AI promises transformation - but legacy technology, process gaps, and cyber risk often stand in the way.

In this episode of Protect It All, host Aaron Crow sits down with veteran IT and cybersecurity leader Neil D. Morris, who brings over 30 years of experience across aerospace, defense, and energy sectors. Together, they cut through the hype to explore what really matters when modernizing technology and managing cyber risk in complex, real-world environments.

Neil shares candid insights on why legacy systems still power critical operations, why replacing them isn’t as simple as it sounds, and how organizations can unlock real value from AI without increasing risk. The conversation dives into tech debt, regulation, ROI, and the often-overlooked role of process in successful transformation.

You’ll learn:

• Why legacy systems aren’t going away anytime soon
• The hidden risks of chasing AI without strong foundations
• How to balance security, usability, and business value
• Why process and governance matter more than tools
• How IT leaders can communicate cyber and AI value in business terms
• Where AI creates opportunity - and where it creates new attack paths
  
  

Whether you’re leading digital transformation, managing cyber risk, or advising the business on AI adoption, this episode delivers real talk and practical wisdom from the front lines of IT and OT leadership.

Tune in to learn how to modernize responsibly, manage risk intelligently, and separate AI reality from hype only on Protect It All.

Key Moments:

00:00 "Legacy Tech in Modern Firms"

06:22 "Technology, Change, and Customer Focus"

09:51 "Challenges in Articulating Cybersecurity Value"

12:27 "Tech Solutions Must Drive Value"

15:43 Sell Ideas Beyond the Code

19:03 "Ransomware Risks in Acquisitions"

24:02 Government, Services, and Compliance Debate

25:35 Balancing AI, Cybersecurity, and Regulation

30:33 BlackBerry's Downfall: Ignored Innovation

32:06 "Evolution and Misuse of AI"

34:45 "Opportunity to Lead Change"

37:52 "AI Without Guidance Backfires"

41:07 "AI: Smart but Context-Lacking"

46:45 "AI Empowering Business Transformation"

50:30 "Effortless Tech-Fueled Imitation"

About the guest :

Neil D. Morris is a senior enterprise technology leader with 25+ years of experience in digital transformation, cybersecurity, and AI at scale. He currently serves as Head of IT at Redaptive and previously held CIO roles at Ball Aerospace and Maxar Technologies. Neil is known for guiding organizations through complex modernization efforts while balancing security, risk, and business value.

How to connect Neil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neildmorris/

Connect With Aaron Crow:

• Website: www.corvosec.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronccrow

Learn more about PrOTect IT All:

• Email: info@protectitall.co
• Website: https://protectitall.co/
• X: https://twitter.com/protectitall
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrOTectITAll
• FaceBook:

Cybersecurity has evolved from an afterthought to a business-critical responsibility - and AI is accelerating that shift faster than most organizations are ready for.

In this episode of Protect It All, host Aaron Crow sits down with Sue McTaggart, a cybersecurity leader with a software development background and more than 15 years of experience driving security transformation. Together, they explore how cybersecurity success today depends less on shiny new tools and more on culture, governance, and fundamentals done right.

Sue shares her journey from developer to cybersecurity leader, offering real-world insights into embedding security thinking into everyday work - not bolting it on after something breaks. The conversation tackles the realities of AI adoption, the risks of over-automation, and why human oversight and curiosity remain essential in an increasingly automated world.

You’ll learn:

• Why technology alone can’t fix cybersecurity problems
• How to embed a security-first mindset across teams and leadership
• What AI changes - and what it doesn’t - in cybersecurity governance
• The role of Zero Trust and foundational cyber hygiene
• Why people, process, and accountability prevent more breaches than tools
• How generational shifts and curiosity shape the future of cyber careers

Whether you’re a security leader, technologist, or business decision-maker navigating AI adoption, this episode delivers grounded, practical wisdom for building resilience that lasts.

Tune in to learn why strong cybersecurity still starts with people, not platform,s only on Protect It All.

Key Moments:

01:12 Cybersecurity Evolution and Insights

03:51 "Cybersecurity Requires Culture Shift"

07:09 "Tech Failures and Curfew Challenges"

10:30 "Prioritizing Security in AI Development"

15:05 Cybersecurity's Role in Everything

19:37 "Everything is Sales"

23:54 Adapting Communication for Audiences

26:26 "Think Ahead, Stay Curious."

28:30 Tinkering and Curiosity Unleashed

31:32 "Gen Z: Redefining Work and Life."

36:17 Governing AI: Benefits and Risks

37:59 AI Needs Human Oversight

42:35 "AI's Role in Cybersecurity."

47:25 "Hackers Exploit Basic Vulnerabilities."

About the guest:

Sue McTaggart is a passionate educator and cybersecurity professional with a strong background in software development. Her curiosity and desire to raise awareness led her to transition from developing applications primarily in languages like Java in the early 2000s to the field of cybersecurity. Sue is dedicated to empowering others through education and strives to share her knowledge to help others better understand cybersecurity risks and solutions. She is honored and humbled by opportunities to speak about her work and continues to inspire those around her with her commitment to ongoing learning and public awareness.

How to connect Sue: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-mctaggart-24604158/

Connect With Aaron Crow:

• Website: www.corvosec.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronccrow

Learn more about PrOTect IT All:

• Email: info@protectitall.co
• Website: https://protectitall.co/
• X: http...

The future of cybersecurity won’t be won by tools alone - it will be won by people, process, and smarter use of AI.

In this episode of Protect It All, host Aaron Crow sits down with cybersecurity veteran Sharad Rai to explore how IT and OT security teams can reduce complexity, fight alert fatigue, and build stronger defenses through foundational practices and intelligent automation.

Sharad brings decades of real-world experience - from early firewall management to leading large-scale security programs at major financial institutions. Together, Aaron and Sharad break down what actually works in cybersecurity today: simplifying policies, understanding user behavior, strengthening basics like patching, and leveraging AI for contextual decision-making.

You’ll learn:

• Why human behavior is the root of both risk and resilience
• How AI can reduce complexity, noise, and alert fatigue
• What “good vs bad” looks like through an AI-driven, context-aware lens
• How policy overload cripples organizations - and how to fix it
• Why OT and IT security still depend on foundational hygiene
• The rise of browser-based security and Chrome as an endpoint
• What’s coming next: AI-driven phishing, contextual controls, and automated response

Whether you're a security leader, practitioner, or just navigating modern cyber challenges, this episode will reshape how you think about defending systems and the people using them.

Tune in to discover how AI, clarity, and human-centered design are shaping cybersecurity’s next chapter only on Protect It All.

Key Moments:

06:21 "Cybersecurity Basics: Know the Layers"

09:49 "Defining Good to Block Bad"

13:03 Alarm Fatigue and Information Overload

14:01 Alarm Tuning and Data Utilization

19:02 RFID Tags and Process Frustration

23:03 Simplifying Cybersecurity for Success

25:18 "AI Optimizing Policy Adjustments"

27:33 "Tech Frustrations Then and Now"

31:46 Cloud Computing Transformed Everyday Work

36:05 Focus on Foundational Basics

About the guest :

Sharad Rai is a cybersecurity leader and architect with over 20 years of experience securing some of the world’s most complex financial institutions. As Vice President of Security and Architecture at State Street, he leads regulatory-driven initiatives and delivers enterprise-wide cybersecurity programs across cloud, infrastructure, and endpoint platforms. Sharad has held key security roles at Morgan Stanley, BNP Paribas, Jefferies, and Foundation Medicine, with deep expertise in EDR, PAM, SASE, ZTNA, and cloud-native security. He is known for simplifying complexity, reducing risk, and bridging product, engineering, and executive teams.

How to connect Sharad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharad-rai-cissp-a951a28

Connect With Aaron Crow:

• Website: www.corvosec.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronccrow

Learn more about PrOTect IT All:

• Email: info@protectitall.co
• Website: https://protectitall.co/
• X: https://twitter.com/protectitall
• YouTube: htt...