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I’m Kayne McGladrey, and I help Fortune 500 and Global 1000 organizations turn cybersecurity risk into business advantage. Through the GRC Maturity Model, executive‑level advisory, and targeted regulatory guidance, I enable leaders to make confident, risk‑aware decisions. I also deliver keynote talks and am a regular podcast guest.

Thought Leadership Topics

Bridging Cybersecurity and Business Risk

Cybersecurity risks are business risks. I frequently explore how organizations can align cybersecurity strategies with business objectives, enabling executives and boards to make informed decisions. CISOs serve as a critical second line of defense and compliance certifications can become a competitive advantage in regulated industries.

Navigating the Challenges of Compliance

Compliance isn’t just about meeting requirements; it’s about building trust. I share actionable steps to improve GRC maturity using my GRC Maturity Model and offer strategies to overcome the hurdles of passing audits and managing evidence requests.

Preparing for the Future of Regulation

The regulatory landscape is evolving, with AI and cybersecurity laws reshaping industries. I discuss horizon scanning techniques and how to adapt to emerging laws like the SEC’s cybersecurity disclosure rules or the EU AI Act.

About Kayne McGladrey

Photo of Kayne McGladrey

I’m Kayne McGladrey, CISSP‑certified cybersecurity advisor, author of the GRC Maturity Model, and senior IEEE member. Over nearly three decades I’ve helped Fortune 500 and Global 1000 firms align governance, risk, and compliance with business strategy, reduce incident‑response times by up to 45%, and avoid $10 M+ in potential losses.

My work focuses on:

  • Enabling CISOs, internal‑audit teams, and executives to translate technical risk into clear business outcomes.
  • Designing GRC frameworks that turn compliance into a competitive advantage.
  • Guiding organizations through emerging regulations such as the EU AI Act, SEC disclosure rules, and DORA.

I’m also a frequent keynote speaker and guest speaker on multiple podcasts, where I distill complex security topics into actionable insights for boardrooms and broader audiences.

Award: Top 10 Thought Leader on Cybersecurity, Issued by Thinkers360
Award: Top 10 Thought Leader on Risk Management, Issued by Thinkers360
Award: Top 50 Thought Leader in North America, Issued by Thinkers360
CISSP Professional Credential for Kayne McGladrey
Chart showing 94% of attendees say Kayne McGladrey's talks are relevant and engaging
Chart showing 100% of attendees say Kayne McGladrey's sessions are valuable
Chart showing 97% of attendees are interested in attending future talks

Recent Articles and Media featuring Kayne McGladrey

Below are selected external pieces where I discuss emerging threats, regulatory shifts, and practical GRC guidance. These illustrate the kinds of insight I bring to client engagements and public forums.

Post Types

    Ep08 – Cyber Risk Is a Myth. Are You Framing Risk in Business Terms? with Kayne McGladrey
    MYGRCPOV

    Ep08 – Cyber Risk Is a Myth. Are You Framing Risk in Business Terms? with Kayne McGladrey

    In this episode of MY GRC POV, Monica sits down with Kayne McGladrey to challenge a common leadership trap. Teams talk cyber. Executives hear noise. Budgets stall. Decisions slow. Kayne breaks down how to translate security and compliance risk into business outcomes leaders act on. Revenue impact. Cost exposure. Operational uptime. Customer trust.
    How AI Agents Impact SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria
    Teleport

    How AI Agents Impact SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria

    Integrating AI into production environments expands the scope of SOC 2 to cover models, training data, and automated decision-making systems. This shift affects every Trust Services Criterion. It also expands “evidentiary requirements,” requiring auditable records for production execution in addition to the AI decisions and automation workflows that triggered those executions.
    Closing the Skills Gap the Smart Way
    Root To CISO Podcast

    Closing the Skills Gap the Smart Way

    In this episode of Root to CISO Byte Size, Kayne McGladrey shares practical insights on how cybersecurity professionals can align technical skills with business priorities to strengthen their impact. From conducting meaningful skills gap analyses to communicating security in revenue-focused terms, Kayne explains how CISOs can protect budget, support growth, and position security as a strategic enabler. He also offers grounded advice for early-career professionals on building the right skills, engaging with the community, and making informed career decisions in today’s evolving market.

    More news and podcasts

    Testimonials

    Covered serious information, with the style and grace of a speaker who actually understands the subject and knows it’s an uncomfortable topic but needs to be discussed (see talk report)

    D. Wright

    The topic covered is something that every security person should know how to do and be aware of. This is what helps us justify our team, tools, and growth. (see talk report)

    Evan Lund

    Very inspiring and can help put cyber risks into terms that facilitate understanding for business folks. (see talk report)

    Cao Chung

    Skills for cutting through complexity and simplifying tasks to get results in managing risks. (see talk report)

    Stephen Zetter