Game Plans and Playbooks: Building and Implementing a Cybersecurity Strategy

Dr. Aleise McGowan, Chief Information Security Officer of BlackGirlsHack and a 20-year cybersecurity veteran, joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Aleise shares how a career-defining hack early on shifted her trajectory from developer to defender, and why she believes the future of security lies in resilience, diversity, and human-centered leadership. She talks about what separates good and great leaders during the first hours of an incident response and why delayed action equals exponential damage. She also spotlights her work with BlackGirlsHack, a rapidly growing nonprofit that opens doors for underrepresented talent in cyber, and makes the case that building an inclusive security workforce isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do.    Resources:   View Aleise McGowan on LinkedIn   View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn       Related Microsoft Podcasts:   Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   The BlueHat Podcast    Uncovering Hidden Risks           Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts      Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.

Yonatan Zunger, Corporate Vice President and Deputy Chief Information Security Officer for Artificial Intelligence at Microsoft joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. They dive into the evolving cybersecurity landscape shaped by generative and agentic AI, discussing both the opportunities and the risks. Yonatan shares insights on how organizations should think about AI as a junior employee - not infallible, but useful when paired with human oversight. They also explore the principles of safe AI development, how to balance innovation with governance, and why AI could finally enable persistent cybersecurity defense in a way never before possible.    Resources:   View Yonatan Zunger on LinkedIn   View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn       Related Microsoft Podcasts:   Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   The BlueHat Podcast    Uncovering Hidden Risks   Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts      Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.

Dr. Hugh Thompson, Executive Chairman of RSA Conference and Managing Partner at Crosspoint Capital joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. They discuss what goes into planning the world’s largest cybersecurity conference—from theme selection to llama-related surprises on the expo floor—and how the RSA community continues to evolve. Hugh also shares how his background in applied math led him from academia to cybersecurity, his thoughts on the human element in security, and what keeps him optimistic about the future of the industry.    Resources:   View Hugh Thompson on LinkedIn    View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn          Related Microsoft Podcasts:   Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   The BlueHat Podcast    Uncovering Hidden Risks          Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts      Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.

On this special episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea, Ann brings listeners inside the 2025 RSA Conference to explore the intersection of AI, quantum computing and cyber resiliency with two visionary experts: Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Vinod Vaikuntanathan and Dr. Sasha O’Connell from The Aspen Institute. Vinod shares how quantum computing poses a serious threat to current encryption methods and explains the urgent need for post-quantum cryptography, while Sasha shares her non-technical path into cybersecurity, her work leading Aspen Digital’s global policy efforts and the launch of the new public campaign aimed at making cybersecurity accessible and actionable for everyone.     Resources:   View Sasha O’Connell on LinkedIn   View Vinod Vaikuntanathan on LinkedIn           View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn       Related Microsoft Podcasts:   Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   The BlueHat Podcast    Uncovering Hidden Risks           Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts      Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.

Christina Morillo, Head of Information Security at the National Football League’s New York Giants joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Christina discusses the ins and outs of building a resilient cybersecurity strategy, the importance of entering organizations with curiosity—not checklists—and why listening is always her first step. Christina breaks down common cybersecurity misconceptions, shares how to move from strategy to implementation, discusses the importance of storytelling in governance and shares how she addresses burnout and mental health in her teams.  Resources:  View Christina Morillo on LinkedIn    View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn   Related Microsoft Podcasts:    Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast  The BlueHat Podcast   Uncovering Hidden Risks           Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts      Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.

Jack Rhysider, the creator and host of cybersecurity podcast Darknet Diaries joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Jack shares his journey from network security engineer to self-taught storyteller, detailing how his passion for cybersecurity and relentless dedication to learning and marketing helped him build an independent media powerhouse. He discusses the challenges of growing the podcast from scratch, the intensity required to succeed, and why telling well-researched cybercrime stories keeps him motivated.  Resources:  View Jack Rhysider on LinkedIn View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn   Related Microsoft Podcasts: Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast  The BlueHat Podcast   Uncovering Hidden Risks         Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts    Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.

Ryan Field, Executive Vice President & Chief Information Security Officer at Bank of Hawaii joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. With over two decades of experience in IT and cybersecurity, Ryan shares his approach to security leadership; and the importance of fostering collaboration and diverse perspectives. He discusses the unique challenges of cybersecurity in banking and financial services, how organizations across Hawaii are coming together to build a more resilient security workforce, and how shifting from enforcers to influencers is transforming security culture.     Resources:   View Ryan Field on LinkedIn         View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn          Related Microsoft Podcasts:      Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   The BlueHat Podcast    Uncovering Hidden Risks              Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts         Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.

Micah Czigan, Chief Information Security Officer at Georgetown University joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. With a career spanning the U.S. Navy, Department of Defense, and private sector cybersecurity, Micah shares his journey from marine biology to cryptologic communications, ultimately finding his passion for cybersecurity. He discusses the parallels between military strategy and cybersecurity and what business leaders can learn from the unique and critical threats facing universities.     Resources:   View Micah Czigan on LinkedIn         View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn          Related Microsoft Podcasts:      Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   The BlueHat Podcast    Uncovering Hidden Risks              Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts         Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.

Igor Tsyganskiy, Microsoft's Global Chief Information Security Officer, joins Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea for an engaging conversation on the challenges and optimism driving the fight against cyber threats. Igor shares insights from his diverse career and breaks down why cybersecurity is best understood as a battle of graphs versus lists, the importance of raising the cost for attackers, and how AI is shaping the future of defense strategies. Igor also highlights the critical role of collaboration across industries, emphasizing that security is a collective effort.     Resources:   View Igor Tsyganskiy on LinkedIn        View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn       Related Microsoft Podcasts:   Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   The BlueHat Podcast    No Slides Attached Podcast             Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts         Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.

Cyber threats aren’t slowing down—neither should you. In this podcast, Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President and Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at Microsoft, sits down with top security minds to break down the risks, challenges, and breakthroughs shaping the digital world. Whether it’s AI, emerging threats, or keeping up with the evolving cybersecurity landscape, these conversations will keep you informed and ready. Season 8 premieres February 25th—get ready.