Women in Cybersecurity Month 2024: A Look Back

Did you miss an episode? Here’s this month’s list of episodes with a short summary (Copilot provided, of course!).

What a wonderful month of discussion, learning, unity!

Did you miss an episode? Here’s this month’s list of episodes with a short summary (Copilot provided, of course!).

Thanks for joining us!

The Microsoft Security Insights Show streams live every Monday at 5pm EST and is available directly after for replay. Watch it again or download the audio podcast from here or from your favorite podcast network. Read more: https://aka.ms/GetMSIShow

• Episode Overview: The transcript is from the Microsoft Security Insights Show, Episode 193, featuring Dhani Abey, recorded on March 4th, 2024.

• Guest Introduction: Dhani Abey is introduced as an educator and a professional in cybersecurity with 24 years of experience, starting as a Y2K associate.

• Teaching Focus: Dhani discusses her role as an adjunct professor at CUNY BMCC, teaching Information Assurance and her approach to mentoring and preparing students for real-world cybersecurity challenges.

• Industry Insights: The conversation covers various topics such as the importance of networking, the evolution of cybersecurity, and the significance of continuous learning and staying updated in the field. Dhani also shares her experiences and the impact of teaching on her life and students.

• Host Introduction: The host, “Mr. Roy,” welcomes listeners to the Microsoft Security Insights Show and introduces the episode with guest Maria Young.

• Guest Discussion: Maria Young, a product manager on the CXE team, discusses her product, Copilot for Security, and shares her journey into cybersecurity.

• AI in Cybersecurity: The conversation highlights the role of AI in cybersecurity, particularly the use of Copilot for Security to generate KQL queries and analyze scripts.

• Diversity in Tech: Maria and the hosts discuss the importance of diversity in the tech industry, mentorship, and the need for more women in cybersecurity roles.

The transcript provides insights into the use of AI tools in enhancing security operations and the ongoing efforts to improve diversity within the tech community.

• Hosts and Guests: The episode includes hosts Rod, Andrea, Brody, and Edward, with guest Kate Proctor.

• Topics Discussed: They discuss Women in Cybersecurity Month, customer security hygiene, and the MVP Summit. Kate shares her experience of working in security for 29 years at Microsoft.

• Key Insights: Kate emphasizes the importance of adding value in meetings, the significance of diverse thinking in security, and the value of EQ over IQ in consulting.

• Personal Stories: The hosts and guest share personal anecdotes, highlighting the human aspect of working in cybersecurity and the importance of direct communication and integrity in the field.

• Podcast Introduction: The episode starts with a playful banter about who is the pilot and co-pilot of the show, setting a light-hearted tone.

• Microsoft Secure Announcements: The hosts discuss the announcements made during Microsoft Secure, focusing on the excitement around the new features, pricing, and general availability (GA) date for Copilot for Security.

• Women in Cybersecurity: The episode coincides with Women in Cybersecurity Month, leading to a dual-purpose show that celebrates both the GA announcement and women’s contributions to cybersecurity.

• Guest Insights: Andrea Fisher, a Copilot for Security technical specialist, shares her journey and experiences in cybersecurity, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and adaptability in the field.

The conversation also touches on the future of AI in security and the potential impact of large language models on the industry.

• Introduction: The hosts engage in light-hearted banter and discuss their activities, including cybersecurity work and weather conditions.

• Guest Introduction: Kozeta Garrett is introduced, who has an extensive cybersecurity career and currently leads the Americas cybersecurity services business at Microsoft.

• Career Journey: Kozeta shares her journey from a call center support technician to a cybersecurity expert, emphasizing the importance of problem-solving skills and continuous learning.

• Industry Challenges: She discusses the challenges in cybersecurity, such as information warfare and critical infrastructure protection, and the role of AI in security.

• Advice for Aspiring Professionals: Kozeta offers advice to women and newcomers in the field, stressing the importance of seizing opportunities, building relationships, and volunteering for challenging tasks.

• Diversity in Cybersecurity: The conversation highlights the need for diverse perspectives in cybersecurity to improve technology and solutions.

The episode also touches on the importance of staying up-to-date with technology, the rewarding nature of the cybersecurity field, and the positive impact of mentoring. The hosts and guest advocate for more inclusivity and proactive engagement in the industry.

Here’s a summary of the podcast transcript from the Microsoft Security Insights Show featuring Raae Wolfram:

• Guest Introduction: Raae Wolfram, a senior product manager focused on customer experience in the Defender Experts team at Microsoft, was introduced.

• Career Journey: Raae shared her nontraditional path to cybersecurity, starting from a desire to be an engineer for Starfleet to working in healthcare IT and eventually joining Microsoft.

• Industry Passion: The discussion highlighted the passion and dedication of cybersecurity practitioners, emphasizing the importance of education and empowerment in the field.

• Community Engagement: Raae discussed her involvement in conferences and the cybersecurity community, aiming to inspire and support others, especially women, in pursuing careers in cybersecurity.

• Future Initiatives: The conversation touched on upcoming projects, such as an Ask Me Anything session with Defender Experts, designed to share knowledge and develop the mindset of a Microsoft cybersecurity practitioner.

• Episode Details: The transcript is from the Microsoft Security Insights Show Episode 199, featuring Ginny Roth, recorded on March 25th, 2024.

• Technical Discussion: The show discusses technical issues such as a memory leak in March patches for domain controllers and a critical flaw in Fortinet being exploited.

• Women in Cloud: Ginny shares about womenincloud.com, a global network supporting women in IT through community building, civic engagement, policy advocacy, and AI innovation.

• Career Journey: Ginny Roth talks about her 25-year career in security and her journey in IT, highlighting the importance of identity in security and her experiences with different companies.

• Inclusion in Tech: The conversation touches on the topic of inclusion and diversity in tech, particularly the representation of women in cybersecurity and technical roles.

• Celebration: The episode marks the 200th of the Microsoft Security Insights Show, celebrating the milestone with special guests and reflections on the journey.

• Guest Appearance: Leticia Gammill joins as a guest to discuss her role at Microsoft, her work with Copilot for Security, and her impactful project promoting women in cybersecurity.

• Community Impact: Leticia shares insights on her non-profit organization, which focuses on mentorship, providing cybersecurity certifications, and fostering diversity in the tech industry.

• Future Aspirations: Discussions about the growth of the non-profit and its potential to become a primary focus, highlighting the importance of volunteer work and community support.

• Episode Overview: The episode features Joylynn Kirui and discusses various topics related to cybersecurity, including the role of developers in security, the importance of secure coding practices, and the impact of AI on software development.

• Joylynn Kirui’s Background: Joylynn shares her journey from being a full-stack developer to a cybersecurity professional, highlighting her work in community-led organizations and mentorship programs.

• Cybersecurity Challenges: The conversation touches on the challenges faced in cybersecurity, such as the blame game after security breaches and the need for a security-first mindset within organizations.

• Future of Cybersecurity: Joylynn expresses excitement about the developments in cybersecurity in her region, particularly in financial services, and the need for global collaboration to address security challenges.

The episode also covers the significance of multi-factor authentication, the concept of zero trust, and the importance of understanding the value of all data in the context of security. Joylynn emphasizes the need for continuous learning and staying updated with the latest trends in cybersecurity.