
AI: Friend or Foe in Business?
Unpacking the Human Element Are companies truly ready for the AI revolution?
In this episode of the SafeHouse podcast, host Jeff Edwards sits down with Alastair Patterson, CEO and co-founder of Harmonic Security and a veteran of the cybersecurity world. From his early days in the UK to navigating Silicon Valley and the wake-up call of ChatGPT, Alistair shares his unique perspective on how AI is transforming industries at an unprecedented pace.
We dive deep into the corporate tug-of-war: the drive to innovate with AI versus the need for strict security in regulated sectors. Alistair reveals the hidden risks of “Shadow AI” – employees using tools without company knowledge – and why simply blocking AI isn’t the answer. Learn why clear policies, visibility, and leveraging frameworks like NIST are crucial for navigating the human nature of AI adoption responsibly.
#AI #Cybersecurity #DataSecurity #RiskManagement #BusinessInnovation
Watch the full episode to understand how to embrace AI’s power while protecting your organization!





Ryan Ettridge, CEO of CyberCert, tackles a problem many organizations struggle with – cybersecurity frameworks that look good on paper but feel overwhelming or unusable in practice.
Ryan explains how AI-driven cyber certification can help organizations predict where risk is most likely to surface, prevent disruption before it becomes a claim, and protect both insureds and carriers by creating clear, defensible signals of cyber maturity.
Chart a clear path from path from compliance to real-world readiness with fundamentals covered in this episode.

Charlotte Hooper, Co-Founder and Head of Operations at The Cyber Helpline, shares how a deeply personal experience with cyberstalking led her from policing into building one of the most practical cyber victim support models in operation today.

Keith Gologorsky, Head of Public Sector at Hack the Box, shares his personal journey from computer science graduate to government analyst, recounting pivotal moments in military operations, threat analysis, and international collaboration. The discussion explores the limitations of traditional certifications, the importance of hands-on training, and the need for regularly updated, gamified learning experiences. Keith also addresses the cybersecurity skills gap, the evolving role of AI, and offers actionable advice for organizations of all sizes: prioritize cross-training and real-world practice to build resilient teams.

Sarah Flukes, CTO at Admeritia, explains cyber decision diagrams that capture how OT/ICS environments actually operate. This podcast covers origins in water utilities, why function modeling beats asset lists, cognitive effectiveness, and how these diagrams power risk assessments, incident response, and security-by-design.
Cyber & AI authority Chuck Brooks joins Jeff Edwards to give SMBs a no-nonsense playbook. Learn how agentic AI turbocharges phishing, why unmanaged IoT/OT opens doors, and the exact first steps—MFA, segmentation, backups, IR plan—that raise your resilience fast. We also cover using NIST and CMMC as practical roadmaps and when to rely on an MSP.
Erik Cernak of the Hanover Insurance Group, breaks down the myths, the market, and the must-dos of why only 4% of SMBs carry standalone cyber insurance.