Tony Chiappetta, CHIPS Cyber Defense Solutions, on AI Cyberattacks and Staying “Left of Boom” with AppGuard (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 969)
In this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Tony Chiappetta, President of CHIPS Cyber Defense Solutions, LLC, to discuss the rise of AI cyberattacks. Tony explains how artificial intelligence has changed the cybersecurity threat landscape, shifting attacks from emails that require a person to click a link to malware that scans for software vulnerabilities and exploits them without any human involvement.
Tony walks through AppGuard, a prevention-first technology originally built for the U.S. intelligence community and military, now available to commercial businesses and the managed service providers who support them. Rather than detecting an attack after it starts, AppGuard uses isolation and containment to stop malicious actions before they can execute, an approach Tony calls staying left of boom. He shares two real-world examples: a CPA firm that nearly fell victim to a never-before-seen ransomware attachment during tax season and a medical technology client protected even after a shared vendor portal was compromised.
John and Tony discuss why cybersecurity resilience now matters more than compliance checklists or tool coverage and what business owners and MSPs should ask themselves before the next attack finds them.
John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
- AI cyberattacks have shifted the dominant method away from tricking someone into clicking a link toward malware that scans for unpatched software vulnerabilities and exploits them entirely on its own.
- AppGuard uses isolation and containment to stop malicious actions from executing in the first place, rather than detecting and responding after an attack has already started.
- Even fully educated, careful employees can be exposed through a trusted vendor. A medical technology client stayed protected when a shared vendor portal used by their industry was compromised.
- A CPA firm nearly lost everything to a never-before-seen ransomware attachment delivered through a socially engineered phone call and email during tax season, but AppGuard stopped it from executing.
Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:30 John Ray opens the show and introduces guest Tony Chiappetta of CHIPS Cyber Defense Solutions
02:07 Tony explains how CHIPS is shifting cybersecurity from detection to prevention
03:07 Tony’s background in managed services and the 2015 ransomware wave that shaped his mission
04:20 How AI has changed the cybersecurity threat landscape over the last two years
07:00 John clarifies that Anthropic is the company behind Claude, referencing a recent AI model exploit
08:04 How AI-enabled malware can scan for and exploit vulnerabilities without any user interaction
09:12 Why a malicious email sitting unopened in an inbox can already pose a risk
10:29 Why today’s attacks come from well-funded, automated operations rather than lone hackers
12:05 Tony introduces AppGuard and the left of boom prevention philosophy
14:35 AppGuard’s origins in U.S. intelligence and military use before commercial availability
15:43 How AppGuard works with MSPs and fits into a small business’s cybersecurity stack
16:53 The missile silo metaphor for stopping cyberattacks before they launch
20:41 Moving from compliance and tool coverage to true cybersecurity resilience
22:14 A CPA firm nearly hit by a never-before-seen ransomware attachment during tax season
24:14 What business owners should look for to know if they need this kind of protection
25:52 How a shared vendor portal breach put med tech companies at risk, and how one client avoided compromise
27:51 How to connect with Tony and CHIPS Cyber Defense Solutions
Tony Chiappetta, President
Tony Chiappetta is the President of CHIPS Cyber Defense Solutions, LLC, an established cybersecurity solutions provider based in Mt. Juliet, TN. With over two decades of experience in the industry, Tony is a Microsoft Certified Professional who has continuously pursued ongoing education to stay at the forefront of cybersecurity advancements.
Throughout his impressive career, Tony has achieved significant milestones, including being at the forefront of the pioneering of Managed Antivirus in 2010. His pioneering work in this area garnered industry recognition and contributed to the widespread adoption of Managed Antivirus by thousands of managed service providers worldwide.
Recently, Tony has taken on the challenge of reengineering a product initially intended for use by the US federal government. Through his expertise and innovative approach, he successfully designed an implementation and delivery model that is now effectively utilized in the small and medium-sized commercial space.
As a thought leader and advocate for cybersecurity awareness, Tony and CHIPS provide daily articles focused on the latest cybersecurity trends and options available to businesses to safeguard against cyber threats. Additionally, he is an active member of InfraGard, where he actively engages with federal organizations to foster collaboration and protection against cyber threats.
With a proven track record in adequately protecting corporate infrastructures and an enduring commitment to advancing cybersecurity, Tony Chiappetta brings unparalleled expertise and insights to the audience.
CHIPS Cyber Defense Solutions, LLC
CHIPS Cyber Defense Solutions is the Commercial Distributor of AppGuard for the Americas, bringing advanced preventative cybersecurity technology, originally developed for highly sensitive government and defense environments, into the U.S. commercial market.
CHIPS specializes in helping businesses and MSPs move beyond traditional detect-and-respond security by deploying prevention-first technologies that stop harmful actions before they can detonate. Its core niche is making previously classified isolation and containment technology practical, available, and supportable for commercial organizations that need stronger protection against ransomware, zero-day threats, AI-generated attacks, and unknown software vulnerabilities.
Through AppGuard, CHIPS protects Windows endpoints by controlling what applications can do at the operating system level. This approach does not depend on identifying malware, signatures, behavior patterns, or threat intelligence before stopping an attack. Instead, it prevents unauthorized actions from executing in the first place, reducing the risk of compromise from threats that traditional tools may miss.
CHIPS works closely with MSPs, business owners, and technology leaders to deliver prevention without adding operational complexity. Its mission is to help commercial organizations become more resilient by moving “Left of Boom,” stopping attacks before damage begins, and giving businesses access to the same class of preventative cybersecurity strategy once reserved for high-security environments.
Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio
Renasant Bank has humble roots, having started in 1904 as a $100,000 bank located in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown into one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, boasting over $26 billion in assets and more than 280 offices offering banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from the commitment of each banker to invest in the communities they serve, which in turn helps them better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, their banking professionals understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.
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Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio
Whether you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.
Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.
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About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray
Approaching 1,000 episodes and having featured over 1,400 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!
The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their respective markets, communities, and professions. There is no discrimination based on company size, and there is never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.
John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, which is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.
The studio is located at 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.
You can find the entire archive of shows by following this link. The show is accessible on all major podcast apps, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.
John Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.
John is the author of the five-star-rated book The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices, praised by readers for its practical insights on raising confidence, value, and prices.
