[183] Cyber-Snakes, ChaosRATs & AI Villains: Acronis CISO Tells All

In this episode, Richard speaks to Gerald Beuchelt. He's the Chief Information Security Officer at Acronis, a company protecting millions of endpoints across 54 data centres, many of them managed by MSPs just like you.

He's led security through IPOs, a $5 billion merger, and now heads up the Acronis Threat Research Unit, or TRU. And that's a team uncovering wild cyber threats that potentially pose a risk to all MSPs and their clients.

Richard asks Gerald to explain the role of a CISO in his own words, how he got into cybersecurity and how his background in mathematics helps him in his work today.

They explore the Acronis Threat Research Unit (TRU) and what Acronis looks like in 2025, with Gerald talking through the changes they’ve made. He also offers suggestions on how MSPs can deal with vendor fatigue and how bringing everything into one place makes it easier.

Richard asks Gerald to explain what a cyber snake and chaosRAT are and how MSPs can support clients using older systems, as well as cyber threats to be aware of and how to educate clients on them.

Gerald shares his thoughts on what a security-first MSP is, why EDR and RMM are merging and how MSPs can prepare for that and how AI use by cyber criminals is getting ever more sophisticated.

He gives one practical habit MSPs can use to improve their security posture, how to get started with Acronis and make the most of its features and what’s coming next for the organisation.

Mentioned in This Episode

• Acronis
• Windows domain networks directory: Active Directory
• Computer programme: Kerberos
• Threat knowledge base: MITRE ATT&CK
• Verizon breach report
• CRM software: Salesforce
• Cyber threat: Sidewinder ATP
• Speaker and author: Karl Palachuk
• Dark web: Digital Underground
• MSP event: MSP Global
• Cyber event: Infosec London
• Cloned Richard podcast