Evolving Security Practices with Ben Wilcox

Evolving Security Practices with Ben Wilcox

Author: PM Power Consulting December 14, 2025 Duration: 52:05


In this episode of the Software People Stories, my guest Ben Wilcox is the Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at ProArch. 

Ben shares his fascinating journey from building a web hosting business as a teenager to his current role as CTO and CISO at ProArch. Ben discusses the evolution of his career, his involvement in various projects, and the ever-changing landscape of security, especially with the advent of AI. He also provides valuable insights into how enterprises should approach security, the complexities of data localization, and the importance of a continuous security model. The conversation also delves into career advice for aspiring IT and security professionals.


00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:42 Early Career and Web Hosting Business

02:49 Transition to Software Development

03:51 Joining Advisor Group and Pro

05:06 Challenges of Running a Business as a Teenager

07:55 Learning and Growth in a Larger Company

09:14 Becoming a CISO and Security Focus

12:21 Evolving Security Landscape and AI

15:01 Data Security and Insider Risk Management

20:51 Zero Trust Environments and Legacy Systems

23:58 Sleepless Nights and Security Concerns

25:50 Balancing Innovation and Security

26:11 Finding Joy in Leadership

26:54 Navigating the CTO and CISO Roles

28:55 Keeping Up with Technology Trends

31:27 Hyper-Personalization and Security Risks

36:02 The Role of Open Source in Security

41:03 Career Advice for Aspiring Security Professionals

45:35 The Impact of AI on Security Jobs

49:11 Conclusion and Contact Information


The timestamps are approximate, and after the intro that is about 90 seconds.

For more closer timestamps, add 90 seconds to the labels above


Ben Wilcox is the Chief Technology Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at ProArch, where he leads the company’s cloud, security, and AI enablement strategy. With more than 20 years of experience spanning software engineering, cybersecurity, and enterprise architecture, Ben helps organizations modernize their technology foundations while navigating the evolving threat landscape.

Ben’s career began in hands-on development and infrastructure work, giving him a deep technical grounding that informs his leadership today. He has built and led high-performing engineering teams, guided complex cloud migrations, and designed modern security programs that balance innovation with risk management. At ProArch, he works closely with clients to architect AI-ready, scalable systems that drive business transformation.

Connect with Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wilcox




Behind every line of code, there's a person with a story. Software People Stories, from PM Power Consulting, moves beyond abstract theory and polished case studies to explore the real, human experience of building technology. This isn't about hypotheticals; it's a collection of candid conversations with the practitioners themselves-developers, designers, product managers, and architects-who share firsthand accounts from the trenches. They talk about the paths that led to success and, just as importantly, the unexpected detours and failures that provided the most valuable lessons. Each episode delves into the nuanced journey of discovering what users need, designing elegant systems, navigating complex development, and ultimately delivering solutions that matter. By focusing on these personal narratives, the podcast reveals the core of software creation: a blend of technical skill, creative problem-solving, and team dynamics. Listeners gain practical wisdom and relatable perspectives on the challenges and triumphs inherent in the tech industry. Tune in for an honest look at the craft, where the stories of people are just as crucial as the software they build. You'll find this podcast a refreshing source of insight for anyone involved in or curious about the technology and business landscapes, offering career lessons learned the hard way.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Software People Stories
Podcast Episodes
Technology and Society with Chris Miller and Allen Batteau [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:00
My guests today are Cultural engineer-anthropologist Allen Batteau, Ph.D. and design anthropologist Christine Z. Miller, Ph.D., co-authors of the book: Tools, Totems, and Totalities: The Modern Construction of Hegemonic…
Building the Future: From COBOL to AI with Spart Parthasarathy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:57
My guest today is S Parthasarathy, better known as Spart who is the founder at CuedIn Technologies.In this episode, Spart shares his extensive journey in the software engineering field. Spart's story begins with his init…
A Journey of Innovation and Challenges with Galvin Widjaja [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:40
My guest today is Galvin Widjaja, founder and CEO of Lauretta.io ….In this episode he talks about:Origin story: Galvin Widjaja shares his origin story, including his background and how he got associated with the AI indus…
Insights into Dev Tooling with Tom Elliott [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:51
I am in conversation with Tom Elliott, founder of Ocuroot and former Engineering Productivity lead at Yext, Introduction:Tom Elliott shares his career journey, starting from his early interest in computers to his current…
Story of a fractional CTO with Thanos Diacakis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:38
My guest today is Thanos Diacakis, Software Delivery Coach & a Fractional CTO.We covered a wide range of topics that included:Insightful Experiences: Thanos shared many insightful and thought-provoking experiences and pe…
Rewiring Careers, Redefining Impact with Anu Dwaraknath [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:51
In this episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri Kalyanaraman speaks with Anu Dwaraknath, Staff Technical Program Manager at Lam Research, about her dynamic journey across geographies, domains, and roles. From her ear…
Passion, Patents, and Powering Down AI with Fred Jordan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:50
Gayatri Kalyanaraman is in conversation with Dr. Fred Jordan, CEO and Co-Founder at AlpVision and FinalSpark - Expert anticounterfeit technologies - Expert biocomputing talks about his journey to make a difference in AI…
Entrepreneurship, AI, and Social Impact with Santosh Kaveti [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:57
I am very happy to bring you the inspiring story of Santosh Kaveti, CEO and Founder of ProArch Technologies.In this conversation he talks about: His Origin Story: From applied mathematics to entrepreneurship, navigating…
Interpretability and Explainability with Aruna Chakkirala [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:02
Her early inspiration while growing up in Goa with limited exposure to career options. Her Father’s intellectual influence despite personal hardships and shift in focus to technology.Personal tragedy sparked a resolve to…
Selling IT based solutions with Deepak Mittal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:42
I am in conversation with Deepak Mittal, CEO of FFTalos Technologies. In this insightful episode, Deepak Mittal shares his career journey from coding to consultative selling, reflecting on his evolution from a tech enthu…