TechSperience Solutions

Latest Episodes:

Episode 149: Black Hat 2026 - Everything Had an AI Agent. Nothing Stopped the Phishing Email. Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

AI was in every booth, every keynote, and nearly every conversation at Black Hat 2026. Which makes the most useful takeaway from the show a slightly awkward one: the fundamentals still decide who gets compromised.

Host Kim Coombes is joined by Connection security experts John Chirillo and Rob Di Girolamo, along with penetration tester and lead systems engineer Joe Chmielewski, to work through what actually mattered this year.

The conversation covers:

Why AI found hundreds of real vulnerabilities when a human guided the methodology, and performed worse running on its own
Attacker velocity, and why AI lets adversaries cover more ground in the time they have inside an environment
AI agents as a new class of privileged identity, and the machine identity lifecycle gap most organizations haven't closed
What "the end of rare" means when AI makes offense cheap, and why monthly scanning with 30-day patch windows is getting harder to defend
How to tell AI-enabled from AI-washed when a vendor claims an autonomous SOC
The attacks that still work, from a phishing email to an unpatched server, and why a pen tester rarely needs anything exotic to get in

They close with what security teams should do differently on Monday morning. Inventory before innovation, and stop assuming, start validating.

Episode 148: From AI PCs to Better Patient Care – Lenovo Smart, Secure Endpoints with Intel and Microsoft 365 Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

Healthcare organizations are under growing pressure to modernize IT environments while improving clinician experience, strengthening security, and preparing for the next wave of AI-enabled workflows.

In this episode, we’ll explore how AI-powered endpoints, intelligent collaboration tools, and modern device strategies are helping healthcare IT leaders balance operational efficiency with better patient outcomes.

Host: James Hilliard

Guests:

Abhishek Khowala, Global Head of AI, Health and Life Sciences Vertical at
Intel

Alexander Stanton III, Account Executive for Healthcare at Lenovo

Show Notes:

00:00 - Introduction: AI endpoints and healthcare modernization overview
02:17 - Success story: Ohio children's hospital — modernization benefits
03:16 - Security in healthcare AI: Protecting models and managing endpoints
05:33 - Challenges faced by healthcare IT teams: Resources, regulation, data issues
07:54 - Criticality of security and managing AI complexity in healthcare
09:47 - The importance of practical AI adoption focused on patient outcomes
11:12 - How AI PCs enhance clinician workflows and patient safety
13:06 - Practical benefits of AI endpoints: reducing downtime and improving outcomes
14:01 - Role of Intel, Lenovo, and Microsoft in secure, effective AI deployment
15:21 - The significance of local processing in healthcare AI PCs — Intel’s innovation
17:18 - Leveraging Microsoft 365 for orchestrating complex workflows with AI
18:59 - Managing endpoint sprawl and prioritizing security in healthcare IT
20:25 - Enhancing threat detection with AI hardware and software integration
22:18 - Rethinking modernization: From IT assets to care quality investments
24:42 - Using endpoints at the point of care to meet KPIs and reduce data risks
26:06 - Early wins: Focus on outcomes, pilot projects, and stakeholder alignment
27:57 - Moving forward with healthcare modernization practices

Episode 147: Ripple Security Logic for Protecting the Interconnected Healthcare Ecosystem Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

Healthcare organizations face growing pressure to modernize clinical systems while defending against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. In this episode, host Kim Coombes is joined by Connection Security Center of Excellence experts John Chirrillo and Rob Di Girolamo to discuss Ripple Security Logic, a framework for understanding and managing risk across today's highly connected healthcare environments. The conversation explores the interconnected relationships between endpoints, medical devices, networks, cloud platforms, identities, and clinical workflows.

Hear from our experts as they discuss how XDR-powered observability, Zero Trust principles, AI-driven analytics, and resilience-focused strategies can help healthcare organizations reduce risk, strengthen threat detection, and support better patient outcomes.

Moderator: Kimberlee Coombes, Security Solution Architect, Connection
Guest: John Chirillo, Principal Security Architect, Connection
Guest: Rob Di Girolamo, Senior Security Architect, Connection

Show Notes

(0:00) - Welcome and episode overview: Healthcare cybersecurity and Ripple Security
(1:02) - How Ripple Security changes organizational thinking about cybersecurity
(2:00) - Interconnected ecosystem of healthcare data and devices
(2:57) - Visualizing ripple effects on patient care and organizational risks
(3:27) - The number of connected devices per hospital bed
(4:26) - Growth of attack surface with connected medical devices
(5:24) - Importance of endpoint security and XDR's role in healthcare
(6:22) - How XDR correlates telemetry for threat detection
(7:20) - The critical role of observability versus simple data collection
(8:45) - Distinguishing noise from signals using context-aware observability
(10:10) - Significance of XDR in managing healthcare’s vast device ecosystem
(11:37) - Visibility challenges in healthcare networks and XDR’s benefits
(13:01) - Faster detection and response through integrated telemetry
(14:50) - The importance of east-west traffic monitoring and network segmentation
(17:37) - Redefining perimeter security in a remote and cloud-enabled world
(20:03) - Combating alert fatigue with AI-driven analytics
(21:55) - Security considerations for cloud adoption in healthcare
(25:08) - Impact of breaches and costs on healthcare organizations
(26:04) - Building resilience as a core component of cybersecurity strategy
(28:24) - Aligning security with business resilience and clinical continuity
(29:21) - Final thoughts: Trust, resilience, and proactive cybersecurity planning

Episode 146: RSAC 2026 Unplugged – What You Need To Do Now Apr 29, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, host Kim Coombes is joined by security experts John Chirillo and Rob Di Girolamo, along with Microsoft Security expert Robin Camirand, to unpack the most important insights from the RSAC 2026 Conference.

The discussion covers the rapid rise of Agentic AI security, the need to defend at machine speed, and the industry’s shift toward active defense as traditional response models struggle to keep up. The team also explores the growing importance of post-quantum cryptography as organizations prepare for the next phase of cryptographic risk.

Throughout the conversation, the panel reflects on RSAC’s defining theme, the “power of community,” and why collective defense is essential as threats become faster, more automated, and more complex. Whether you’re tracking AI-driven risks, planning for quantum readiness, or looking for clear takeaways from RSAC 2026, this episode delivers practical insights from experienced security leaders.

Moderator: Kimberlee Coombes, Security Solution Architect, Connection
Guest: John Chirillo, Principal Security Architect, Connection
Guest: Rob Di Girolamo, Senior Security Architect, Connection
Guest: Robin Camirand, Inside Solution Architect and Microsoft Security SME, Connection

Show Notes

00:00 Introduction to RSAC 2026 Trends 02:43 AI as a Tool and Threat in Cybersecurity 05:22 Microsoft's Perspective on Identity and Security 08:27 AI as a New Attack Surface 10:58 The Future of Security Operations and SOC 13:31 AI-Driven Attacks and Vulnerability Management 16:17 Quantum Security: A Growing Concern 18:51 Final Thoughts and Future Considerations

Episode 145: How Global Tensions Are Exposing Critical Infrastructure to Cyber Risk Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

In today’s rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape, cyber threats have become a frontline tactic—not through sophisticated zero-day exploits, but through the exploitation of basic security gaps like weak credentials, unpatched systems, and misconfigured environments. In this episode of the Connection Cybersecurity Podcast, host Kim Coombes is joined by security experts John Chirillo and Rob Di Girolamo to unpack the reality of modern cyber conflict.

Together, they explore how nation-state actors, ransomware groups, and hacktivists are converging, why critical infrastructure and mid-sized organizations alike are increasingly at risk, and how “proxy targeting” makes every company part of a larger attack surface. The conversation challenges common assumptions about cybersecurity, emphasizing that today’s greatest risk isn’t lack of advanced tools—but failure to address fundamental security hygiene and identity protection. Listeners will walk away with a clearer understanding of how cyber warfare is evolving, how it impacts organizations indirectly, and what practical steps leaders must take now to reduce exposure and strengthen resilience.

Episode 144: Future Threats – Not Yet Headlines Jan 19, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, the Connection Security Center of Excellence team looks beyond today’s headlines to uncover the threats most people won’t hear about until it’s too late. The team dives into the emerging risks shaping the next era of cybersecurity—from the looming reality of harvestnowdecryptlater attacks, to the potential for identity collapse in a passwordless world, to the rise of autonomous AI agents as adversaries.
Rather than reacting to the news cycle, we explore what security leaders should be thinking about before the story breaks. If you want to understand the risks that are quietly forming on the horizon—and how they could redefine trust, identity, and digital resilience—this conversation is your early warning system.

Speakers: John Chirillo, Principal Security Architect, Connection
Rob Di Girolamo, Senior Security Architect, Connection
Kimberlee Coombes, Security Solution Architect, Connection

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction to Cybersecurity Challenges 01:27 Understanding Harvest Now, Decrypt Later 07:46 The Role of Identity in Security 14:08 The Rise of AI-Driven Attackers 20:44 Planning for the Future of Cybersecurity 23:26 Mindset Shifts for Security Practitioners

Episode 143: Secure, Scalable, Streamlined – Strategic Microsoft Solutions for Healthcare IT Leaders Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

Healthcare organizations are navigating modernization under intense regulatory, security, and resource constraints. This episode explores how the Microsoft technology stack shows up differently in healthcare.

The conversation breaks down hybrid cloud realities, Azure managed services, security and compliance, business resiliency, disaster recovery, and cost optimization, all grounded in real healthcare use cases. The episode also explores at how organizations can measure ROI beyond cost savings, connecting Microsoft investments to patient care, clinician experience, and operational resilience.

Speakers: Jennifer Johnson, Director of Healthcare at Connection

David Carey and Kevin Paiva, Senior Field Solution Architects at Connection

Show Notes:

00:10 Welcome and session overview
01:40 Why healthcare cloud adoption is different
02:10 Defining hybrid cloud in healthcare
03:00 Why hybrid is now the default model
03:55 Latency myths and performance realities
04:45 Which workloads belong on-prem vs. in the cloud
05:45 SaaS, staffing pressure, and infrastructure complexity
06:30 Azure managed services and Connection’s approach
07:45 Co-managed Azure vs. fully outsourced models
08:30 Why Azure over other hyperscalers
09:20 Azure security, HIPAA, and Zero Trust
10:30 Azure Health Data Services
11:45 Business continuity vs. business resiliency
14:10 What healthcare leaders worry about most today
15:00 Disaster recovery and Azure Expert MSP
16:30 Post-pandemic resource constraints
17:30 Application sprawl, security, and identity management
18:50 Cost containment and ROI in healthcare IT
21:15 The teams behind Connection’s Microsoft practice
24:45 Final takeaways and next steps

Episode 142: Revolutionizing Healthcare with Clinical Mobility Oct 31, 2025

Show notes

This conversation explores the transformative impact of clinical mobility and technology in healthcare, focusing on how Zebra Technologies enhances clinical workflows, improves patient and provider safety, and addresses security concerns. The discussion highlights innovations in nursing, the integration of AI, and the importance of measuring ROI in healthcare technology.

The speakers share insights on Zebra's role across the healthcare ecosystem and future innovations, emphasizing the need for effective tools to support clinicians and improve patient outcomes.

Show Notes

00:00 Introduction to Clinical Mobility in Healthcare 03:03 Transforming Clinical Workflows with Technology 05:43 The Role of AI in Healthcare 08:37 Enhancing Patient and Provider Safety 11:22 Addressing Security in Healthcare Technology 13:58 Zebra's Impact Across Healthcare Ecosystem 17:02 Measuring ROI in Healthcare Technology 19:46 Future Innovations and Acquisitions at Zebra 22:39 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

Episode 141: Navigating the Intersection of Data and AI – Building a Robust AI Strategy Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

In this conversation, the speakers discuss the intersection of data strategy and AI strategy, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between different roles within the organization. They outline their 12-month plans for AI implementation, focusing on governance, risk management, and the challenges of data governance.

The discussion also touches on the ownership of AI production systems and the principles that guide decision-making in the face of conflict. The speakers highlight the need for a balance between innovation and risk management, as well as the importance of maintaining strong partnerships within the organization.

Show Notes:

00:00 Introduction to Data and AI Strategy

08:52 12-Month Plan for AI Implementation

17:45 Balancing Innovation and Risk Management

24:50 Data Governance and Security Challenges

27:21 Managing Shadow AI and Encouraging Innovation

28:46 Vision and Innovation: The Importance of Rechecking Paths

30:34 Navigating Customer Relationships and Risk Management

31:40 Understanding NPU Technology and Its Implications

34:09 Balancing AI Workloads: Cloud vs. Local Processing

35:31 Contractual Considerations in AI Partnerships

38:48 Ownership of AI Production Systems: A Collaborative Approach

43:29 Establishing Governance and Support Structures for AI

46:04 Defining Tiebreaker Principles in AI Decision-Making

50:07 Operationalizing Governance and Risk Management

51:55 Commitments to Innovation and Collaboration

Episode 140: Signals of Post-Quantum Insecurity Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, the Connection Security Center of Excellence team takes us on a journey—both literal and technical—sharing insights gained from a recent reconnaissance road trip across the United States. Their firsthand experiences offer a front-line perspective on the evolving landscape of post-quantum insecurity. Listeners will hear from our security experts as they unpack the evolving risk landscape that we may be challenged with in a post-quantum world—supported by real world field observations. Join us for a timely and thought-provoking discussion that blends technical insight with real-world reconnaissance that will help us all navigate the post-quantum future.

For more information on how to better secure your environment, visit Connection.com/Cybersecurity. Or, if you’re ready to start the conversation around what Connection can do to help your organization—Call 1.800.998.0067.

Speakers:

John Chirillo, Principal Security Architect, Connection

Rob Di Girolamo, Senior Security Architect, Connection

Kimberlee Coombes, Security Solution Architect, Connection

Show Notes

00:00 Introduction to the Quantum Road Trip

02:50 Objectives and Planning of the Research Trip

05:34 Understanding Post-Quantum Security

08:09 Current Preparedness for Quantum Threats

10:45 Real-World Observations and Insights

13:28 Future Predictions and Data Analysis