Cybersecurity Series E23: Building Cyber Resilience in the AI Era with Grant Thornton Ireland’s Howard Shortt

Cybersecurity Podcast, Podcast | June 22 2026 | Mark Kelly

The Podcast

Welcome to episode 23 in our Cybersecurity Series of the Alldus Podcast, the show where we explore the latest trends, insights and strategies within Cybersecurity to help safeguard the digital world.

Powered by Alldus International, our goal is to share with you the insights of Cybersecurity industry experts to share their invaluable perspectives on emerging threats, innovative defenses and the evolving landscape of cybersecurity.

Today’s guest is Howard Shortt, Cybersecurity & Data Privacy Partner at Grant Thornton Ireland. Founded in 1924, Grant Thornton Ireland is a leading professional services firm providing audit, tax and advisory services to businesses. Combining global reach with local expertise, it helps clients navigate complex financial, regulatory and strategic challenges. Its teams work across a wide range of industries, delivering practical insights and solutions that support growth, improve performance and strengthen governance.

Howard is an experienced business leader specialising in cybersecurity, governance and cyber threat risk management. He applies leading practices in security operations, forensic investigation and team leadership to address incident response, critical infrastructure protection, threat mitigation and regulatory compliance. Howard also delivers cyber security advisory services across multiple countries and sectors, and is a trusted advisor to senior leaders, translating complex technical issues into clear, actionable insight.

In the episode, Howard discusses:

His journey from retail jobs to cybersecurity and digital forensics expert

How a childhood curiosity sparked lifelong passion for cybersecurity and forensics

Shaping a lifelong consulting career with a customer-focused mindset

How AI is accelerating cyber threats and strengthening defences simultaneously

Why Irish businesses remain underprepared for evolving AI-driven cyber threats

Cyber resilience requires leadership preparation, communication and realistic exercises

Cybersecurity demands constant learning, adaptation and mastering fundamentals

His advice to start with cybersecurity fundamentals and build knowledge step by step

To find out more about all the great work happening at Grant Thornton Ireland, check out the website www.grantthornton.ie and follow them on LinkedIn, Instagram and X @GrantThorntonIE. You can also connect with Howard directly on LinkedIn.

If you’re interested in exploring our latest Cybersecurity jobs, check out our live vacancies or upload your resume today to keep up to date with all the latest opportunities.

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