Security teams are busier than ever, so it’s no surprise that practitioners are using podcasts to keep up to date with cybersecurity news, ideas, and tools. The data backs this one up - according to the 2023 Voice of the SOC report, 83% of security professionals listen to at least one security podcast.
So which podcasts are practitioners listening to? Our report, which surveyed 900 security professionals in the US and Europe, identifies 9 frontrunners. These shows cover everything from deep dives on high-profile cyber attacks to in-depth interviews with top security leaders.
When it comes to the podcast medium, we can see that security pros are primarily interested in:
Industry news round-ups, i.e. Cyberwire Daily
Interviews with high-profile security leaders, i.e. The Future of Security Operations
Reports on real-life incidents, i.e. Risky Biz
History deep dives, i.e. Malicious Life
Journalistic storytelling, i.e. Darknet Diaries
So let’s take a closer look at the most popular cybersecurity podcasts.
The 9 best security podcasts, according to practitioners
Image by Cyberwire Daily
1. Cyberwire Daily with Dave Bittner
Published every weekday, Cyberwire Daily is designed to help practitioners stay up to date with the latest cybersecurity news. Guests from industry, academia, and research organizations give background and context to the headlines.
Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Image by CYBER
2. CYBER with Matthew Gault
Produced by Vice Media, CYBER finds host Matthew Gault digging into the latest hacking and disinformation campaigns, in conversation with journalists from the brand’s tech title, Motherboard.
Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Image by Security Now
3. Security Now with Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte
The longest-running show on our list, Security Now has been publishing episodes of its weekly podcast since 2005. It finds industry veterans Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte taking listeners through the minefield of viruses, ransomware, hacking, and cyber espionage.
Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Image by Malicious Life
4. Malicious Life with Ran Levi
Described by its host Ran Levi as “Hardcore History meets Hackable”, Malicious Life shares some of the wildest stories in cybersecurity history, with help from the journalists, hackers, and politicians who were actually there.
Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Image by Darknet Diaries
5. Darknet Diaries with Jack Rhysider
Through narrative storytelling in the style of Serial and This American Life, Darknet Diaries takes a well-researched look at the dark side of the internet. Host Jack Rhysider tells untold stories of data breaches, hacking, and cybercrime.
Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Image by RiskyBiz
6. RiskyBiz with Patrick Gray
A fixture in the security world since 2007, RiskyBiz is a weekly information security digest that’s popular with practitioners and leaders alike. Listeners can expect interviews with industry veterans, and timely updates on key cybersecurity breaches.
Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Image by The Future of Security Operations
7. The Future of Security Operations with Thomas Kinsella
A must-listen for security leaders, The Future of Security Operations features interviews with the people currently defending the world’s most respected brands, including GitHub, Wiz, and Elastic. Host Thomas Kinsella trades ideas and anecdotes with truly brilliant CISOs and leaders, covering topics as diverse as AI and analyst burnout. The show returns for a fifth season in early 2024.
Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Image by Smashing Security
8. Smashing Security with Graham Cluley and Carole Theriault
Hosts Graham Cluley and Carole Theriault deliver a LOL-filled round-up of the latest cybersecurity news in Smashing Security, which is the closest thing on this list to a comedy podcast.
Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Image by Blueprint
9. Blueprint with John Hubbard
Blueprint is designed to help listeners take their defense skills to the next level. With a focus on learning, John Hubbard’s podcast finds him interviewing top security practitioners and providing in-depth explanations of the newest protocols and tools.
Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.