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 your personal brand and navigating AI in the enterprise, this conversation is packed with practical insight for anyone aspiring to the C-suite in cybersecurity.
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Relationships Over Firewalls with Attila Torok
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 your personal brand and navigating AI in the enterprise, this conversation is packed with practical insight for anyone aspiring to the C-suite in cybersecurity.
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When the Cyber Alarms Go Silent
In this urgent and eye-opening episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole dives into one of the most consequential moments in U.S. cybersecurity history: the expiration of the Information Sharing Act of 2015, which quietly lapsed the same day the government shut down. Dr. Cole explains how this coincidence has effectively cut off the flow of critical cyber threat intelligence between the U.S. government and private sector, leaving organizations blind to emerging attacks and operating at a major disadvantage. He breaks down the data-driven realities every CISO must communicate to their executive teams: The collapse of formal information sharing protections and the resulting liability risks for companies. The severe reduction of federal cybersecurity capacity, with 65% of CISA furloughed. The surge in cyberattacks from foreign adversaries exploiting U.S. vulnerability. Practical strategies for regaining the upper hand—reducing attack surfaces, deploying AI-based threat detection, and reassessing over-reliance on cloud providers following suspicious AWS and Microsoft outages. Dr. Cole urges CISOs to lead with data, not emotion, and to act decisively in this new era of "cyber wartime." Whether you're an executive or a security professional, this episode delivers the critical insights and strategic playbook you need to safeguard your organization when the nation's early warning system has gone dark.
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Lessons in Trust, Training, and Threat Intelligence with Michael Centrella
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole sits down with Michael Centrella, a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Secret Service turned cybersecurity executive, to discuss how lessons from protecting presidents translate into protecting digital infrastructure. Centrella shares his journey from investigating counterfeit currency to leading global cyber investigations, emphasizing how human error remains the biggest security vulnerability despite technological advances. Together, they explore the evolving ransomware landscape, the challenges of balancing security with business friction, and the vital need for public-private collaboration, especially in light of the expiration of the CISA Information Sharing Act of 2015. Centrella also highlights the importance of supply chain visibility and continuous monitoring in today's interconnected world, sharing insights from his new role at SecurityScorecard. The conversation closes with timeless advice drawn from both law enforcement and cybersecurity: "Trust but verify." Whether you're leading a security team or steering a business through today's cyber threats, this episode is packed with actionable wisdom on resilience, leadership, and the power of informed vigilance.
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From Good to World-Class: Aligning Cybersecurity with Business Success
In this episode of Life of a CISO, Dr. Eric Cole breaks down what truly separates good CISOs from world-class ones — the ability to align cybersecurity strategy with the core business mission. He explains that understanding what business your organization is really in is the foundation of effective security leadership. Using real-world examples, Dr. Cole highlights how CISOs must adapt their security priorities based on organizational goals, whether it's stabilizing growth, driving acquisitions, or enhancing customer experience. He challenges the outdated view that security and business efficiency are at odds, emphasizing instead that cybersecurity should be a business enabler — efficient, cost-effective, and even profitable. Dr. Cole also explores critical areas like asset visibility, reducing attack surfaces through simplification, and aligning budgets to the CIA triad (confidentiality, integrity, availability). The episode wraps up with actionable insights on executive communication, including how to present cyber risk in business language using a simple, four-column "magic slide": what could happen, likelihood of occurrence, cost if it happens, and cost to fix it. Dr. Cole's message is clear — world-class CISOs think like executives first, technologists second.
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Om 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.
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