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Still Getting Cloud Wrong. Here’s what to Fix. With Simon Vernon | 34
Cyber leadersPublished 29 May 2026
In this episode, Ciaran and James sit down with Simon Vernon, Head of Research and Development at SANS Institute, to discuss cloud and AI security. As a practitioner in the field, Simon shares his experience building hands-on training, where cloud security still goes wrong, and how AI is changing attacker behaviour and creating new risks.
Highlights:
Simon Vernon’s work
A selection of Simon’s writing and SANS courses covering cloud security and applied practice.
- AI for Security and Security for AI: Navigating Opportunities and Challenges
- Cloud Security Groundhog Day: Avoiding Recurring Mistakes in a Dynamic Landscape
- Handle with Care: The Fragile Reality of Cloud Emergency Access
- Securing The Cloud: Persistent Challenges, Emerging Threats, and The Rise of AI Defense
- SEC549: Cloud Security Architecture | SEC510: Cloud Security Engineering and Controls | SEC502: Cloud Security Tactical Defense
Capture the flag and cyber ranges
How teams use CTFs and ranges to build skills in a safe environment.
- What is Capture The Flag? | CTF Types & Important in Cybersecurity
- SANS Cyber Ranges
- SANS Skills Quest by NetWars—The Self-Paced Cyber Range That Works for You
- Major crises and AI threats to dominate agenda at landmark SANS conference for cyber threat hunting community
- Ranges.io
- SANS Institute and AWS Team Up to Expand Global Access to Cybersecurity Skills
Cloud security in practice
Where cloud security tends to go wrong, from identity through to misconfigurations and protection
- What is Identity Access Management (IAM)?
- What is Cloud Security Architecture?
- There's a hole in my bucket | National Cyber Security Centre
- Cloud Security: Common Mistakes That Increase Organizational Risk
- Hands-On Workshop: Protecting Cloud Assets and Improving Security
- Bridge to the Clouds: Unifying Worlds with Entra ID in Hybrid Landscapes
AI: smarter attacks, messier code
How AI is changing attacker behaviour and starting to affect software development
- Beyond the hook: How phishing is evolving in the world of AI
- The Rise of Adaptive Phishing: When AI Learns to Manipulate
- The near-term impact of AI on the cyber threat
- Generative AI Makes Social Engineering More Dangerous—and Harder to Detect
- The intelligence paradox: Why Claude Opus 4.6 requires verification
- Veracode Spring 2026 GenAI Code Security Update: Despite Claims, AI Models Are Still Failing Security
- Endor Labs State Of Dependency Management 2025
Additional resources:
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Contact:
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Simon Vernon
Principal Technical Architect at SANS InstituteSimon Vernon brings more than a quarter century of experience to his role as Head of Research and Development for SANS Institute where he is responsible for the creation and operations of all Jupiter Rockets, BootUP, and Community Cyber Ranges.
