How do you defend Fox News, hedge funds, and global networks while building groundbreaking startups? John Terrill shares his journey.
 
In this episode of Hackers for Founders, cybersecurity executive John Terrill shares his fascinating journey from a curious 12-year-old attending 2600 meetings in Atlanta to becoming a seasoned CISO and co-founder of Drawbridge Networks. He delves into the formative experiences that shaped his career, including his early exposure to security research at Internet Security Systems and his role in founding and developing innovative security technologies. Terrill highlights his learnings about product-market fit, timing, and the challenges of building technology ahead of its time, such as with Drawbridge Networks' pioneering work in micro-segmentation.

The conversation also explores Terrill’s tenure as CISO at Fox News during a transformative period, including its sale to Disney, and at Point72, where he tackled challenges like the rise of ransomware, executive protection, and the pivot to remote work during the pandemic. Throughout the episode, Terrill emphasizes the importance of aligning cybersecurity efforts with business objectives, explaining the delicate "yin and yang" balance between offensive and defensive security strategies. He also critiques current board-level approaches to cybersecurity, advocating for more nuanced discussions around practical solutions, recovery planning, and metrics to assess whether organizations are genuinely improving security posture.

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