EPISODE · Jul 17, 2025 · 19 MIN
How BT Tackled 180 Years of Legacy to Build a Passwordless Future
from Cloud Security Podcast · host TechRiot.io
How do you modernize security in a 180-year-old company that operates critical national infrastructure? What does it look like when you discover tens or even hundreds of thousands of credentials hidden across your estate?In this episode, we sit down with Christian Schwarz, Security Director for Network Services at BT Group , recorded at HashiDays London. Christian shares the immense challenge and strategic approach to standardizing secret management across one of the world's oldest telecommunication companies.He details BT's journey away from the "moat and a castle" security model towards a future with no passwords for developers , reducing friction and enhancing security by design.Guest Socials - Christian's LinkedinPodcast Twitter - @CloudSecPod If you want to watch videos of this LIVE STREAMED episode and past episodes - Check out our other Cloud Security Social Channels:-Cloud Security Podcast- Youtube- Cloud Security Newsletter - Cloud Security BootCampIf you are interested in AI Cybersecurity, you can check out our sister podcast - AI Cybersecurity PodcastQuestions asked:(00:00) - Why Standardizing Secrets is a Challenge(02:24) - Introducing Christian Schwarz & His Role at BT(05:50) - Beyond the "Castle & Moat": A New Approach to Security(07:59) - The Challenge of Securing a 180-Year-Old Company(10:04) - The Power of Storytelling and Discovering Hidden Credentials(11:59) - The Starting Point: Threat Modeling Your Critical Infrastructure(13:48) - The Upside of Standardization: Reducing Cognitive Load for Teams(16:08) - Fun Questions: Cycling, Innovation, and Favorite CuisinesThank you to our episode sponsor HashiCorp
What this episode covers
How do you modernize security in a 180-year-old company that operates critical national infrastructure? What does it look like when you discover tens or even hundreds of thousands of credentials hidden across your estate?In this episode, we sit down with Christian Schwarz, Security Director for Network Services at BT Group , recorded at HashiDays London. Christian shares the immense challenge and strategic approach to standardizing secret management across one of the world's oldest telecommunication companies.He details BT's journey away from the "moat and a castle" security model towards a future with no passwords for developers , reducing friction and enhancing security by design.Guest Socials - Christian's LinkedinPodcast Twitter - @CloudSecPod If you want to watch videos of this LIVE STREAMED episode and past episodes - Check out our other Cloud Security Social Channels:-Cloud Security Podcast- Youtube- Cloud Security Newsletter - Cloud Security BootCampIf you are interested in AI Cybersecurity, you can check out our sister podcast - AI Cybersecurity PodcastQuestions asked:(00:00) - Why Standardizing Secrets is a Challenge(02:24) - Introducing Christian Schwarz & His Role at BT(05:50) - Beyond the "Castle & Moat": A New Approach to Security(07:59) - The Challenge of Securing a 180-Year-Old Company(10:04) - The Power of Storytelling and Discovering Hidden Credentials(11:59) - The Starting Point: Threat Modeling Your Critical Infrastructure(13:48) - The Upside of Standardization: Reducing Cognitive Load for Teams(16:08) - Fun Questions: Cycling, Innovation, and Favorite CuisinesThank you to our episode sponsor HashiCorp
NOW PLAYING
How BT Tackled 180 Years of Legacy to Build a Passwordless Future
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Mar 26, 2026 ·1m
Jan 2, 2026 ·47m
Dec 21, 2025 ·46m