Podcast Summary: Jim LaRoe on Elevating Cybersecurity Through Innovation, Engineering, and Relentless Leadership | The Digital Executive Ep 1081

Date: July 9, 2025
Host: Brian (Coruzant Technologies)
Guest: Jim LaRoe, CEO of Syntheon

Overview

In this episode of The Digital Executive podcast, guest Jim LaRoe, CEO of Syntheon, shares his unique perspective on cybersecurity leadership, drawing from his diverse background as an engineer, trial lawyer, and entrepreneur. The conversation centers on the often-overlooked vulnerabilities of print fleet devices in enterprise environments, especially healthcare, and how Syntheon’s managed Print Fleet Cybersecurity as a Service is strategically addressing this critical gap. The episode highlights the importance of customer-driven innovation, practical solutions for IT leaders, and proactive approaches to securing legacy infrastructure.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Making of a Cybersecurity Leader

[01:24]

• Jim LaRoe’s Unique Background:
  LaRoe shares how his experiences as an engineer, trial lawyer, and entrepreneur have shaped his leadership:
  • Relentless work ethic from the trial lawyer world: “If they slack off, they lose and they don't get paid.” – Jim LaRoe [01:31]
  • Customer-focused innovation from engineering: Syntheon’s foundation lies in technical excellence and continuous listening to customer needs.
  • Entrepreneurial focus on service and value: Cultivating a team of smart, like-minded individuals who are empowered to contribute.

“We hire smart, like minded, apprentice them into the Syntheon way, and then really empower them to contribute and grow their careers.” – Jim LaRoe [02:25]

2. Why Printers Are a Top Security Blind Spot

[03:11]

• Printers as Vulnerable Endpoints:
  Printers are overlooked but constitute 20–30% of enterprise network endpoints.
  • Device state: Many are left at factory defaults, unprotected, unmonitored, and unpatched.
  • Complexity: Modern printers are “really complex business machines,” with embedded servers, huge hard drives, and communication protocols.
  • Data sensitivity: Store and process the most sensitive business data and have “stored credentials” to vital business systems.
  • Physical access: Especially in healthcare, printers are physically accessible and lack visibility/accountability.

“They’re on the corporate networks, unhardened, sitting at factory defaults, unprotected, unmonitored and unpatched for the most part.” – Jim LaRoe [04:14]

• Neglect Factors:
  • Largely managed through supply chain/procurement rather than IT or security departments, especially in healthcare.
  • No dedicated line item or real ownership for print security.
  • Result: “A recipe for a disaster waiting to happen.” [04:47]

“No one's really owned credit security in the especially in healthcare industry. There hasn't been a line item for it.” – Jim LaRoe [05:39]

3. Syntheon’s Print Fleet Cybersecurity as a Service

[06:28]

• What it Means for IT Teams and CISOs:
  • Fully outsourced, “hands-off” service for managing and securing print fleets.
  • Vendor agnostic: Works regardless of printer brand/model.
  • Economical, turnkey solution: No operational lift for the customer. Fee includes both software and expert operators.
  • Mission-critical relevance: Especially vital in healthcare, where thousands of endpoints are embedded in core workflows.
  • Educational mission: Syntheon is actively educating the industry about these risks and best practices.

“Our service protects print fleets for customers... and they don’t have any operational lift to do that.” – Jim LaRoe [06:31]

“It solves the problem, firm takes their lift off and is a very economical solution to get it done at the highest level.” – Jim LaRoe [07:53]

4. Advice for Enterprise Leaders: Building a Holistic Cybersecurity Strategy

[08:32]

• Recommendations:
  • Engage with experts: Syntheon offers free briefings to listen and guide organizations, helping them understand risks and strategies without obligation.
  • Overcoming internal resistance: For those struggling to get buy-in, Syntheon is launching a one-time electronic cybersecurity assessment that offers organizations proof of their exposure—a tool for “non-believers inside the company.”

“We do briefings all day, every day across all the U.S. time zones. We listen, provide guidance, it's no charge, takes about 45 minutes.” – Jim LaRoe [08:40]

“We're offering... a one time electronic cybersecurity assessment... it'll have the proof, you know, of their exposure for any non believers that they have inside the company.” – Jim LaRoe [09:04]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Relentless work ethic... listening to customers and continual innovation... focus on excellence in customer service... those are really key entrepreneurial traits.” – Jim LaRoe [01:31]
• “Printers account for 20 to 30% of the endpoints on everybody's network.” – Jim LaRoe [03:18]
• “Printers are mission critical for that patient care for, you know, departments like admissions, discharge, ER, pharmacy labs, and they're throughout hospitals even after the adoption of electronic medical record systems.” – Jim LaRoe [07:06]
• On why print security is finally getting attention: “They've gotta get hacked before they find Jesus in jail, so to speak, like we say here in Texas.” – Jim LaRoe [07:43]

Key Timestamps

• [01:24] Host introduces the “rare combination” in LaRoe’s background.
• [03:11] LaRoe explains why print devices are a unique cybersecurity risk.
• [05:33] Additional context on neglect and lack of security ownership for printers.
• [06:28] Walkthrough of Syntheon’s print fleet cybersecurity solution.
• [08:32] Practical advice for holistic security and upcoming security assessment offering.

Episode Takeaways

• Printers and print fleet devices are vast, underestimated targets for cyber threats; they often go unmonitored despite holding sensitive functions and data.
• Syntheon addresses this gap with a hands-off, fully managed service, enabling enterprises—especially healthcare—to close a major vulnerability.
• Leadership in cybersecurity demands a multidisciplinary approach: engineering rigor, legal vigilance, and entrepreneurial drive.
• Education and proof-based assessments are powerful tools to win over skeptics and executive decision makers, fostering a more resilient security posture.

For more information, contact Syntheon, and consider leveraging their free consultative assessments to better understand your organization’s print security exposure.