Advertise on podcast: Accenture InfoSec Beat

A critical issue is emerging as organizations embed AI agents into workflows: securing agentic AI requires a very different approach to security. In this episode, Accenture CISO Kris Burkhardt breaks down what's at stake with Daniel Kendzior who leads Security AI Reinvention for Accenture Cybersecurity and Wei Liu who leads Cyber Strategy, Risk, and Innovation for Accenture Information Security. Discover why traditional security frameworks fall short for agentic systems, how to create security boundaries without stifling progress, and why starting small and scaling fast is a strong strategy. The big takeaway? Security practitioners can't let the excitement around agentic AI distract them from security basics.

This episode of the InfoSec Beat podcast focuses on careers in information security. Accenture CISO Kris Burkhardt talks with Renée Fletcher, a program manager in Accenture Information Security. Renée is at a turning point in her career, moving from Governance, Risk and Compliance to a new strategic programs role as the Cyberstrategy, Geopolitical and Regulatory lead. Having been on the frontlines of strengthening Accenture's regulatory readiness, she reflects on starting from what you know to assess risk, building cross-functional teams, and communicating effectively. Learn why her career is a lesson in what can happen when the detour becomes the destination—and how her degree in forensic science still helps her today. Renée's career advice? You're more capable than you think. 

As CISO of Avanade—a joint venture between Accenture and Microsoft—Bob Bruns is in a unique position. He has firsthand insight into Microsoft's security roadmap from both implementation and innovation perspectives. In this episode, Bob shares his thinking on key security topics with Accenture CISO Kris Burkhardt. Listen to a CISO-to-CISO discussion about the Microsoft security ecosystem, the power of platforms, AI in security, and actions organizations can take to improve their security posture. 

Why are zero-day exploits becoming a bigger threat to enterprises? In this episode, Accenture CISO Kris Burkhardt and Ryan Whelan, who leads Cyber Intelligence for Accenture Security, explore what security professionals need to know about zero days. Learn about common threat actors, the hidden zero-day economy, targets, trends, mitigation, and resiliency. While the industrialization of zero-days is raising the stakes for enterprises, there is hope. Discover why readiness is the best defense—and how to create it.

This episode of the InfoSec Beat podcast focuses on careers in information security. Accenture CISO Kris Burkhardt talks with Kyle Friedman, who leads Security Contracting and Request for Proposal Support for our Information Security Client Data Protection team. She ensures that we have the right provisions in our proposal responses and contracts to run engagements in a secure fashion that works for both Accenture and our clients. Learn about Kyle's unconventional start at Accenture, passion for client data protection, and ability to translate information security topics to people outside the field. Her career advice? Always listen and keep an open mind.

Reports of cyber incidents crowd the headlines. How do you separate truth from misinformation? What happens next? Get a behind-the-scenes look at Accenture's cyber incident response playbook. Accenture CISO Kris Burkhardt and his guests, Adam Long, global lead of Accenture's Cyber Incident Response Team within Accenture Information Security, and Michael Wolner, managing director for Data Integrity and Cybersecurity from Accenture Legal, explore the importance of being suspicious, getting to the facts fast, communicating consistently—and thinking ahead.

Can the way Accenture delivers managed security services be reinvented? Accenture CISO Kris Burkhardt poses this question to guest Rex Thexton, chief technology officer of Accenture Security, who gives a definite yes. Rex shares several exciting opportunities possible in the next 12 to 18 months. Listen to learn more about the prospects of AI-powered automation and intelligence that are poised to bring about a golden age of managed security services. 

This episode of the InfoSec Beat podcast focused on careers in information security features a conversation between Accenture CISO Kris Burkhardt and Paul Kunas, who led our Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) function for almost 10 years. Paul's career journey involved security roles at Accenture and other companies and ultimately a return to Accenture to formalize GRC for Information Security. The work spanned developing global strategies and building many programs to arrive at one common view of risk today. Activities center on various analyses to secure technology, updating strategies, validating approaches, instilling a common view and vision, and responding to new challenges.

Are organizations in control of updates to their environments? The July 2024 CrowdStrike disruptive update has many asking this question. Patches are essential to security, but this event and others before it have organizations asking how to strike a balance in protecting quickly with the need to be resilient? Join me and Jacky Fox, Accenture Security Global Strategy Lead, as we discuss what organizations can do.

What is a zero-day vulnerability and what can organizations do about them? These two questions kick off an engaging discussion on this type of threat with Accenture Security colleagues Shawn Duffy, Global Lead for Threat Exposure Management, and David Williams, Global Lead of Advanced Threat Services. Discover what they have to say and learn more about strategies, what they see across enterprises, the value of red teaming, the impact of AI, along with a reminder about the importance of layered, in-depth defense and basic technical hygiene.

This episode of the InfoSec Beat podcast mini-series focused on information security careers highlights the journey of Arun Chandrasekaran in conversation with Accenture CISO Kris Burkhardt. Listen to how Arun started as a senior network analyst to become infrastructure tools and standards lead today for our Information Security organization's Technology and Operations, overseeing the security and standards and scanning tools of Accenture's vast infrastructure estate. 

Accenture CISO Kris Burkhardt hosts a conversation with Harpreet Sidhu, Accenture senior managing director and North America Security lead, who talks about the findings of Accenture's "The Cyber-Resilient CEO" report. Listen to learn more about today's cyber challenges, risks, reporting of metrics and practical actions leaders can take to take to embed security throughout their organizations.

This is the latest episode in an ongoing mini-series covering careers in information security, featuring Accenture people from across our Information Security team. In this episode of InfoSec Beat, Accenture CISO Kris Burkhardt talks with Paula Wlos, who leads cyber investigations for the Americas and Europe as part of the cyber incident response team. Hear how her interest in analysis, problem solving and love of puzzles led to her career in security forensics and investigations.

Listen to this InfoSec Beat podcast for a conversation about supplier cyber risk management. Accenture CISO Kris Burkhardt and David Wright, the lead of supplier cyber risk management (SCRM) for the Information Security organization at Accenture discuss the importance of third-party supplier risk management and explore how Accenture launched its own centralized SCRM function.

In this episode of the InfoSec Beat podcast, Accenture CISO Kris Burkhardt is joined by Accenture Security guest Damon McDougald, global digital identity lead for a discussion about going passwordless. Hear how passwordless technologies work and the reasons for moving to this new method of authentication to create a more secure digital future.