The CISO’s Financial Reality Check | Jo Peterson + Bil Harmer

Cybersecurity isn’t a cost center — it’s a financial model. In this episode of ClearTech Loop, Jo Peterson sits down with Bil Harmer (Founder & CEO of Killswitch Advisory) to challenge how CISOs define and defend security investments.

Harmer breaks down why the best security programs are built around financial fluency — not fear — and how leaders can translate cyber risk into the same language the CFO speaks.

In this episode, Jo and Bil explore:

The real difference between safety and survival in cybersecurity
Why cyber risk = financial risk (and how to prove it to your board)
How to calculate acceptable loss without undercutting resilience
The hidden AI governance traps buried in SaaS contracts
What “right-sized” cybersecurity looks like for modern businesses
Bil brings more than 25 years of experience leading security programs across government, startups, and Fortune 500s — and today advises fast-growth companies through Killswitch Advisory.

📘 Learn more about Bil Harmer: https://killswitchadvisory.com
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Description (Short):

Jo Peterson and Bil Harmer break down cybersecurity’s financial reality: acceptable loss, AI contract traps, and why CISOs need to speak the CFO’s language.

Chapters:

00:00 – Intro
01:20 – Security as Survival, Not Safety
05:00 – Cyber Risk = Financial Risk
10:15 – Acceptable Loss and Resilience
16:40 – AI Governance in Vendor Contracts
22:10 – The CFO-CISO Connection
27:45 – Key Takeaways