Cybersecurity: The Human Zero-Day with Rinki Sethi | Ready. Or Not. Episode 3

In Ready or Not — Episode 3, host Nathan Macintosh sits down with Rinki Sethi, Chief Security Officer at Upwind Security, to explore why humans remain the biggest vulnerability — and opportunity — in cybersecurity, especially in the age of AI. From AI-powered attacks and poisoned models to alert fatigue, productivity pressure, and user behavior, the conversation digs into why security can’t just be about tools and controls. Rinki explains how AI is reshaping both offense and defense, why governance and guardrails matter, and how security teams can use AI to scale without overwhelming people. What This Episode Covers * Why humans are often described as the “zero-day” in cybersecurity * How AI is changing attacker tactics and defensive strategies * The risks of AI model poisoning, misuse, and lack of guardrails * Why productivity pressure drives insecure workarounds * The role of AI governance in modern organizations * How security teams can use AI to reduce alert fatigue * Why better security design must reduce friction for users * How AI can help security teams scale faster than attackers Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI and Security Concerns 02:49 The Role of AI in Enhancing Security 05:33 Balancing Innovation and Safety in Technology 08:39 Conclusion and Future Outlook TL;DR Humans remain the biggest cybersecurity risk — and AI amplifies both the danger and the defense. This episode explores how better design, governance, and AI-assisted security can help organizations stay ahead without slowing people down. Key Takeaways * Security failures often stem from human behavior, not just technology * AI increases both attacker sophistication and defensive capability * Poorly designed security creates friction that leads to workarounds * Governance and guardrails are critical for safe AI adoption * Alert fatigue is unsustainable without AI-assisted prioritization * AI can help security teams focus on what truly matters * Security should enable productivity, not block it Who This Episode Is For * CISOs and Security Leaders * CIOs and Technology Executives * Security Operations and SOC Teams * Identity, Risk, and Governance Leaders * Product and Engineering Leaders using AI * Business leaders navigating AI adoption * Want More Conversations Like This? FAQ Q: What does “human zero-day” mean in cybersecurity? A: It refers to human behavior as an unpredictable vulnerability that attackers exploit before controls can adapt. Q: Why does AI increase security risk? A: AI can be misused, poisoned, or deployed without guardrails, amplifying mistakes and attacker impact. Q: Can AI actually help security teams? A: Yes — AI can reduce alert fatigue, prioritize real threats, and help teams scale faster than manual processes. Q: Why do people bypass security controls? A: Excessive friction and poor user experience often lead people to find faster—but less secure—workarounds. Q: Is AI governance really necessary? A: Absolutely. Governance ensures AI is used safely, responsibly, and in ways that don’t expose sensitive data. Dive deeper into cyber resilience, AI risk, and the human side of security on the Readiverse: https://bit.ly/4nMgU3d #ReadyOrNot #CyberSecurity #AISecurity #HumanRisk #ZeroTrust #AIAndSecurity #CyberResilience