The Audit - Cybersecurity Podcast

In this episode of The Audit, co-hosts Eric Brown and Nick Mellem dive deep into organizational psychology and team dynamics with a refreshingly honest look at how IT Audit Labs is using assessments like CliftonStrengths, Kolbe, and PRINT to decode their team. This isn't fluffy HR talk—it's strategic workforce optimization that directly impacts how security teams respond to threats, collaborate under pressure, and execute on complex projects.
Eric and Nick discuss why understanding your team's natural strengths, motivators, and triggers is just as critical as deploying the right tech stack. From reducing meeting bloat to being more intentional with time and resources, they share real-world lessons on building a culture where people operate in their zone of genius. Plus, they tackle the "what tool would you deploy first" scenario—spoiler: it's not what you think.

🔑 KEY TOPICS COVERED:
Why organizational assessments (CliftonStrengths, Kolbe, PRINT) matter for security teams
How to be more intentional with meetings, time, and team collaboration
First tools to deploy in a new security environment (MFA, YubiKeys, Veronus)
The shift from reactive security to proactive team alignment
Using AI tools like Gemini to streamline communication and decision-making
#CliftonStrengths #Cybersecurity #TeamBuilding #ITLeadership #SecurityCulture #CISOLife #InfoSec #OrganizationalPsychology

What if the difference between AI mediocrity and breakthrough isn't the tool—it's how you architect your approach? Carter Jensen from The Uncommon Business joins the crew to reveal why most people are stuck "button pushing" while others are unlocking 3X productivity gains. This isn't theory; it's the frontline reality of businesses transforming workflows with the right AI architecture. 
If you're tired of surface-level AI hype and ready for actionable intelligence on integrating AI into security, compliance, and everyday business operations, this episode delivers. Whether you're Blockbuster or Netflix is up to you.
🎯 What You'll Learn:
AI Architecture vs. Button Pushing – The mindset shift that unlocks 3-4X productivity gains instead of mediocre results
Real Cybersecurity Wins – How IT teams use AI to speed through compliance audits (PCI, CJIS, HIPAA) and tackle complex security workflows
Enterprise Implementation Truth – Why expensive AI tools fail without strategy, and what actually works for business adoption
The AI Bubble Debate – Is this hype or the biggest business transformation since the internet? Carter brings receipts from the frontlines
Don't let your team fall behind while competitors architect their way to 4X output. This episode arms IT leaders, CISOs, and security professionals with the mindset shift needed to deploy AI that actually moves the needle. Like, share, and subscribe for more cutting-edge cybersecurity and AI implementation strategies! 

#ArtificialIntelligence #Cybersecurity #AIforBusiness #ITaudit #ComplianceAutomation

In this special year-end episode, Joshua Schmidt revisits the most mind-bending moments from The Audit's 2025 season. From Justin Marciano and Paul Vann demonstrating live deepfakes in real-time (yes, they actually did it on camera) to Bill Harris explaining how Google's quantum experiments suggest parallel universes, to Alex Bratton's urgent warning about the AI adoption crisis happening right now in boardrooms everywhere. 
What You'll Learn: 
How adversaries are using free tools to create convincing deepfakes for job interviews and social engineering attacks—and why this represents a national security threat  
Why NASA shut down its quantum computer after getting results that "challenge contemporary thinking" (and the wild theories circulating about what they discovered)  
The critical mistake companies are making with AI integration: racing ahead without governance, security frameworks, or responsible use policies  
How the Pi-hole community exemplifies open-source security at its best—enterprise-grade protection at fractions of the cost  
Why IT teams saying "no" to AI isn't realistic, and what responsible AI adoption actually looks like 
This isn't just a recap—it's a wake-up call. These conversations reveal the inflection points where standing still means falling behind. Whether you're a CISO, security analyst, IT auditor, or business leader trying to navigate AI adoption, these clips offer the perspective you need heading into 2026. 
Don't wait until 2026 to realize you missed the critical shift. Subscribe now for cutting-edge cybersecurity insights that keep you ahead of evolving threats. 
#cybersecurity #deepfake #quantumcomputing #AI #infosec #ethicalhacking #cyberdefense #2025yearinreview

What if you could hire an army of AI security analysts that work 24/7 investigating alerts so your human team can focus on what actually matters? Edward Wu, founder and CEO of DropZone AI, joins The Audit crew to reveal how large language models are transforming security operations—and why the future of cyber defense looks more like a drone war than traditional SOC work. 
From his eight years at AttackIQ generating millions of security alerts (and the fatigue that came with them), Edward built DropZone to solve the problem he helped create: alert overload. This conversation goes deep on AI agents specializing in different security domains, the asymmetry problem between attackers and defenders, and why deepfakes might require us to use "safe words" before every Zoom call. 
What You'll Learn: 
How AI tier-1 analysts automate 90% of alert triage to find real threats faster 
Why attackers only need to be right once, but AI can level the playing field 
Real-world deepfake attacks hitting finance teams right now 
The societal implications of AI-driven social engineering at scale 
Whether superintelligence will unlock warp engines or just better spreadsheets 
If alert fatigue is crushing your security team, this episode delivers the blueprint for fighting back with AI. Hit subscribe for more conversations with security leaders who are actually building the future—not just talking about it. 
#cybersecurity #AIforCybersecurity #SOC #SecurityOperations #AlertFatigue #DropZoneAI #ThreatDetection #IncidentResponse #CyberDefense #SecurityAutomation

When hackers target the systems controlling your water, power, and transportation, the consequences go far beyond data breaches—people can die. Leslie Carhartt, Technical Director of Incident Response at Dragos, pulls back the curtain on one of cybersecurity's most critical blind spots: industrial control systems that keep society running but remain dangerously exposed. 
What You'll Learn: 
Why industrial control systems can't be updated like your laptop—and what that means for security 
How threat actors are using AI to generate custom malware for power plants and water treatment facilities 
The real state of critical infrastructure security (spoiler: forget about air gaps) 
Why commodity ransomware has become an existential threat to industrial operations 
The five critical controls organizations should implement right now to defend OT environments 
Don't wait until your organization becomes the next headline. Like, share, and subscribe for more in-depth security intelligence that goes beyond the buzzwords. 
#industrialcybersecurity #criticalinfrastructure #OTsecurity #ICS #SCADA #dragos #incidentresponse #ransomware #AIthreats #cybersecurity #infosec