Fireside Chat: From Vulnerable to Vigilant - Demystifying Pen Tests

Cyber threats are evolving—and so should our strategies to defend against them. In our latest NYSERNet Fireside Chat, we explored one of the most impactful (and often misunderstood) security practices: penetration testing.

Whether you're new to pen testing or looking to refine your existing program, this conversation delivers the clarity, insights, and real-world context you need to strengthen your institution’s cyber defenses.

The session was facilitated by Emilyann Fogarty, Chief Information Security Officer at NYSERNet, and featured a rich discussion with panelists offering multiple perspectives on the value and execution of pen testing. Joining the conversation were Paul Robinson, Founder and Managing Director of Tempus Network; James Carroll, Co-Founder of Hacket Cyber; Shaun Black, Assistant Vice President for Information and Technology Services at Le Moyne College; and Shawn Minarik, Systems Architect for Security at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

You’ll walk away with not only a better understanding of pen testing as a proactive security control, but also practical advice you can apply at your own institution—especially if you’re navigating open environments, limited resources, or legacy infrastructure.

Access the Resource
Want to take the next step in your cyber risk journey?

Fill out the form below to download  Top 4 Things You Should Do to Secure Your Campus.