Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the cybersecurity landscape—enhancing defense strategies while simultaneously arming cybercriminals with unprecedented capabilities. To address the urgent challenges and opportunities at this intersection, Rye Consulting Group, LLC (RCG, LLC) is hosting a live, high-level webinar on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 1 PM EST. The session, titled “AI & Cybersecurity – The Double-Edged Sword”, brings together elite cybersecurity leaders to uncover how AI is disrupting cyber defense and fueling a growing wave of intelligent threats. From deepfakes to autonomous hacking and nation-state actors, the conversation will span critical trends, risk mitigation, and actionable insights—especially for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that remain highly vulnerable.
The Double-Edged Sword: AI in Cyber Defense and Cybercrime
AI is revolutionizing both sides of the cyber battlefield. On one end, it powers intelligent threat detection and zero-trust frameworks. On the other, it enables sophisticated phishing attacks, impersonation, autonomous malware, and rapidly evolving ransomware variants.
Topics of Discussion:
- The rise of AI-driven cyberattacks and weaponized automation
- Real-world case studies of AI misuse in cybersecurity breaches
- The evolution of Zero Trust Security and AI’s role in enforcing it
- Nation-state actors and the growing cybercrime-as-a-service economy
- Tailored strategies for SMBs to prepare, detect, and respond
The panel will emphasize how the rush to adopt AI without strategic cybersecurity planning creates significant risk—a concern increasingly elevated to boardroom discussions.
Meet the Panel: Cybersecurity Experts Guiding the Conversation
Rye Consulting Group brings together a powerhouse panel of advisors and consultants with decades of frontline cyber, intelligence, and AI expertise:
- Rhonda Vetere – Global tech thought leader and author with deep enterprise IT experience.
- Gordon Lawson – CEO of Pariia.AI, cybersecurity entrepreneur, and former U.S. Navy special operator with leadership roles across Conceal and RangeForce.
- Angelo Longo – Four-time CISO and Associate Partner at Goliath, known for his strategic oversight of threat intelligence and regulatory compliance.
- Dave Ackley – CEO of Goliath Cyber Security Group, specializing in executive cyber advisory and incident response for high-risk industries.
Each speaker brings unique insights from enterprise risk, AI development, cyber warfare, and regulatory risk frameworks, providing attendees with a multidimensional understanding of today’s threat environment.
Why This Matters: The Urgent Need for SMB Cyber Resilience
Cybersecurity is no longer a back-office function—it’s a strategic imperative. Yet, most SMBs remain unprepared for AI-powered threats. Limited resources, lack of security frameworks, and misinformed adoption of AI solutions leave many vulnerable to preventable breaches.
“Many businesses are racing to adopt AI without fully addressing the security implications,” said Edward Bugniazet, CEO of Rye Consulting Group. “This webinar is designed to spotlight the growing threat environment and provide actionable strategies to protect against bad actors exploiting AI.”
Angelo Longo added, “Too many businesses are misreading the real risk. They invest in AI solutions but neglect to apply the same scrutiny to cybersecurity strategy.”
The session will address common blind spots, including:
- Misconceptions about AI’s role in security
- Lack of threat modeling in AI tool adoption
- Overreliance on legacy systems and human processes
- Underutilization of external cyber advisory support
Takeaways for Attendees
Attendees of this webinar will walk away with:
- A deeper understanding of AI-powered cyber threats and how they’re evolving
- Real-world examples that illustrate the stakes for modern businesses
- Best practices in cyber resilience and zero-trust implementation
- Tailored strategies for SMBs to secure their assets with limited resources
- Guidance from proven cybersecurity leaders who’ve advised at enterprise, government, and startup levels
Prepare for the AI-Driven Threat Era
As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in everything from productivity tools to national defense systems, its misuse presents existential cyber risks. Rye Consulting Group’s upcoming webinar offers a timely and necessary conversation on how to embrace AI while fortifying security posture.
Whether you’re a tech executive, IT decision-maker, or business leader, this event provides a rare opportunity to learn from top minds in AI and cybersecurity—and to turn insights into action before your organization becomes the next headline.
