Why Cybersecurity is as much Art as Science

Book a Call

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.

Vulnerability Scans: Only Part of the Equation

GRC

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 […]

Security Awareness Training – Ransomware

Security Awareness

One Click Is All It Takes A single click on a phishing link. A password change request that didn’t feel quite right. A forgotten remote desktop login. That’s all it takes for ransomware to slip in and start locking down systems—and businesses. Why Ransomware Is Still a Threat Despite increased awareness, ransomware […]

What Operationalized GRC Actually Looks Like: From Silos to Systems

Cybersecurity, GRC, Other, Top Posts

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 […]

Choosing the Right Cybersecurity Framework: A Practical Guide for Leaders

Events

Speakers: Cheri Hotman and Tanya WadeHosted by: Hotman Group Why Choosing the Right Framework Matters Passing an audit is no longer enough. Many organizations still treat cybersecurity as a one-time project, something to "check off" rather than an integrated, living part of their business operations. During this session, Cheri Hotman and Tanya […]

Real Life GRC Horror Stories: Top Mistakes Haunting Your Program

Other

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 […]

Internal or External Resources? YES!

GRC

Imagine trusting a neighborhood kid to take care of your dog while on vacation. While they may be capable of completing the task you’ve outlined; they will likely only do exactly as you ask. The dog gets what they need and the job is done. In contrast, imagine trusting an adult neighbor caring for […]

People, Process, Technology: It Takes All 3

Other

When it comes to navigating the maze of Governance, Risk, and Compliance, there's one simple rule: finding perfect harmony between cutting-edge tech and good, old-fashioned human know-how. Picture this: a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) paints a vision of the future where compliance is seamlessly automated. "In two to three years, we'll have everything […]

1
2
3