgent email from your bank that looks perfectly legitimate. It warns you of a suspicious transaction and prompts you to verify your identity. You hesitate but click, and suddenly, your credentials are compromised. This scenario, crafted by AI-powered fraud-as-a-service, is happening now.

In this episode of the Security Matters podcast, host David Puner is joined by Blair Cohen, Founder and President of AuthenticID, to discuss the evolving identity threat landscape. They explore the rise of synthetic fraud, the role of biometric authentication and how AI-driven security is reshaping the fight against cybercrime. Blair shares insights on the challenges of detecting deepfakes, the advancements in biometric authentication and the impact of generative AI on security measures.

Tune in to learn how security leaders can stay ahead in this rapidly changing environment and what organizations can do to prepare for the next generation of cyberthreats.

In this episode of the Security Matters podcast, host David Puner is joined by Lavi Lazarovitz, Vice President of Cyber Research at CyberArk Labs, to explore the transformative impact of AI agents on cybersecurity and automation. They discuss real-world scenarios where AI agents monitor security logs, flag anomalies, and automate responses, highlighting both the opportunities and risks associated with these advanced technologies.

Lavi shares insights into the evolution of AI agents, from chatbots to agentic AI, and the challenges of building trust and resilience in AI-driven systems. The conversation delves into the latest research areas, including safety, privacy, and security, and examines how different industries are adopting AI agents to handle vast amounts of data.

Tune in to learn about the critical security challenges posed by AI agents, the importance of trust in automation, and the strategies organizations can implement to protect their systems and data. Whether you're a cybersecurity professional or simply curious about the future of AI, this episode offers valuable insights into the rapidly evolving world of AI agents.

More security resources via the CyberArk Blog

In this episode of Security Matters, we dive into the world of retail technology and cybersecurity. Imagine a bustling retail chain during its busiest shopping season, only to be disrupted by a cyberattack. Our guest, Jason James, Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Aptos Retail, shares his insights with host David Puner on how to stay ahead of these threats.

Discover the strategies for building cyber resilience, the role of AI in retail, the importance of protecting consumer trust and the critical role of identity in safeguarding sensitive data. JJ's journey from tech enthusiast to CIO offers actionable insights and expert advice for cyber professionals, business leaders and anyone with a seat at or view of the cybersecurity table.

More security resources via the CyberArk Blog