Last Month in Security 009: Robert Rodriguez - Chairman and Founder of SINET

In this edition of the Halcyon video/podcast series Last Month in Security, host Anthony M. Freed and panelist Ben Carr are joined by Robert Rodriguez, Chairman and Founder of SINET and a Venture Partner at SYN Ventures.

In this engaging podcast conversation with Robert Rodriguez, we explore the evolution of SINET, its mission to bridge public and private sector collaboration, and its role in accelerating cybersecurity innovation. Robert shares insights into SINET’s unique model for connecting investors, buyers, and sellers, emphasizing how authentic relationships and strategic networking fuel growth in the cybersecurity ecosystem.

We dive into current trends in the investor space, where Robert highlights a heightened focus on technologies tackling ransomware, cloud security, and AI-driven threat detection. He discusses the challenges security companies face in connecting with busy CISOs, stressing the importance of delivering real value and peer-driven credibility.

Ransomware remains a hot topic, with Robert offering perspectives on its impact, CISO concerns, and the potential for regulatory measures to stem the tide. He contrasts SINET events with traditional conferences, explaining how their community-driven approach fosters meaningful connections in an overcrowded event landscape.

Robert also touches on the broader challenges of keeping CISOs up at night, the value of public-private partnerships in enhancing security, and how leaders can build a culture of trust within organizations. It’s a conversation packed with real-world insights for anyone navigating the cybersecurity landscape.

About Our Guest:

Robert Rodriguez is the Chairman and Founder of the Security Innovation Network (SINET), an organization dedicated to advancing innovation and fostering global collaboration between the public and private sectors to combat cybersecurity threats. SINET serves as a bridge connecting entrepreneurs, industry and government risk executives, chief information security officers, venture capitalists, and private equity firms. Through workshops, conferences, and public-private partnership dinners, SINET facilitates high-level engagements among cybersecurity professionals. In addition to his role at SINET, Mr. Rodriguez is a Venture Partner at SYN Ventures, focusing on investments in early-stage cybersecurity companies. He also serves on several cybersecurity advisory boards and has been called upon to advise both private industry and federal governments in developing public-private partnership models and engaging with the entrepreneurial and venture capital communities. Before establishing SINET, Mr. Rodriguez served for 22 years as a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service. During his tenure, he held various executive leadership positions, including roles within the Presidential Protection Detail, Protective Intelligence, Inspection, Criminal Investigation Division, and the Counter Assault Team. His executive protection experience spanned a decade at the White House, where he served Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, as well as numerous heads of state.

Your Hosts:

Anthony M. Freed, Halcyon Director of Research and Communications: Freed is a strategic communications leader, award-winning writer, publisher and podcast producer who was previously a freelance security journalist leading headline-making investigations that included the Symantec NAV source code leak, the mass compromise of US government agency account credentials, the denial-of-service attack that took down WikiLeaks, and more. Freed is also the principal researcher who produces the quarterly Halcyon report Power Rankings: Ransomware Malicious Quartile - Inside Data Extortion Attacks.  

Ben Carr, Halcyon Advisory CISO: Carr is a Security & Risk Executive and recognized thought leader with more than 25 years of results driven experience in developing and executing security strategies. Carr has served in global leadership roles at advanced technology, high risk, and rapid growth companies such as Ericsson (Cradlepoint), Qualys, Aristocrat, Tenable, Visa and Nokia. Ben has served as a member of the Board of Directors for organizations such as IT-ISAC and NTXPKUA. He is an advisor for Noname Security and Syn Ventures and has previously served on Advisory boards for Living Security, TruStar, Mimecast, Qualys, and Accuvant.  

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Halcyon.ai eliminates the business impact of ransomware. Modern enterprises rely on Halcyon to prevent ransomware attacks, eradicating cybercriminals’ ability to encrypt systems, steal data, and extort companies – talk to a Halcyon expert today to find out more and check out the Halcyon Attacks Lookout resource site. Halcyon also publishes a quarterly RaaS and extortion group reference guide, Power Rankings: Ransomware Malicious Quartile.