Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson

The Role of Data and AI in Modern Cybersecurity

Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson

Show Notes

Rohan Kumar and Shawn Bice join Ann on this week's episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea. Both Corporate Vice Presidents at Microsoft, Shawn, who oversees Microsoft's cloud ecosystem security organization, and Rohan, responsible for security platform, data security, compliance, and governance, share their journeys in technology and the critical role data plays in cybersecurity. The discussion highlights the transformative potential of AI, particularly Generative AI, in automating and augmenting analysts' work, allowing them to focus on critical tasks. They stress the necessity of a platform-based approach to centralize data from various sources, making it easier to manage and analyze. Addressing ethical AI and data use is crucial, and immediate action is needed to mitigate future risks. The episode underscores the increasing complexity of digital environments and the need for scalable, AI-driven solutions to handle the growing volume of data and threats.

Resources: View Rohan Kumar on LinkedIn View Shawn Bice on LinkedIn View Ann Johnson on LinkedIn

Related Microsoft Podcasts:

Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast

The BlueHat Podcast

Uncovering Hidden Risks

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson is produced by Microsoft and distributed as part of N2K media network.

More from Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson

Apr 28, 2026

Megan Stifel, Chief Strategy Officer at the Institute for Security and Technology, joins Ann on this week’s episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea to discuss why cybersecurity must be treated as a shared governance responsibility, not just an IT issue. They explore how boardroom misalignment creates exposure across areas like workforce burnout, insider threats, and third-party risk, and why resilience, trust, and cross-industry collaboration, not prevention alone, are essential to managing today’s evolving cyber threats. Megan also shares insights from leading the Ransomware Task Force, highlighting the critical role of coordination and shared responsibility across sectors.

Apr 14, 2026

Tony Sager, Senior VP & Chief Evangelist, Center for Internet Security, joins Ann on this week’s episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea to discuss how the accelerating pace of technology, AI, and global software dependencies are reshaping the cybersecurity landscape. He shares why the industry has struggled to move from reactive to proactive security, the importance of building strong foundational defenses, and why true accountability for cyber risk sits at the leadership and board level. Tony also explores how AI will both amplify threats and unlock new opportunities for defenders and closes with an optimistic view on the power of the cybersecurity community to drive meaningful progress.

Mar 31, 2026

Fabio Catassi, Chief Information Officer at Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) joins Ann on this week’s episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea to discuss the unique cybersecurity challenges of pr(otecting global shipping infrastructure. He shares how digital systems, vessels, satellites, and logistics networks converge in modern maritime operations and why security failures can disrupt not just data, but global supply chains and economies. Fabio also explores MSC’s large-scale IT transformation, the importance of resilience over pure prevention, and how AI is beginning to improve areas like predictive maintenance, cargo visibility, and operational efficiency while still requiring strong governance and human oversight.

Mar 17, 2026

Allie Mellen, cybersecurity analyst and author, joins Ann on this week’s episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea to discuss her new book Code War: How Nations Hack, Spy, and Shape the Digital Battlefield. Allie explores how cyber conflict is deeply connected to geopolitics, history, and national strategy, arguing that cyberattacks are not mysterious acts of chaos, but tools used by governments to pursue economic, military, and political goals. The conversation unpacks common misconceptions about nation-state cyber threats, why organizations of all sizes can become collateral damage in global conflicts, and how leaders should think about cyber risk in an era of increasing geopolitical tension.

Mar 3, 2026

Cybersecurity leader and author George Finney joins Ann on this week’s episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea to explore how trust, communication, and culture shape effective security leadership. Drawing on his experience in higher education and enterprise environments, George explains why Zero Trust succeeds or fails based on people not technology, and how CISOs can better communicate risk to executives and boards. The conversation also dives into AI governance, relatable storytelling as a leadership tool, and why making cybersecurity approachable is essential for building resilient organizations.

See all episodes →