Talos Takes

Get ready for a brand-new era of Talos Takes! In the first episode of the year, Amy Ciminnisi, Talos’ Content Manager and new podcast host, steps up to the mic with Joe Marshall to explore certifications, one of cybersecurity’s overwhelming (and sometimes most controversial) topics. We dive into the world of vendor-specific and vendor-agnostic certs, the value they can bring to your career, and the barriers people often face to getting certified.
Whether you’re a newcomer facing the sea of choices and feeling some analysis paralysis or a seasoned pro plotting your next move, this episode may just motivate you to tackle your next certification with confidence.
Cybersecurity certification roadmap: https://pauljerimy.com/security-certification-roadmap/

In this special, end-of-year episode (and Hazel’s final show as host) Talos Takes goes on a time-travel adventure: What would a defender from 2015 think of the cybersecurity realities of 2025? Joined by Talos teammates Pierre Cadieux, Alex Ryan, and Joe Marshall, we compare the threats, tools, and challenges of 2015 with those of 2025. 
The team recalls where they were in their careers a decade ago, then dives deep into how ransomware has evolved, how APTs and state sponsored attacks have shifted, and why identity has become the new battleground for attackers and defenders alike. They discuss the impact of AI on both sides of the security equation, share what they miss from “the good old days,” of 2015, and offer practical advice for defenders facing the challenges of 2026 and beyond.

What happens when your to-do list keeps growing but your budget doesn’t? Hazel is joined by three Cisco Talos Incident Response experts to talk about the reality many organizations face: rising threats, aging infrastructure, and fewer people to defend it all.
From configuring what you already have, to open-source strategies, to the impact of cybersecurity layoffs, this episode is packed with practical guidance for securing your organization during an economic downturn.
Resources mentioned:
https://blog.talosintelligence.com/cybersecurity-on-a-budget-strategies-for-an-economic-downturn/
https://blogs.cisco.com/news/doubling-down-on-resilient-infrastructure
https://talosintelligence.com/incident_response

In this episode of Talos Takes Hazel sits down with Talos' Bill Largent and Craig Jackson to discuss the latest Cisco Talos Incident Response Quarterly Trends Report (Q3 2025). From a wave of Toolshell events, to a rise in post-exploitation phishing, and the misuse of legitimate tools like Velociraptor, this quarter’s cases all point to a theme: attackers are getting very good at living off what’s already in your environment. Read the full report at https://blog.talosintelligence.com/ir-trends-q3-2025/

On this episode of Talos Takes, Hazel welcomes Cisco Duo experts Steven Leung and Tess Mishoe to bust the most common myths around passwordless security and multi-factor authentication (MFA). Discover why not all MFA is created equal, why passwordless doesn't mean less security, and the most seamless way to adopt passwordless solutions. Plus, learn the truth about how passwordless may affect compliance and audits, and whether passwordless really is more vulnerable to phishing.