In this episode of Blue Team Diaries, guest host Mark Durrett sits down with Howard Smith and Liam Moran of First Analysis to discuss the real-world applications of AI in cybersecurity. Their conversation is inspired by First Analysis's recent report, "Challenges and Promise of AI and Cybersecurity," which provides valuable insights into the practical issues facing cybersecurity practitioners.

Howard and Liam delve into the challenges and opportunities that AI presents for security professionals, exploring topics such as transparency, explainability, and the potential for AI to revolutionize threat detection. They share their insights on how AI is being used to augment security teams, improve efficiency, and help organizations make better decisions about their security posture. They also discuss the importance of a hybrid approach, combining AI with traditional security methods to create a more effective overall solution.

This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in the future of cybersecurity and the role that AI will play in shaping it. Tune in to learn how AI is transforming security operations and what it means for the future of cyber defense.

Howard Smith:

Howard Smith is a managing director at First Analysis and is a managing partner of the firm’s venture funds. He has over three decades of experience at First Analysis and works with entrepreneurs as an investor and as an advisor on growth transactions to help build leading technology businesses. 

Howard leads the firm’s work in the cybersecurity, internet infrastructure and Internet of Things sectors. He also built the firm’s historical franchises in call centers and computer telephony. His thought-leading research in these areas has been cited for excellence by the Wall Street Journal and other publications. He’s provided strategic advice to numerous technology companies in capital raising and buy- and sell-side M&A transactions, and as a board member.

Prior to joining First Analysis in 1994, he was a senior tax consultant with Arthur Andersen & Co. He earned an MBA with honors from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in accounting with highest honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is a certified public accountant.

LIam Moran: 

Liam Moran is an associate with First Analysis. Prior to joining First Analysis in 2020, he was in the executive development program with Macy’s, where he was responsible for managing the financial modeling surrounding Macy’s $3 billion asset-based loan, capital project valuations, and corporate forecasting.

Liam graduated from Kenyon College with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a concentration in integrated program in humane studies. He was a four-year member of the Kenyon varsity swimming team.

Important Links:

• Howard Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hosmith/ 
• Liam Moran LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liamjmoran/
• The “Quarterly Insights into Cyber Security,” January 28, 2025 edition: https://www.firstanalysis.com/Integrative-research/Cybersecurity-Jan-2025 
• First Analysis website: https://www.firstanalysis.com/ 

In this month’s episode, host Peter Manev meets with Tony Wilson, IT Security Director at Wolters Kluwer to discuss his current projects and experience with advanced adversaries and share advice for prospective Blue Team members.

Tony kicks the episode off with his recent experience setting up and maintaining a FedRAMP environment. He highlights the challenges of FedRAMP authorization that arise from controls needed and the additional steps that must be taken for each control.

Tony also reflects on an ongoing Blue Team activity he participated in with a large retail organization and shares a fascinating example of a credential-stuffing attack, where a highly organized adversary routinely changed tactics to avoid capture.

Peter and Tony close out the episode with some advice for Blue Team hopefuls or SOC team members early in their careers: embrace the chaos, don’t shy away from the hard work, and above all stay curious.

This interview provides great insight into what young cybersecurity professionals could expect to see out in the field, and Tony provides wisdom that can only be gained through years of experience.

Biography

Tony Wilson is an IT Security Director at Wolters Kluwer. He is responsible for supporting the CISO and Divisional CIO/CTOs in developing, aligning, and implementing the global information security strategy. As one of the lead incident handlers during the infamous Target Corporation data breach of 2013 and its aftermath, he has an acute appreciation for the value of sound information security. He holds a Bachelors degree in MIS and has obtained over a dozen certifications including CISSP, CISM, and GCIH. He has also taught a cybersecurity bootcamp at the University of Minnesota and maintains mentor relationships with his former students.

Tony was born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and will debate anyone over its superiority over Minneapolis. He’s closer to 50 than 30, but still enjoys to break a sweat by staying active and lifting weights. Other “hobbies” include blockchain investment, serverless architecture engineering, and cocktail experimentation.

Important Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-wilson-58b3b89/

In this episode, we delve into the exciting world of Large Language Models (LLMs) and their growing impact on cybersecurity. Our expert guest, TJ Nelson, sheds light on how these powerful AI tools are being used to tackle real-world security challenges.

You'll learn how LLMs are revolutionizing threat detection by analyzing vast amounts of data to identify patterns and anomalies that might escape traditional methods. We also explore how LLMs are assisting with data summarization and analysis, freeing up security professionals' valuable time for more strategic tasks.

The conversation doesn't shy away from the challenges either. We'll discuss the importance of using LLMs responsibly and with proper guidance to avoid potential inaccuracies or misleading information.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of cybersecurity and how AI is transforming the way we protect our data and systems. You'll gain a deeper understanding of:

• The specific applications of LLMs in threat detection, data analysis, and other security tasks.
• The benefits and limitations of using AI in cybersecurity.
• How security professionals can leverage LLMs to enhance their effectiveness.
• The importance of human expertise and critical thinking alongside AI technology.

Tune in and discover how LLMs are becoming a game-changer in the fight against cybercrime!

Biography

Tj Nel is the Director of ARMOR for the Insikt Group at Recorded Future, overseeing multiple teams of researchers and analysts who provide technical analysis across Advanced Reversing, Malware, Operations, and Reconnaissance. Before Recorded Future, he worked as the Director of Detection Research at SecureWorks, leading teams responsible for technical analysis and development of detection content for various security products. He has experience in malware research and incident response and has held various positions at CYDERES and Arbor Networks. Tj organizes his local Security BSides conference and leads a local information security group. In addition to numerous industry certifications, Tj is currently pursuing his Ph.D.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjnel/

In this episode, Peter Manev chats with Brent Deterding about his ongoing projects, favorite security tools, and strategies for cybersecurity risk management.

Brent shares tips for achieving a budget surplus by optimizing security protocols and cutting unnecessary expenses. He emphasizes quick decision-making and clear communication during crises and highlights the importance of focusing on real risks over hypothetical threats.

Brent also discusses five essential cybersecurity tools: multi-factor authentication, no BYOD policy, EDR, rapid vulnerability patching, and privileged access management. Gain insights into Brent's approach to cybersecurity management and career advice for aspiring professionals in the field.

Biography

Brent Deterding is an Executive CISO who enables Afni and its global workforce of 11,000+ to support their clients safely and securely. He leads a team of over 20. Brent is a spirited and thoughtful conversationalist who does not shy away from challenging topics. Brent and his wife of 20+ years share a passion for adoption, foster care, and leading youth.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-deterding

Join us as we explore the shadowy world of malware analysis with this episode featuring Danny Quist, a seasoned security researcher, and host Peter Manev pulls back the curtain on the complex, yet critical, process of reverse engineering malicious code.

Danny highlights the challenges malware analysts face, particularly when encountering new or custom threats, and describes how they exploit the tendency of malware authors to reuse code from previous projects, turning their predictable habit into a valuable clue. Danny also explains that while larger malware samples might contain pre-written libraries, making them initially easier to dissect; it’s the smaller, more sophisticated malware written in languages like Go that can present a new challenge. The conversation concludes by delving into the motivations driving malware attacks.

Whether you're a cybersecurity professional or simply curious about the digital threats lurking online, this interview with Danny Quist offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of malware analysis. 

Key Takeaways:

• Reverse engineering challenges: Malware analysis is complex, especially for new or custom malware. However, reverse engineers can exploit the fact that malware authors often reuse code from previous projects or libraries.
• Finding the right tool: The best tool for reverse engineering depends on the situation. Danny discusses using Binary Ninja, IDA Pro, and Ghidra, each with its pros and cons.
• Process for analyzing new malware: When encountering new malware, analysts need to identify the existing code (e.g., libraries) and the new code written by the malware author. This helps focus the analysis effort.
• Difficulties of different malware types: Large malware is easier to analyze because it often contains pre-written libraries. Smaller malware written in complex languages (e.g., Go) can be trickier.
• Challenges of catching malware actors: While finding and catching malware actors is difficult, it's not impossible. They make mistakes, and security researchers can use various techniques to track them down.
• Motivations of malware actors: Malware actors can be financially motivated or have other goals. Some target specific entities, while others deploy ransomware and spam malware more broadly.

Biography

Danny Quist is the CTO of Unit129, Inc., a security startup. Previously he has worked at Redacted, Bechtel, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, and Los Alamos National Laboratory as an incident responder, reverse engineer, and manager of security engineering. His primary interests are weird incident response problems, reverse engineering strange malware, and managing security and engineering teams. Danny holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from New Mexico Tech. He has previously spoken at Blackhat, Defcon, RSA, ShmooCon, and CactusCon.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyquist

Welcome to episode 11 of the Blue Team Diaries! In this episode, our host Peter Manev engages in a conversation with Dr. Josh Stroschein, Reverse Engineer @ FLARE with Google, as they delve into the world of malware analysis.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Essential environments: Explore popular options like Remnix and Flare VM to set up your secure analysis workspace.
• Powerful tools: Discover functionalities of Olefile, oledump, and Cyber Chef used to dissect and decode suspicious files.
• Valuable resources: Gain access to helpful materials like Josh’s GitHub repository and curated malware sample libraries.

The world of malware analysis can be daunting, but with the right guidance and tools, you can start chipping away at the mystery behind malicious files. Listen to this episode, because Dr. Josh Stroschein will equip you with the foundational knowledge to become a threat-hunting hero.

About Josh Stroschein

Josh is an experienced malware analyst and reverse engineer and has a passion for sharing his knowledge with others. He is a reverse engineer at Google (Chronicle), where he focuses on tackling the latest threats. Josh is an accomplished trainer, providing training at places such as Ring Zero, BlackHat, Defcon, Toorcon, Hack-In-The-Box, Suricon, and other public and private venues. Josh is also an author on Pluralsight, where he publishes content around malware analysis, reverse engineering, and other security related topics.

Where to find Josh Stroschein?

• The Cyber Yeti - https://www.thecyberyeti.com
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshstroschein

Welcome to episode 10 of the Blue Team Diaries! In this episode, our host Peter Manev engages in a conversation with Michael DiLalla from Penfield Central School District, providing an insider’s perspective on the dynamic world of cybersecurity within the public education sector.

Throughout the episode, Peter and Michael delve into various facets of cybersecurity, exploring Michael’s current work project, recounting a hair-raising encounter with ransomware, and dissecting the unique challenges of safeguarding a school system. Michael also emphasizes the importance of logs and scripting and shares practical advice for aspiring cybersecurity professionals. 

Michael’s passion for his work and dedication to keeping children safe are evident and this month’s podcast underscores the fulfilling reward that comes with protecting educational institutions.

While the main goal for any security team is avoiding a breach, having a comprehensive preparedness plan for when an attack occurs is equally, if not more, crucial.  This month, our host Peter Manev is joined by Xavier Ashe, senior vice president of Truist’s Cyber Defense Division. 

During the episode Xavier shares fascinating stories from the front lines of the cybersecurity industry and explains the importance of organizations being ready and able to quickly pivot and recover from adverse cyber events. Will your plan stand up to the test? 

Xavier also sheds light on the competitive nature of the cyber industry, especially for newcomers, and why aspiring enthusiasts should embrace the challenges and focus on understanding how the internet and security function. 

Tune in this month for a riveting discussion that unveils the necessity of being cyber resilient and offers invaluable insights for industry newcomers.

In the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity, staying one step ahead of malicious actors is critical. What used to be an effective security strategy five years ago may now leave you vulnerable to emerging threats. To safeguard sensitive data and assets, continuous innovation and adaptability are essential. 

In this month’s Blue Team Diaries episode, host Peter Manev engages in a thought-provoking discussion with guest Yorkvik Jacqmin, a senior SOC analyst at the European Commission. 

Yorkvik shares some captivating stories from the cybersecurity frontlines and explains the development of a new rule detection framework, how it differs from SIGMA, and what is the impact it has on the threat detection process.

Embarking on a career in the cybersecurity field can be a daunting task for those entering the classroom to learn about its ever-evolving challenges of the field. In our newest podcast, we’ll explore the indispensable role of mentors in helping to guide and shape the careers of cyber newcomers. 

Ryan Irving, a seasoned cyber professional, who serves as the Security Operations Center Manager, leads a student-operated Security Operations Center (SOC) as part of a degree program at the University of South Florida. The program integrates academia with real-world application and gives students an opportunity to develop the attributes that can contribute to their success as defenders. 

Join us for this month’s podcast, “Paving the Path for Cybersecurity Students,” as we discuss the essence of mentorship and explore the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity.

Find him here:
Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/ryan-i-63581229 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rirving77 
Cyber Florida, University of South Florida: https://cyberflorida.org/