Why Cybersecurity is as much Art as Science
September 26, 2025
In this kickoff episode of The Art of Cybersecurity, host Cheri Hotman shares why this podcast exists and what listeners can expect. Cyber isn’t just science or technology — it’s art. It’s messy, constrained, people-driven, and ultimately about mitigating risk to protect people and data.
Cheri cuts through the noise of “easy button” tools, audit-passing mentalities, and checkbox compliance to talk about what security really is: designing programs that work, tackling people and process challenges, and aligning solutions to business goals.
You May Like These Posts
The Maturity Gap: Why GRC Programs Plateau (and How to Advance)
Most GRC programs reach a point where they stop growing—mature enough to pass audits, but not resilient enough to lead. In this session, we’ll reveal the key traits of high-maturity programs and what it takes to get there. You’ll learn how to identify your plateau, remove roadblocks, and strategically advance your organization’s governance, risk, and […]
What Operationalized GRC Actually Looks Like: From Silos to Systems
Many organizations believe their GRC program is operational because audits are passing and tools are in place. In reality, operationalized GRC behaves very differently. Risk has clear ownership. Information flows across teams. Gaps surface early instead of being hidden. In this session, Cheri Hotman and Peter Spier walk through what an operationalized GRC program actually […]
The Danger of the Perfect Audit
Most companies accept audit reports at face value. Green checkboxes across the board, zero findings, everything conforming. That sounds like good news. It isn't. In this session, Cheri Hotman is joined by Tanya Wade, Brittany Schroeder, and Ja'Kayla Lovelace to do something different: pull up a real (fully anonymized) HIPAA compliance audit report and walk […]
Vulnerability Scans: Only Part of the Equation
There are two primary ways we see companies manage vulnerabilities… one of them significantly riskier than the other. Reactive strategies rely on a problem to arise before taking action. This makes reactive the riskier option of the two, hopefully for obvious reasons. Using a reactive strategy is like waiting for an electric bill to […]
Bridging the Gap: Why Cybersecurity Tools Alone Aren’t Enough
Investing in the latest cybersecurity tools doesn’t automatically mean you’re secure. Many leaders feel the initial promise of a new solution—only to realize it’s not delivering the protection they expected. So, what’s missing? In this session, we’ll break down where the responsibility of the tool ends and where your team’s role begins. We’ll uncover why […]
Building Customer Trust in the Digital Age: Evolution, Importance, and Observations from the Field
In today’s digital age, customer trust is more crucial than ever. Join us as we explore the evolution of customer trust, highlighting its importance in building strong customer relationships. We’ll delve into how trust became so important and some of the pivotal moments that shaped its current state. Looking ahead, we’ll discuss emerging trends and […]
Real Life GRC Horror Stories: Top Mistakes Haunting Your Program
Just in time for Halloween, we’re pulling back the curtain on the Top 10 GRC Nightmares plaguing organizations today. From programs that only exist to “pass the audit,” to treating compliance as a checkbox exercise, these haunting mistakes can leave your organization more vulnerable than you realize. In this session, we’ll identify the most common […]
Security Awareness Training – Verizon 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report
In this 15-minute training, the HG team breaks down the most critical findings from Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR)—and what they mean for real-world security programs. We cover the sharp rise in third-party breaches, the growing threat of GenAI misuse, and the continued dominance of ransomware and credential-based attacks. You’ll walk away with […]
CMMC 101: What you need to know from framework to final rule
With a staggering loss of $3.5 billion in intellectual property through its contractors a year, the Department of Defense (DoD) needed a way to shore up cybersecurity in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). From this need, the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program was created with an initial release in 2020. The entire purpose […]
Post A Comment
Endless audits and customer demands were never supposed to replace real security.
We build, implement, and run Cyber GRC programs that reduce risk, protect the business, and still pass audits.
Hotman Group is a certified
woman-owned business (WOSB)
Hotman Group, LLC
Fort Worth, TX
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | All Rights Reserved © Hotman Group, LLC