This episode of the InfoSec Beat podcast focuses on the cybersecurity ecosystem. Accenture CISO Kris Burkhardt talks with Rex Thexton, the chief technology officer for Accenture Cybersecurity. In his role, Rex oversees Accenture's relationships with cybersecurity vendors. Hear his in-the-trenches perspective on big trends in the space including consolidation, AI as a forcing function and tool fatigue. Don't miss Rex's advice on how to make ecosystem partner decisions and measure if a partner is truly making an impact or just adding complexity.

This episode of the InfoSec Beat podcast focuses on careers in information security. Accenture CISO Kris Burkhardt talks with Dan Cosceari, the delivery lead for the Accenture Client Data Protection program, which helps internal teams treat client data properly and manage information security risk. Dan sees client data protection through customers' eyes. This customer-first mindset started in his restaurant days in New York City, and it drives how Dan protects client data today. Hear how he puts this into practice, advocates across the organization, and stays ahead of technology and regulatory changes.

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.