Episode Details

When AI promises efficiency, leaders often reach for a technology fix to what is really a people problem. That is the tension Sean Martin raises with Scott Beale, CEO at ISC2, in this On Location conversation from ISC2 Security Congress in Denver.

Sean starts with Joseph Carson's talk on employees let go under the guise of downsizing for AI efficiency, and asks what role the business has in helping people learn the tools and use them to support the company. Scott answers that CEOs and boards too often see a technology challenge and assume a technology fix. He calls that "really just a mistake" and ties it to AI not being phased into an organization's culture and training.

From there the conversation turns to cybersecurity, where Scott says human judgment matters even more because AI's recommendations still need checking. Sean shares a similar takeaway from his recent episode on governance, risk and compliance: AI on a flawed program replicates and accelerates the underlying issues. Scott argues that going all in or going zero on AI are both mistakes.

Scott also describes what ISC2 is putting behind the workforce, including AI questions in all nine certifications, a new AI era Cyber Workforce Coalition, the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, chapters and the Cyber Leadership Institute.

He closes with a message for CEOs, CISOs and board members, and a question about where the cybersecurity worker is in public talk about AI's risks.

For business leaders weighing AI spending, it is a case for putting people investment alongside technology investment.

Resources

Full ISC2 Coverage | https://www.itspmagazine.com/blog?p=isc2-security-congress-2026-on-location
On Location | https://www.itspmagazine.com/on-location
The Future of Cybersecurity Newsletter, (Sean) | https://itspm.ag/future-of-cybersecurity
Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast (Sean) | https://www.seanmartin.com/redefining-cybersecurity-podcast
An Analog Brain In A Digital Age Newsletter (Marco) | https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7079849705156870144/
An Analog Brain In A Digital Age Podcast (Marco) | https://redefiningsocietyandtechnologypodcast.com
An Analog Brain on YouTube (Marco) | https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllTUoWMGGQHlGVZA575VtGr9
Sean Martin | https://www.seanmartin.com/
Marco Ciappelli | https://www.marcociappelli.com/
Sean Martin on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/imsmartin/
Marco Ciappelli on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/marco-ciappelli/
Advertise on ITSPmagazine | https://www.itspmagazine.com/advertise
ITSPmagazine on YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@itspmagazine
Studio C60 | https://www.studioc60.com
On Location schedule |

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