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CyBytes episodes
- the personality behind incident response | Renzon Cruz
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https://cybytes.io/newsletterYou don’t need to pretend you know everything to become good at cybersecurity.
Renzon steps back from the technical side of DFIR and talk more about how he approaches the work itself.
We get into dealing with stress, switching off after difficult incident-response engagements, mentoring students and why Renzon is comfortable telling someone:
He also talks about what keeps him sane outside work, why he enjoys teaching and the satisfaction of hearing that something he taught helped someone land a job or answer an interview question.
A more personal look at the mindset behind someone working across incident response, threat research, training and the cybersecurity community.
Follow CyBytes
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/cybytespodcast
Youtube - @cybytespodcast
Substack - cybytes.substack.comFollow Nik here
LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/4dGiIY9Follow Renzon here
LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/4gT2KNf
GuideM Cyber Training - https://bit.ly/4qGzU6b
XINTRA - https://www.xintra.org/
DFIR Report - https://thedfirreport.com/4 min - what cyber training STILL gets wrong in 2026 | Renzon Cruz
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https://cybytes.io/newsletterRenzon and I both spend a lot of time building and delivering cyber training, so we get into what we think is still missing.
And something that’s much harder to teach: the human element.
We talk about the need for affordable hands-on training built around current threats, why fundamentals are still so important, and why students shouldn’t rush straight into the flashy tools without understanding what’s happening underneath them.
Renzon also talks about his work building training through Guide Them and creating APT-focused blue-team labs with XINTRA.
Follow CyBytes
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/cybytespodcast
Youtube - @cybytespodcast
Substack - cybytes.substack.comFollow Nik here
LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/4dGiIY9Follow Renzon here
LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/4gT2KNf
GuideM Cyber Training - https://bit.ly/4qGzU6b
XINTRA - https://www.xintra.org/
DFIR Report - https://thedfirreport.com/14 min - how to build a successful cyber-security career in UAE | Renzon Cruz
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https://cybytes.io/newsletterThe UAE has become an incredibly attractive place to build a cybersecurity career. The competition is getting tougher and tougher
Sometimes the best career advice really is simple: show up, meet people and ask questions.
Renzon talks about his experience working in the UAE, the growth of the local cybersecurity community and why simply being technically good isn’t always enough to get ahead.
We get into networking, mentorship, communities like 971Sec, attending meetups and actually approaching people who are already doing the job you want to do.
Renzon also shares the harder side of the market: more people wanting to move to the UAE, increasing expectations from employers and the lack of opportunities available to some fresh graduates.
Follow CyBytes
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/cybytespodcast
Youtube - @cybytespodcast
Substack - cybytes.substack.comFollow Nik here
LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/4dGiIY9Follow Renzon here
LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/4gT2KNf
GuideM Cyber Training - https://bit.ly/4qGzU6b
XINTRA - https://www.xintra.org/
DFIR Report - https://thedfirreport.com/9 min - what incident response REALLY looks like | Renzon Cruz
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https://cybytes.io/newsletterIncident response looks very different when you’re dealing with a real organisation, real attackers and a very stressed client.
Renzon shares his actual experience on what Incident Response actually looks and feels like. What 'scoping an incident' means and understanding the environment to staying calm when everyone around you is panicking.
We shares some crazy war stories, including discovering attackers who had been inside environments for years, investigating two different APT groups targeting the same organisation, and negotiating with a threat actor while he was supposed to be on holiday.
We also talk about why incident response isn’t just about tools and logs.
Sometimes the most important skill is being the person who can calmly tell everyone what happens next.
Follow CyBytes
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/cybytespodcast
Youtube - @cybytespodcast
Substack - cybytes.substack.comFollow Nik here
LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/4dGiIY9Follow Renzon here
LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/4gT2KNf
GuideM Cyber Training - https://bit.ly/4qGzU6b
XINTRA - https://www.xintra.org/
DFIR Report - https://thedfirreport.com/20 min - actual tips on preparing for your first cybersecurity job in GCC | Anya Shpilman
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https://cybytes.io/newsletterWhat should you actually be doing before applying for your first cybersecurity job?
We talk about what students and graduates can do to prepare for the GCC cybersecurity market, why hands-on experience matters, finding mentors, trying different areas of cyber and why simply messaging recruiters asking them to “find me a job” probably isn’t going to work.
One of the biggest themes: build things.
Projects, blogs, labs, portfolios and genuine curiosity give people something to notice — especially when you don’t have years of professional experience behind you yet.
Follow CyBytes
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/cybytespodcast
Youtube - @cybytespodcast
Substack - cybytes.substack.comFollow Nik here
LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/4dGiIY9Follow Anya here
LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/46h5n6i
CyberFused - https://www.cyberfused.com/Follow Karim here
Linkedin - https://bit.ly/4zAGDmf11 min - CyberFused can help new cyber companies find the best people in UAE | Anya Shpilman
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https://cybytes.io/newsletterWhat does it actually take to build a cybersecurity team in the Middle East?
Not every client is a good client.
Anya Shpilman founded CyberFused to specialise in exactly that.
We get into how CyberFused works, why Anya moved towards an embedded recruitment model, what happens when a company comes to her with multiple vacancies and why international cybersecurity vendors often struggle when they first start hiring in the GCC.
Follow CyBytes
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/cybytespodcast
Youtube - @cybytespodcast
Substack - cybytes.substack.comFollow Nik here
LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/4dGiIY9Follow Anya here
LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/46h5n6i
CyberFused - https://www.cyberfused.com/Follow Karim here
Linkedin - https://bit.ly/4zAGDmf14 min - how geopolitics affects cyber jobs in the Gulf | Anya Shpilman
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https://cybytes.io/newsletterAnya shares what she has personally seen across cybersecurity recruitment in the UAE
Including jobs being put on hold, offers being withdrawn and companies becoming much more cautious with hiring budgets. With the current tension in the region, what are companies to do?
Subscribe to CyBytes for more conversations with people actually working in cybersecurity across the UAE and beyond
Follow CyBytes
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/cybytespodcast
Youtube - @cybytespodcast
Substack - cybytes.substack.comFollow Nik here
LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/4dGiIY9Follow Anya here
LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/46h5n6i
CyberFused - https://www.cyberfused.com/Follow Karim here
Linkedin - https://bit.ly/4zAGDmf8 min - how cybersecurity hiring actually works in UAE | Anya Shpilman
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https://cybytes.io/newsletterWhat actually happens when a company in Dubai needs to hire someone in cybersecurity?
It’s a lot more complicated than posting a job on LinkedIn and waiting for the right CV.
I test Anya on how she approaches a new cyber job off the cuff. From understanding what the hiring manager actually needs, setting realistic salary expectations and finding candidates, through to shortlisting, interviews and negotiating the final offer.
Subscribe to CyBytes for more conversations with people actually working in cybersecurity across the UAE and beyond.
Follow CyBytes
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/cybytespodcast
Youtube - @cybytespodcast
Substack - cybytes.substack.comFollow Nik here
LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/4dGiIY9Follow Anya here
LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/46h5n6i
CyberFused - https://www.cyberfused.com/Follow Karim here
Linkedin - https://bit.ly/4zAGDmf10 min - has AI made cybersecurity hiring easier? | Anya Shpilman
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https://cybytes.io/newsletterIn this episode of CyBytes, I sit down with cybersecurity recruiter and CyberFused founder Anya Shpilman to talk about how AI is changing recruitment in the GCC, where it genuinely helps, where it falls short, and why human relationships still matter when you’re hiring people
We get into the ever lasting dead internet theory. AI-generated CVs, automated applications, AI interviews and the tools Anya actually uses in her own work.
Subscribe to CyBytes for more conversations with people actually working in cybersecurity across the UAE and beyond
Follow CyBytes
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/cybytespodcast
Youtube - @cybytespodcast
Substack - cybytes.substack.comFollow Nik here
LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/4dGiIY9Follow Anya here
LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/46h5n6i
CyberFused - https://www.cyberfused.com/Follow Karim here
Linkedin - https://bit.ly/4zAGDmf16 min - New Generation Cyber Training: Bhavikas Journey as an Educator
“Age or education doesn’t matter in cybersecurity. What matters is initiative.” — Bhavika Khetani
In this episode, we interview Bhavika Khetani, a cybersecurity lecturer at Curtin University, discussing the importance of education in the cybersecurity field. They explore Bhavika's journey into teaching, the challenges faced in cybersecurity education, and the need for bridging the gap between academia and industry. The conversation highlights the significance of networking, real-world experiences, and the realities of cybersecurity careers. Bhavika shares insights on engaging students, the role of online presence in career advancement, and offers advice for aspiring cybersecurity professionals.
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
- 04:12 Bhavika's Journey into IT and Teaching
- 06:46 Transition from Pen Testing to Teaching
- 09:20 The Importance of Strong Foundations in Cybersecurity Education
- 12:15 Navigating the Job Market in Cybersecurity
- 14:59 Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Industry
- 17:43 Challenges Faced by Educators in Engaging Students
- 20:55 Engaging Students Beyond Grades
- 23:31 The Importance of Presentation Skills
- 27:12 Navigating Job Applications in Cybersecurity
- 29:14 De-stressing in a High-Pressure Industry
- 29:22 Innovations in Cybersecurity Education
- 31:22 Advice for Aspiring Cybersecurity Professionals
- 32:52 Success Stories from the Classroom
- 34:02 The Role of Educators in Cybersecurity
- 36:45 Closing Remarks and Future Engagement
Takeaways- Teaching is not just about imparting knowledge, but also about learning.
- There is a growing demand for cybersecurity professionals, but skilled individuals are scarce.
- Students should engage in continuous learning and networking to enhance their career prospects.
- Real-world experiences and industry insights are crucial for students' understanding of cybersecurity roles.
- Engagement strategies, such as discussions and quizzes, can enhance student learning.
- An online presence is important for job seekers in cybersecurity.
- Students need to understand the realities of cybersecurity jobs, including challenges and responsibilities.
- Networking is essential in the UAE job market, especially in tech fields.
- Teaching requires a commitment from both educators and students for effective learning.
- Success stories from students can inspire and motivate current learners.
Subscribe to CyBytes Newsletter
https://cybytes.io/newsletter38 min
About CyBytes
From the publisher's feed
CyBytes is a podcast that features bite-sized conversations with tech and cybersecurity pros - sharing insights, stories, and actionable advice to help you navigate and thrive in the industry