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UnHack the Podcast

Hosted by Drex DeFord

In-depth conversations about cybersecurity strategy, risk management, and building resilient healthcare organizations in the face of evolving cyber threats.

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Episodes (406)

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UnHack the Podcast UnHack the News Executive Interview Solution Showcase Newsday 2 Minute Drill

Dec 1, 2025·Newsday

Newsday: The AI Staffing Dilemma - The Productivity Paradox with This Week Health

December 1, 2025: As AI tools rapidly transform healthcare IT workflows, leaders face an unexpected challenge: what happens when your team becomes dramatically more productive? Bill Russell, Drex DeFord, and Sarah Richardson explore the productivity paradox hitting healthcare organizations—when AI enables staff to accomplish in hours what once took weeks, do you need fewer people or different approaches? From closing open positions to managing "cozy" employees who've mastered automation, they de

Nov 26, 2025·2 Minute Drill

2 Minute Drill: Insider Threats in Healthcare: Employee Recruitment Schemes with Drex DeFord

Drex examines the growing insider threat landscape in healthcare cybersecurity. The episode covers CrowdStrike's recent insider incident where screenshots were leaked to cybercriminals, new research showing 93% of organizations struggle to detect insider threats, and the Geisinger Health/Nuance $5 million settlement over improper data access. Drex also reveals how ransomware groups like Medusa are directly recruiting healthcare employees with financial incentives, highlighting that insider threats aren't just malicious employees—they're also your people being actively targeted through phishing and recruitment offers. Remember, Stay a Little Paranoid X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 24, 2025·Newsday

Newsday: Merger Madness and Why Hospitals are Moving Back to On-Prem Data with Dave Dyell

November 24, 2025: Healthcare organizations are drowning in applications they can't even inventory, especially after mergers and acquisitions. But the real shock comes when they try to access archived data years later. Dave Dyell , Managing Partner at Innovative Consulting Group , reveals why cloud storage fees are forcing health systems to rethink their entire archiving strategy, particularly for medical imaging. With AI initiatives on the horizon, the way you archive data today determines whether you can afford to use it tomorrow. Learn why strategic planning for data archiving isn't optional anymore—it's the difference between controlling costs and watching them spiral out of control. Key Points: 03:12 Archiving and Data Management 09:30 On-Prem vs Cloud Storage 18:33 Future Strategies and Conclusion X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 21, 2025·Newsday

Newsday: Doing More with Less and Budgeting Wake-Up Calls with Bill Willis

November 21, 2025: What if your organization could reclaim millions of dollars just by rethinking processes you already have in place? Bill Willis , CTO of IDMWORKS , discusses the hidden costs plaguing healthcare IT, from runaway cloud storage bills to the shocking economics of password resets. Discover why identity management isn't just a security issue but a massive financial opportunity, how HR-IT integration is transforming onboarding from a week-long wait to day-one productivity, and why the cybersecurity crisis isn't really about technology at all. With real-world examples showing $2.5M to $5M in annual savings, this episode delivers the business case healthcare leaders need to drive change in 2026. Key Points: 01:06 Boston City Tour Highlights 02:36 Discussion on AI and Cloud Costs 10:05 Cybersecurity and Identity Management 19:12 Operational Efficiency and Cost Savings X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 20, 2025·2 Minute Drill

2 Minute Drill: Cybercriminals Weaponize AI: Self-Modifying Malware with Drex DeFord

Cybercriminals are escalating their tactics by deploying AI-enabled malware that adapts in real-time. Google Cloud and Anthropic threat intelligence reports reveal attackers using tools like Prompt Flux malware to contact AI APIs mid-attack, rewriting code to evade detection. Threat actors are bypassing AI safety guardrails through social engineering, tricking models into providing malicious capabilities. The underground cybercrime market now offers sophisticated multifunction tools, lowering barriers for less experienced criminals. Healthcare defenders must prepare for adaptive malware that uses generative AI to persist and survive longer inside target environments. Remember, Stay a Little Paranoid X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 19, 2025·Executive Interview

Executive Interview: How Complexity Kills Innovation and Lasting IT Leadership with Kurt Telep

November 19, 2025: Healthcare IT infrastructure has become so complex that teams have lost sight of the actual patient impact. Kurt Telep , Healthcare Field CTO at Nutanix , pulls no punches in this conversation about what's broken and how to fix it. From his personal regret about avoiding Kubernetes when it first emerged to explaining why 95% of healthcare organizations will consume AI rather than build it, Kurt delivers hard-earned wisdom on navigating constant technological change. He reveals why security tools become shelfware, how to reconnect IT decisions to clinical outcomes, and why the future belongs to leaders who embrace simplicity over complexity. Key Points: 02:21 A Better IT Infrastructure 08:09 Security Concerns with AI 09:40 Advice for Future Healthcare IT Leaders 15:22 The Importance of Simplicity X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 19, 2025·Executive Interview

Executive Interview: From Data Exchange to Data Utility with Dr. Steven Lane and Mike Cordeiro

November 19, 2025: Healthcare interoperability has evolved far beyond simple data exchange—but are we truly unlocking its potential? Dr. Steven Lane , CMO from Health Gorilla , and Mike Cordeiro , Senior Director of Interoperability Market & Product Strategy from MEDITECH join Bill Russell to explore how the industry is shifting from moving data to making it actionable. Discover why structured, normalized data is critical for clinical decision-making, how TEFCA is transforming payer-provider collaboration, and what AI integration means for overwhelmed clinicians. From the hidden costs of inefficient data exchange to patient empowerment through individual access services, this conversation reveals where interoperability stands today and the exciting developments shaping tomorrow's data-driven healthcare delivery. Key Points: 05:40 Challenges in Data Usability and Integration 08:04 Payer-Provider Interoperability 14:19 Patient Empowerment Through Data Access 18:09 Governance and Data Quality X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 17, 2025·Newsday

Newsday: Security Culture Saves Hospital and Resource Gaps with George Pappas

November 17, 2025: How does a 25-bed critical access hospital successfully stop a cyberattack when larger health systems fall victim? George Pappas , CEO of Intraprise Health , unpacks the Colorado hospital that shows how security culture beats expensive technology. The conversation reveals why vendor transparency remains elusive despite high-profile breaches, explores the harsh reality of hospitals that know their vulnerabilities but lack resources to fix them, and tackles AI governance challenges that traditional testing methods can't address. From Oracle-Cerner incidents to the frozen HIPAA NPRM, this episode delivers hard truths about healthcare security's funding gaps and the practical strategies that actually work for margin-pressed organizations. Key Points: 01:45 Vendor Contracts and Legal Challenges 06:21 Challenges with Cloud Security 11:26 Critical Access Hospitals and Cyber Preparedness 17:47 AI in Healthcare: Opportunities and Risks X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 12, 2025·2 Minute Drill

2 Minute Drill: CISA Extension, Oracle Breach Fallout, and the Wiz Acquisition with Drex DeFord

CISA 2015's temporary extension buys time until January, but what happens next? Drex breaks down the Oracle E-Business Suite ransomware attack affecting 29 victims—including potential third and fourth-party partners in your supply chain. Plus, Google's $32B Wiz acquisition clears a major hurdle, and Armas' $435M funding round signals where security investment is heading. Keep your threat intel pipelines hot and your radar up. Remember, Stay a Little Paranoid X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 10, 2025·Newsday

Newsday: AWS Outage Exploration and Removing Risk from Your Data with Vik Patel

November 10, 2025: When AWS experienced a major outage affecting over 500 companies, healthcare IT leaders were reminded that cloud architecture isn't just a technical decision; it's a strategic imperative. Vik Patel, COO from Tido dives into the cascading failures that exposed vulnerabilities in healthcare's cloud dependencies. From Epic instances running on AWS to the emerging challenges of AI data lakes, this conversation reveals why simplicity in architecture might be healthcare IT's most un

Nov 5, 2025·Executive Interview

Executive Interview: Making Big Innovations Without Risking It All with Mark Galea

November 5, 2025: Mark Galea , SVP and CIO at Willis Knighton Health , shares how they achieved world-class EMR results at a fraction of typical costs, proving that digital transformation doesn't require unlimited budgets. Leading a $1.4 billion health system in northern Louisiana, Mark deployed MEDITECH Expanse to 140 clinics in just 14 months while cutting IT operating costs to the lowest quartile. He discusses a "follow the leader" approach to AI adoption, explains why most hospitals can't afford to place bets on unproven technology, and shares impressive clinical outcomes. His philosophy: technology should be about getting our doctors “back to even”, not adding more stress. Key Points: 01:07 Challenges and Opportunities at Willis Knighton 07:18 Stabilizing and Deploying Expanse 10:43 Embracing Innovation 18:05 Cost-Effective Innovations and Results 25:19 Advice for Healthcare IT Leaders X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Nov 3, 2025·Newsday

Newsday: The CxO Pulse - Insights and Lessons from 229 Summits with This Week Health

November 3, 2025: What are healthcare IT leaders really concerned about? Fresh from three 229 Project summits across the country, Bill Russell, Sarah Richardson, and Drex DeFord pull back the curtain on the most pressing conversations happening right now. From simplifying AI governance with a two-track vendor approach to rethinking hiring strategies for an agent-driven future, this episode captures the pulse of healthcare leadership in real time. Discover why some organizations are solving hundreds of problems while others struggle with their first five, and learn the one-word qualities leaders are seeking in their next hires to thrive in today's rapidly changing landscape. Key Points: 04:24 AI Success Factors 09:57 Balancing Moonshots and Practical Solutions 14:37 Sourcing Strategy and Engagement 22:32 Building Organizational Culture 26:27 Leadership and Succession Planning X : This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer