Cyber Dialogues by Palo Alto Networks

Cyber Dialogues: The Gen AI Talk: Practical Online Safety for the Next GenerationWelcome to Cyber Dialogues, powered by Palo Alto Networks! In this essential episode, host Sharmin Jassal dives into the fastest-moving trend in cyber - the digital lives of our children with the brilliant minds behind Cyberlite, co-founders Nina Bual and Michelle Yao.The digital world is changing too fast to track, and our kids are at the forefront. Nina and Michelle share some truly eye-opening statistics:The average two-year-old is now spending two hours a day online.Children are adopting Gen AI tools like ChatGPT and Co-pilot much faster than adults.Up to 60% of the content kids see on YouTube is AI-generated, a phenomenon they call "AI slop."This is more than just a screen-time conversation; it's about core cyber safety. We discuss why "Information is safety," and the critical need to shift the focus from preventing AI use to teaching kids to use it responsibly.Whether you're a parent, a teacher, or a concerned cyber professional, this 20-minute chat is packed with the practical, actionable commentary you need to help secure the next generation of digital citizens.Find out more about Cyberlite's mission: https://www.cyberlite.org/Connect with our guests:Nina Bual's LinkedInMichelle Yao's LinkedInSubscribe for more candid conversations on the latest in cyber!

Guest: Andrew Milroy, Distinguished Analyst and Founder of Veqtor8In this episode of Cyber Dialogues, we explore the rapid emergence of Agentic AI, autonomous systems that can perceive, reason, plan, and execute actions independently. Host Sharmin Jassal speaks with renowned analyst Andrew Milroy about the unprecedented security challenges and defensive opportunities this technology presents.Andrew explains that the current rush to adopt AI for productivity is creating an exponentially larger attack surface, a pattern he likens to the early days of Cloud and Mobile adoption where security was an afterthought. He details two critical and unique vulnerabilities:Model Poisoning and Prompt Injection: How malicious data or disguised commands can manipulate an autonomous agent's behavior, leading to unauthorized actions or sabotage.Detection Difficulty: Why the adaptive, constantly changing nature of Agentic AI makes it difficult for static security rules to detect anomalous or compromised activity.The conversation then pivots to the offensive power of these agents, discussing how they can supercharge threats with speed and scale, making phishing attacks almost indistinguishable from legitimate communications. Finally, Andrew offers an optimistic outlook, highlighting the opportunity for enterprises to adopt Agentic SecOps - autonomous defense systems capable of instantly detecting, responding to, and shifting security posture against sophisticated, evolving threats.Key Takeaways:The AI Vulnerability: AI adoption is currently being driven by enthusiasm for efficiency, often ignoring security risks, leading to a massive expansion of the attack surface.The Attacker's Edge: Agentic AI enables attackers to create fully automated, Cunning, and adaptive threats that can respond dynamically to human attempts at validation.The Defender's Opportunity: Security Operations Centers can leverage Agentic AI to automate threat hunting, reduce false positives, and achieve response speeds that were previously impossible, effectively turning defense into an autonomous function.Market Transformation: Andrew believes Agentic AI will disrupt the entire IT industry, potentially marking a shift away from standardized SaaS platforms toward highly customized, data-proximate agent architectures.Connect with Andrew Milroy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmilroy/ 

Welcome back to Cyber Dialogues! In a world filled with digital threats, the question isn't just what we need to learn, but how we learn it.In this episode, your host Sharmin Jassal, sits down with the visionary founder of Quitch, Grainne Oates, to discuss a groundbreaking new partnership with Palo Alto Networks. We dive deep into the power of nano-learning—a mobile-first, gamified approach that’s making cybersecurity training accessible, engaging, and incredibly effective.Grainne shares the origin story of Quitch, explores how AI is shaping the future of personalized education, and reveals how you can use a few minutes a day to level up your cyber smarts. Don't miss this conversation on why quick, bite-sized learning is the key to securing our future.What We Discuss:The origin story of Quitch and how it evolved into a powerful edtech platform.The science behind nano-learning and spaced repetition for long-term knowledge retention.How the new partnership with Palo Alto Networks is democratizing cybersecurity training.The future of learning: how AI and personalized education are changing the game.Why nano-learning is the perfect antidote to "doom scrolling" for busy professionals and small business owners.Guest: Grainne Oates is the CEO and founder of Quitch, an edtech company that uses mobile-first, gamified learning to improve knowledge retention.Resources & Links:Learn more about Quitch: https://www.quitch.com/Explore the partnership: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com.au/company/press/2025/palo-alto-networks-and-quitch-partner-to-make-cyber-training-more-engaging-accessible Connect with Grainne Oates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drgrainneoates-b07589139/ 

In our latest episode of #CyberDialogues, Lisa Sim, VP of Marketing, Asia Pacific, and Japan at Palo Alto Networks, discusses why cybersecurity matters for marketers. “As marketers, we’re custodians of the brand. In a digital world where trust is fragile and data is everywhere, a cyberattack can do significant harm, not just to systems, but to reputation.”Lisa shares two key reasons why marketers need to be proactive:1. We’re often the first responders when a breach happens. Communicating clearly and quickly matters.2. If we’re not thinking about cybersecurity, we’re not truly protecting the brand.

In this episode of Cyber Dialogues, host Sharmin Jassal sits down with Steven Scheurmann, Regional Vice President for ASEAN at Palo Alto Networks, to explore how collaboration between governments and the private sector is shaping the future of cybersecurity across Southeast Asia.With the ASEAN region experiencing rapid — and uneven — digital adoption, securing critical infrastructure has become a shared challenge. Steven unpacks how governments are moving toward cloud-first strategies, why regional cooperation is essential, and how examples like Singapore’s Singpass system are leading the way.Key themes include:• How ASEAN’s digital diversity impacts cyber readiness• The role of public–private partnerships in building cyber resilience• Government moves toward Zero Trust and cloud-first frameworks• Skill shortages and interoperability as persistent barriers• Why governance, standardization, and shared threat intelligence are keyWith optimism and clarity, Steven outlines a path forward — where trust, collaboration, and shared responsibility define a more secure digital future for the region.

Nearly half of all cyber incidents now begin with the browser — the everyday tool we all take for granted. In this episode of Cyber Dialogues, Raj Sharma, Cybersecurity Strategist at Palo Alto Networks, joins host Brad Howarth to unpack why the browser has become one of the most exploited points of entry in the enterprise threat landscape.Raj shares practical insights on how organizations can reduce their attack surface, defend against browser-based threats, and adopt a safer model for hybrid and remote workforces. From zero-trust browsing to isolating risky content, this episode explores cutting-edge strategies to help CISOs stay ahead of evolving threats.In this episode:• Why the browser is now one of the most targeted tools in the enterprise• Real-world examples of browser-based vulnerabilities being exploited• The role of Zero Trust in modern browser security• Strategies for protecting hybrid and remote teams• How to reduce user risk without sacrificing productivityWhether you’re a cybersecurity leader or a business decision-maker, this conversation reveals what it takes to defend your most frequently used — and most frequently targeted — business tool.

If you’re a policymaker, legal leader, or just someone who wants to stay one step ahead in the cyber landscape — you’re in the right place.In this episode of Cyber Dialogues, host Sarah Sloan is joined by Bruce Byrd, a seasoned legal executive and General Counsel and Executive Vice President at Palo Alto Networks, to explore the evolving intersection of law, leadership, and cybersecurity.With decades of experience advising global enterprises on legal risk, compliance, and crisis response, Bruce shares how cybersecurity has become a top priority in the boardroom — and why legal teams are now playing a central role in shaping proactive defense strategies. From breach disclosure regulations to reputational risk management, Bruce offers candid insights on what it takes to stay ahead of today’s complex cyber landscape.Key topics include:• Why General Counsels are critical to cyber resilience• Navigating breach disclosure and regulatory pressure• Building alignment between legal, security, and executive teams• Board-level accountability in a high-risk digital era• Creating a security culture rooted in trust and transparencyThis episode is essential listening for legal leaders, CISOs, and executives navigating the high-stakes intersection of governance and cybersecurity.

Whether you’re a CFO, risk leader, or just curious about the shifting dynamics between finance and cyber, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.Today’s episode dives into a critical intersection: cybersecurity and finance — and how CFOs are stepping into a growing role in managing cyber risk.Joining Brad Howarth is Deepak Kalra, Global Chief Financial Officer at Palo Alto Networks. With a career spanning fast-moving consumer goods, education, and technology, Deepak brings a unique perspective on how finance leaders can — and must — engage with cybersecurity strategy.We’ll talk about:The cybersecurity questions every CFO should be askingHow to benchmark cyber investment against riskWhy understanding your “crown jewel” data is criticalAnd how cybercrime is reshaping the modern finance function

What does it take to respond to over 100,000 cyber incidents a year — and still stay ahead of the next one?Welcome to Cyber Dialogues, brought to you by Palo Alto Networks.In our series finale for Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we’re joined by Philippa Cogswell, JAPAC Managing Partner at Unit 42 — Palo Alto Networks’ elite threat intelligence team.Philippa takes us inside the high-stakes world of global cyber response — where threat actors move fast, but data, AI, and human insight move faster.From tracking attacker behaviour at scale to managing critical incidents across the region, Unit 42 is changing how organizations detect, defend, and recover.It’s a fascinating look at cybersecurity under pressure — and what it means to lead when every alert could be a breach.

As cyber threats grow more complex, the financial impact is now front and center — and CFOs are stepping into the cybersecurity conversation.In this episode of Cyber Dialogues, Simon Green, President of Palo Alto Networks for Asia Pacific and Japan, joins host Brad Howarth to explore how finance and security leaders are joining forces to tackle one of the biggest risks to business today: cybercrime.Simon shares a sharp, inside view on:• Why CFOs are rethinking cyber as core to business risk• What questions finance leaders should be asking their security teams• How downtime, detection, and data breaches translate into dollars• The benefits of platformization — and how integrated security drives better financial outcomes• Why AI is the next frontier in both opportunity and threatWhether you’re a CFO, CISO, or just navigating the budget conversations between them, this episode offers real-world strategies for collaboration and resilience.

Japan is one of the world’s most advanced and highly automated economies — and that makes it a prime target for cyber attackers.In this episode of Cyber Dialogues, Hiroshi Eli, President of Palo Alto Networks Japan, joins host Brad Howarth to unpack the distinct cybersecurity challenges facing Japanese organizations — and why their approach has lessons for global enterprises.You’ll hear how Japan’s heavy reliance on IoT, its aging population, and industry-specific automation all shape its cyber threat landscape — and how forward-thinking firms are responding.Key takeaways include:• Why cybersecurity has moved from the back office to the boardroom in Japan• How language barriers and AI adoption create unique security concerns• The role of education, policy, and even the Boy Scouts in national cyber awareness• Why Japanese organizations are embracing platformization to simplify and strengthen security• How AI is reshaping both cyber risk and defense strategies — and why the quality of data matters more than everWhether you’re managing cyber risk in Japan or looking to apply global best practices in your own organization, this episode offers sharp insights from the front lines of enterprise security.

Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT concern — it’s a business-critical issue that’s commanding serious attention in boardrooms across the JAPAC region.In this episode of Cyber Dialogues, Riccardo Galbiati, Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer for JAPAC at Palo Alto Networks, sits down with Brad Howarth to explore how security leaders can better align with business strategy — and how to make cyber risk a conversation everyone at the table understands.From translating technical threats into financial language to bridging gaps between CISOs and CFOs, Riccardo shares real-world strategies for making cybersecurity a driver of business resilience.Key themes include:• Why CISOs must speak the language of risk, reputation, and resilience• How to secure buy-in from executive leadership and boards• What works (and what doesn’t) when building a culture of security• How to shift from reactive defense to proactive strategy• The evolving role of AI in both threat detection and attacker capabilitiesIf you’re a CISO looking to influence at the highest levels — or a business leader seeking to understand cyber risk through a strategic lens — this episode is essential listening.