Podcast Episode: Thriving Through Volatility: Insights for CISOs – Jeff Pollard, Pejman (Pej) Roshan, Deepen Desai – BSW #401

Full Show Notes

Segment One

Thriving Through Volatility: Insights for CISOs – Jeff Pollard, Pejman (Pej) Roshan, Deepen Desai – BSW #401

In this episode, Mandy Logan, Summer Craze Fowler, Jason Albuquerque, and Jeff Pollard of Forrester discuss the challenges and strategies for CISOs in navigating volatility in the security landscape. They emphasize the importance of building relationships within the organization, particularly with the CFO, to manage budgets effectively. The conversation also covers the significance of communicating security needs in terms of compliance and customer requirements, maximizing budget through flex spending, and the role of automation and AI in enhancing security operations. Additionally, they highlight the need for effective data management to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

In pre-recorded interviews from RSAC, learn the following!

With the power of zero trust and AI, Zscaler help organizations strengthen and automate IT and security, reduce costs, and minimize complexity. Zscaler helps reduce the attack surface, block threats via full TLS inspection, and eliminate lateral threat movement.

This segment is sponsored by Zscaler. Visit https://securityweekly.com/zscalerrsac to learn more about them!

The modern workspace, increasingly reliant on cloud-based applications, browser-first access, and AI integration, faces significant security challenges that outpace the capabilities of traditional tools.

Legacy solutions, including VPNs and even early ZTNA implementations, are proving vulnerable to sophisticated attacks leading to data breaches and operational disruptions. The fundamental shift in how we work demands a new approach, one that closes the gaps left by the platform approach.

We need the ability to 'trust nothing and click on anything with zero risk.' We need to take zero trust beyond the network that we operate and control.

Future of Browser Security Webinar with Google: https://www.menlosecurity.com/resources/2025-prediction-the-future-of-browser-security-lessons-from-the-pioneers

Browser security report: https://www.menlosecurity.com/resources/state-of-browser-security-report

Global Cyber Gangs report: https://www.menlosecurity.com/resources/global-cyber-gangs-supported-and-sheltered-by-state-sponsors-and-getting-smarter-every-day-report

Everywhere Access White Paper: https://www.menlosecurity.com/resources/everywhere-access-the-zero-trust-revolution-for-hybrid-work-white-paper

This segment is sponsored by Menlo Security. Visit https://securityweekly.com/menlorsac to learn more about them!

Guests

Jeff Pollard

Vice-President, Principal Analyst on the Security and Risk Team at Forrester Research

Jeff primarily contributes to Forrester’s offerings for security and risk professionals. He leads Forrester’s research on the role of the CISO, specializing in topics related to security strategy, budgets, metrics, business cases, and presenting to the board. His research also includes security services, featuring global coverage of managed security services, professional security services, and security-as-a-service. Jeff also takes an active role in Forrester’s forward-looking research on security innovation, the security market, and security predictions.

Pejman (Pej) Roshan

Chief Marketing Officer at Menlo Security

Pejman (Pej) Roshan leads Menlo Security’s Marketing organization. Pej has more than 25 years of product and marketing experience, successfully leading to-to-market teams for pioneering companies of all sizes, including Agito Networks, ShoreTel, Teridion, Cisco Systems, Aruba Networks, Xilinx and VMware. Throughout his career, Pej has had roles in IT operations, IT planning, marketing, product management and executive roles.

Deepen Desai

Chief Security Officer | EVP Engineering at Zscaler

As Chief Security Officer at Zscaler, Deepen Desai is responsible for running the global security research operations as well as working with the product group to ensure that the Zscaler platform and services are secure.

Hosts