In this episode of Cyber Risk TV, Matt Alderman speaks with Ryan Grant, Country Manager for the US and Canada at ESET, about building cyber resilience in the AI era. They discuss findings from ESET’s 2026 S&P Cyber Readiness Index, including the continued challenges organizations face with basic cyber hygiene, the growing sophistication of phishing attacks, and the impact AI is having on traditional threats.
Grant explains why organizations should focus on foundational security practices before layering AI-specific defenses on top, including multifactor authentication, access controls, endpoint detection and response, vulnerability and patch management, and incident response planning. He also addresses the rise of shadow AI and AI agents, emphasizing the need for clear policies, governance, access controls, employee training, and continuous monitoring.
The conversation also explores the challenges facing SMBs with limited cybersecurity resources and how managed service providers and security-as-a-service offerings can help close the gap. Grant discusses ESET’s newly redesigned Protect offering, which combines security technology, 24/7 monitoring, vulnerability and patch management, multifactor authentication, premium support, and a cyber warranty into a simplified package designed to help organizations strengthen their security posture and focus on prevention.
Segment Resources:
ESET free AI Skills Checker: ESET AI Skills Checker: https://www.eset.com/us/home/ai-skills-checker/ WeLiveSecurity Blog: Learn more about Guardbreaker, AI skills in the ESET H1 Threat Report, and more: www.welivesecurity.com SMB 2026 Cyber Readiness Index: https://www.eset.com/us/about/newsroom/research/eset-2026-smb-cyber-readiness-index/
This segment is sponsored by ESET. Visit https://securityweekly.com/eset to learn more about them!
- 0:00 - — Cyber Resilience in the AI Era
- 0:24 - — Key Findings From ESET’s 2026 Cyber Readiness Index
- 02:19 - — How AI Is Making Phishing More Sophisticated
- 03:07 - — Building a Culture of Cybersecurity
- 04:32 - — The Rise of Shadow AI and AI Agents
- 06:52 - — Securing AI With Governance and Access Controls
- 07:13 - — Where Companies Should Focus Their Defenses
- 08:45 - — Addressing the Cybersecurity Talent Shortage
- 10:12 - — ESET’s New Protect Offering
- 12:51 - — Cyber Warranty vs. Cyber Insurance
- 14:21 - — Closing Thoughts
For over 25 years, Ryan Grant has led teams and scaled businesses within the technology sector, with specialized expertise in cybersecurity, virtualization, datacenter, and cloud. At ESET, Grant leads go-to-market teams that support Consumer, SMB, MSP, and Enterprise segments. With extensive experience managing large channel teams, Grant is recognized for fostering a high-performance culture – building dynamic teams that collaborate closely across sales, marketing, and customer success. Grant joined ESET from Ingram Micro, where he spent more than two decades in leadership roles, including vice president of advanced solutions.
