Guest: George Finney (https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgefinney/)
Host: Dr. Victor Monga (https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorvirtual)

In this episode, the host sit down with George Finney, CISO at the University of Texas System and bestselling author of Project Zero Trust and Rise of the Machines. George shares why Zero Trust isn’t a product or a marketing term—it’s a long-term security strategy that helps organizations reduce blind spots, shift culture, and stay resilient in the face of evolving threats.

From his now-famous “jawbreaker” analogy to the difference between a concept and a true strategy, George breaks down what Zero Trust actually is—and what it’s not. Whether you're building from scratch or evolving your current program, this episode offers actionable insights that go beyond buzzwords.

Highlights:
--| Why Zero Trust is not just “trust but verify” rebranded—it's a complete shift in mindset.
--| The “jawbreaker vs. M&M” metaphor and how to communicate Zero Trust across the org.
--| Cultural blockers: why tech isn’t the hard part—people are.
--| Measuring success: how to evaluate ZT maturity using visibility, segmentation, and blind spot reduction.
--| Protect surface vs. attack surface: what defenders can control—and why it matters.
--| A sneak peek into George’s new book, Rise of the Machines, and how AI fits into the Zero Trust future.

Another Zero Trust Journey episode full of real-world experience, strategic clarity, and advice you can actually use—minus the vendor hype.

Subscribe to our LinkedIn to never miss news, updates, and quizzes to earn digital badges.

• https://ztjourney.com
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the speakers.