Offensive Cybersecurity with Ryan Torvik

In this episode of Agile Embedded, Jeff Gable and Luca Ingianni speak with Ryan Torvik, founder and CEO of Tulip Tree Technology, about cybersecurity from a Red Team hacker perspective. Ryan shares his experience as a former defense contractor supporting offensive cyber operations for the U.S. government and how he's now applying those lessons to the commercial space. Ryan provides fascinating insights into the mindset and challenges of offensive cybersecurity work, explaining how vulnerability researchers approach embedded systems to find exploitable weaknesses. The conversation covers practical security considerations for embedded developers, including the importance of secure coding practices, proper handling of user inputs, and designing security into products from the beginning rather than as an afterthought. Ryan also discusses how emulation technology can help developers test their firmware for vulnerabilities without physical hardware. The episode highlights the growing importance of cybersecurity in embedded systems, particularly in regulated industries like medical devices, and offers practical advice for developers looking to improve their security posture without necessarily becoming security experts themselves.