#112, CISO at the AA, Darren Desmond: Covert Ops to Cyber Security

The Tech Leaders Podcast

“I had a team of me…and that was it!”

Join us this week on The Tech Leaders Podcast, where Gareth Davies sits down with Darren Desmond, CISO at the AA, to discuss how AI will change the Cyber Security arms race, why it’s a strange time for CISOs, and how he was the most un-military recruit his training Sergeant had ever seen…

Time stamps:

• What makes effective leadership in tech? (2:32)
• Starting from scratch: "I had a team of me... and that was it!" (4:20)
• Lessons from the Army and Atomic Weapons Establishment (6:20)
• The Betfair culture shock: "Decisions made on the hoof" (15:20)
• The key cybersecurity threat: Why ransomware remains a top concern (16:50)
• How asset management strengthens cybersecurity (18:10)
• CISO advice: Why asset management is critical for security (22:17)
• The CyberSec arms race: How AI will change the game (24:58)
• Why security is a team effort, not a standalone activity (26:00)
• Ransomware evolution: "The risk of AI-driven attacks" (36:45)
• AI in cybersecurity: The future, risks, and opportunities (40:20)
• Career advice: "Pick a goal and work towards it" (45:06)

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