Please enjoy our newest podcast, the weekly Security Sprint, on Spotify, Apple, as well as other locations accessible via the Spotify for Podcasters link or almost anywhere you listen to your favorite podcasts. You can view here.
In this week’s Security Sprint, Dave and Andy covered the following topics:
Opening:
- Ransomware Reinvented: AI-Powered and Autonomous Attacks — Gate 15 — 26 Feb 2026
- Across party lines and industry, the verdict is the same: CISA is in trouble “We’re asking states to do a job they’re not resourced to do, while weakening the one federal agency designed to help them,” said Errol Weiss, chief security officer at the Health-ISAC, adding that “this is precisely where you do need a strong, centralized federal security function” and that “we already have a national shortage of cybersecurity experts, and you can’t just replicate that expertise 50 times over.” Overall, Weiss said industry partners have felt the lack of outreach from the agency and are experiencing “fewer touchpoints, fewer briefings, fewer problem-solving calls,” which contributes to “a growing perception that CISA is being hollowed out where it matters most to industry: stakeholder engagement, collaborative forums, and operational support during incidents.”
- Gottumukkala out, Andersen in as acting CISA director
- States feel the squeeze of CISA shutdown
Main Topics:
Operation Epic Fury & Related:
- Department of Homeland Security warns of potential attacks amid Iran operation
- Peace Through Strength: President Trump Launches Operation Epic Fury to Crush Iranian Regime, End Nuclear Threat The White House
- U.S. Forces Launch Operation Epic Fury U.S. Central Command
- Israel performs largest cyberattack in history against Iran
- X Is Drowning in Disinformation Following US and Israeli Attack on Iran
- Potential Iran Nexus: Texas gunman wore “Property of Allah” hoodie during attack, had photos of Iranian leaders at home, sources say
Cyber Threat Reports
- CrowdStrike 2026 Global Threat Report: The Evasive Adversary Wields AI
- Speed Wins When Identity Fails: 2026 Annual Threat Report
- Total Ransomware Payments Stagnate for Second Consecutive Year, While Attacks Escalate
- Quarterly Threat Report: Fourth Quarter, 2025
- IBM X-Force reports 44% surge in exploitation of public-facing applications as supply chain and identity attacks intensify
2026 Cost of Insider Risks Global Report — DTEX Systems and Ponemon Institute —The 2026 Cost of Insider Risks Global Report from Ponemon Institute and DTEX estimates that insider security incidents now cost organizations an average of 19.5 million United States dollars per year, driven mostly by negligent employees in complex digital environments. The study finds that companies with mature insider risk management programs avoid seven incidents and save about 8.2 million dollars annually, while cutting average time to contain from 86 days in 2023 to 67 days as budgets for insider programs nearly double. Researchers highlight the impact of shadow artificial intelligence, reporting that negligent insiders now account for 10.3 million dollars in average costs and that more than nine out of ten respondents say generative artificial intelligence has changed how staff access and share information, even though only a small share have formally integrated artificial intelligence into business strategies.
Quick Hits:
Read more about Gate 15’s full podcast menu at our Podcast page. You can subscribe and enjoy all the Gate 15 Podcasts on Spotify for Podcasters, Apple, Spotify, as well as other locations accessible from the Spotify for Podcasters link. Week-to-week, you can hear and learn more about our all-hazards threats, risks, mitigation and other issues impacting homeland security risk management from our team as well as our regular and special guests. The full podcast menu includes:
- The Security Sprint is our weekly rundown of the week’s notable all-hazards security news, risks and threats and some of the key focus areas for organizations to consider behind the headlines. Gate 15 team members discuss physical security, cybersecurity, natural hazards, health threats and other issues across our environment.
- Nerd Out! Security Panel Discussion, moderated by Dave Pounder, focuses on physical security topics including terrorism, extremism, hostile events, and other pertinent topics.
- The Gate 15 Interview, is a monthly interview between Gate 15’s founder and Managing Director, Andy Jabbour and guests from throughout the homeland security risk management community addressing a wide range of all-hazards topics and issues.
- The Cybersecurity Evangelist, with Jennifer Lyn Walker, is a cybersecurity-focused discussion with Jen and invited guests. This is presently a Gate 15 special podcast and occasionally is updated on our Gate 15 podcast channel.
- Venue Security, The IAVM Podcast Series was a 2024 limited series podcast as Gate 15’s founder and Managing Director, Andy Jabbour hosted a series of short interviews with venue safety and security experts from the International Association of Venue Managers’ (IAVM) Venue Safety and Security Committee (VSSC) and other special guests from the IAVM community.
- The Risk Roundtable, was a monthly discussion among our team and occasional guests exploring the all-hazards threats and risks impacting the United States and internationally. This was suspended in September 2023.
We hope you’ll subscribe, listen and share your ideas and other feedback! Reach out to us on Bluesky, LinkedIn, via email at Gate15@gate15.global.