In this post-RSAC 2025 Brand Story, Marco Ciappelli catches up with Steve Schlarman, Senior Director of Product Management at Archer, to discuss the evolving intersection of GRC, AI, and business value. From regulatory overload to AI-enhanced policy generation, this conversation explores how meaningful innovation—grounded in real customer needs—is shaping the future of risk and compliance.

Not All AI Is Created Equal: The Archer Approach

RSAC 2025 was buzzing with innovation, but for Steve Schlarman and the Archer team, it wasn’t about showing off shiny new toys—it was about proving that AI, when used with purpose and context, can truly enhance the risk and compliance function.

Steve, Senior Director of Product Management at Archer, breaks down how Archer Evolve and the recent integration of Compliance.ai are helping organizations address regulatory change in a more holistic, automated, and scalable way. With silos still slowing down many companies, the need for tools that actually do something is more urgent than ever.

From Policy Generation to Risk Narratives

One of the most practical applications discussed? Using AI not just to detect risk, but to help write better risk statements, control documentation, and even policy language that actually communicates clearly. Steve explains how Archer is focused on closing the loop between data and business impact—translating technical risk outputs into narratives the business can actually act on.

AI with a Human Touch

As Marco notes, AI in cybersecurity has moved from hype to hesitation to strategy. Steve is candid: some customers are still on the fence. But when AI is delivered in a contextual way, backed by customer-driven innovation, it becomes a bridge—not a wedge—between people and process. The key is not AI for the sake of AI, but for solving real, grounded problems.

What’s Next in Risk? Better Conversations

Looking ahead, Schlarman sees a shift from “no, we can’t” to “yes, and here’s how.” With a better grasp on loss exposure and control costs, the business conversation is changing. AI-powered storytelling and smart interfaces might just help risk teams have their most effective conversations yet.

From regulatory change to real-time translation of risk data, this is where tech meets trust.

⸻

Guest:

Steve Schlarman, Senior Director, Product Management, Archert | https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveschlarman/

Resources

Learn more and catch more stories from Archer: https://www.itspmagazine.com/directory/archer

Learn more and catch more stories from RSA Conference 2025 coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/rsac25

______________________

Keywords:

steve schlarman, marco ciappelli, rsac2025, archer evolve, compliance.ai, regulatory change, grc, risk management, ai storytelling, cybersecurity, compliance, brand story, rsa conference, cybersecurity strategy, risk communication, ai in compliance, automation, contextual ai, integrated risk management, business risk narrative, itspmagazine

______________________

Catch all of our event coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/technology-and-cybersecurity-conference-coverage

Want to tell your Brand Story Briefing as part of our event coverage? Learn More 👉 https://itspm.ag/evtcovbrf

Want Sean and Marco to be part of your event or conference? Let Us Know 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/contact-us

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) continue to be at a disadvantage when it comes to cybersecurity—not because the risks are unclear, but because the means to address them remain out of reach for many. In this episode, Professor Steven Furnell of the University of Nottingham highlights the real barriers SMEs face and shares the thinking behind a new approach: creating cybersecurity communities of support.

The research behind this project, supported by the University and its partners, explores how different types of SMEs—micro, small, and medium-sized—struggle with limited time, budget, and expertise. Many rely on third-party service providers, but often don’t have enough cybersecurity knowledge to evaluate what “good” looks like. It’s not just a resource problem—it’s a visibility and literacy problem.

Furnell emphasizes the potential of automation to lift some of the burden, from automated updates to scheduled malware scans. But he also makes it clear that automated tools can’t fully replace the need for human judgment, especially in scenarios like phishing or social engineering attacks. People still need cybersecurity literacy to recognize and resist threats.

That’s where the idea of communities of support comes in. Rather than each SME navigating cybersecurity alone, the goal is to create local or sector-based communities where businesses and cybersecurity practitioners can engage in open, non-commercial conversations. These communities would offer SMEs a space to ask questions, share challenges, and exchange practical advice—without pressure, cost, or fear of judgment.

The initiative isn’t about replacing regulation or mandating compliance. It’s about raising the baseline first. Communities of support can serve as a step toward greater awareness and capability—something that’s especially critical in a world where supply chains are interconnected, and security failures in one small link can ripple outward.

The message is clear: cybersecurity isn’t just a technical issue—it’s a social one. And it starts by creating room for dialogue, connection, and shared responsibility. Want to know what this model could look like in your community? Tune in to find out.

__________________________________

Guest:
Steven Furnell | Professor of Cyber Security at University of Nottingham
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenfurnell/

Hosts:
Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast [@RedefiningCyber] | On ITSPmagazine: https://www.itspmagazine.com/sean-martin

Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast & Audio Signals Podcast | On ITSPmagazine: https://www.itspmagazine.com/itspmagazine-podcast-radio-hosts/marco-ciappelli

____________________________

This Episode’s Sponsors

ThreatLocker: https://itspm.ag/threatlocker-r974

____________________________

Resources

Learn more and catch more stories from Infosecurity Europe 2025 London coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/infosec25

____________________________

Catch all of our event coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/technology-and-cybersecurity-conference-coverage

Want to tell your Brand Story Briefing as part of our event coverage? Learn More 👉 https://itspm.ag/evtcovbrf

Want Sean and Marco to be part of your event or conference? Let Us Know 👉 https://www.itspmagazine.com/contact-us