#250 Staying Ahead in Tech with Bob Lamendola: Insights on People-Focused Security, AI, and Cloud Strategies

Ever wondered why people are often considered the weakest link in cybersecurity? This enlightening conversation with Bob Lamendola, Senior Vice President of Technology for Ricoh North America, sheds light on this, highlighting the crucial role of continuous education on security sensitivities and the rising influence of AI in revolutionizing our approach to cybersecurity. We journey through the labyrinth of cloud security strategies, emphasizing the importance of updating procurement processes, navigating hybrid work, and the nuances of identity management. Lamendola shares his deep-seated expertise on these subjects, underlining the significance of rigorous defense methodologies, regular testing of incident response processes, and fostering cross-departmental involvement in table-top exercises. Critical insights are shared on the responsibility organizations bear to secure data even amidst cloud services. We also delve into the vulnerabilities within dealers and targeted departments, and the pressing need for dealers and manufacturers to collaborate towards securing edge devices. The episode talks about how cyber attackers exploit human nature for launching phishing attacks and emphasizes the need to stay vigilant. As we explore how AI is changing the game in predicting and responding to threats and uncovering new revenue streams, Lamendola shares fascinating insights on how AI and data capture can foster innovation around customer requirements. This is a conversation you wouldn't want to miss if you're keen on staying ahead of the curve in cybersecurity. More about Bob: Responsible for creating a clear strategy and identity for Ricoh’s Digital Services portfolio, unifying Service development and innovation to enable efficiency and agility, and aligning and prioritizing resources with a customer centric focus. Prior to this role, served as Vice President, Infrastructure & Engineering Services, leading the evolution and optimal utilization of our Services Delivery infrastructure, technology, processes, systems, and solutions. Additionally, Infrastructure and Engineering Services focused on providing technology leadership and escalation support across Ricoh’s Services portfolio, including IT Services and Service Delivery Innovations, to maximize customer value. Led all aspects of Ricoh's IT Services infrastructure – from engineering and design to the daily operations of those environments. With Ricoh for more than 15 years, held numerous leadership roles within the IT Services organization including management of the Managed Hosting, Application Development, and ITS Infrastructure and Support teams. Over 30 years of experience driving Information Technology initiatives to success by pursuing business alignment and strategically maximizing the value of technology resources. Previously, served as the Vice President, Information Technology, at an international semiconductor manufacturer. Holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer and Information Science from Bloomsburg University. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-lamendola-6542b95