Hacker Valley Studio

In this episode, hosts Ron and Chris are joined by Brian Contos, Chief Strategy Officer at Sevco to discuss his “movie-like” career trajectory and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in cybersecurity. With two IPOs and eight acquisitions under his career belt, Brian expresses his passion for startups and how getting out of his comfort zone transformed his business knowledge. The group also dives into the rise of artificial intelligence and how it will revolutionize the cybersecurity landscape.

Stay in touch with Brian Contos: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briancontos/

Impactful Moments:

In this episode, Ron and Chris discuss the challenges of balancing cybersecurity and parenting. Chris, a father of three, shares his experience of being a parent while also working in cybersecurity. They talk about the sacrifices that come with being a parent and how to prioritize family while still maintaining a career in cybersecurity. They also discuss the importance of having a plan but being flexible enough to adapt to unexpected situations. 

Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio

In this episode of Hacker Valley Studio, Ron and Chris take a deep dive into all things Security Architecture and the essential skills you need to thrive in your role. Ron shares insights from his personal journey into security architecture as well as his expert advice on how to break in and stand out in the field.

Links:

Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio

Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/

Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com

Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord

Impactful Moments:

01:22 - What is Security Architecture?

03:04 - Day in the life of a security architect

04:01 - Different types of security architects

06:01 - Ron’s journey into security architecture

07:49 - What skills do you need?

08:40 - Join our community!

09:21 - Ron’s best practices

10:24 - Finding the right solutions

11:36 - What is the salary potential?

12:59 - How to stand out

13:52 - Advice for those breaking into the field

In this cybersecurity podcast episode, Chris Cochran and Ron Eddings discuss the concept of 'dojos' as environments for growth and learning, drawing on experiences from their own career paths in cybersecurity. The 'dojo' metaphor is applied to various life experiences, with an emphasis on cybersecurity communities and events. Chris describes his journey to the west coast where he lived in a hacker house, a form of dojo where he, along with his roommates, focused on cybersecurity, technology, personal growth, and development. This life-changing experience spurred the creation of their podcast.

Links: Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/ Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord

Impactful Moments:

0:00 - Intro

00:55 - What is a dojo?

02:25 - Technical/cybersecurity dojos

05:17 - Getting started

07:21 - What should you look for in a dojo community?

09:06 - How to level up and give back

10:14 - Join our community!

11:36 - When is it time to move on?

12:50 - Learning hurts - embrace it!

13:59 - What’s your next dojo?

Join hosts Ron and Chris as they dive into the world of Attack Surface Management (ASM) in this episode recorded live at RSAC 2023. Special guest Nabil Hannan, a seasoned industry expert and Field CISO at NetSPI, shares his wealth of knowledge and expertise in this critical field. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of ASM, highlighting NetSPI's unique approach compared to other solution providers and shedding light on the state of ASM to empower listeners to enhance their security posture.

Impactful Moments:

01:08 - Introducing Nabil Hannan

01:25 - Relationship-building through play

04:39 - The power of authenticity

05:39 - What is a Field CISO?

07:02 - The rise of attack surface management

09:17 - What makes NetSPI different?

11:26 - A word from our sponsor

12:17 - Attack surface management for SMBs

15:15 - ASM solutions & false positives

17:16 - An ASM case study

21:15 - Red teaming influence on ASM

24:12 - Where do I get started with ASM?

In this episode, hosts Ron and Chris are joined by Paul Valente, CEO and co-founder of VISO Trust, and Bryan Wong, Sr. Security Analyst at Headspace, as they dive into the world of third-party risk in cybersecurity. With conversations ranging from the current state of third-party risk to identifying trustworthy vendors such as VISO Trust, they'll provide insights into how organizations manage partnerships in a scalable and secure way.

Links:

Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio

Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/

Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com

Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord

Impactful Moments:

01:03 - Introducing Paul Valente & Bryan Wong

01:54 - The current state of third-party risk

02:46 - VISTO Trust — trust through transparency

04:43 - Headspace’s approach to 3rd party providers

05:23 - Managing risk successfully

07:44 - There’s a better way!

09:04 - Risk assessment & procurement

11:37 - VISO Trust & Headspace’s approach to AI

14:43 - A word from our sponsor

15:26 - The challenges of complete visibility

17:16 - Continuous, automated due diligence

18:52 - Identifying trustworthy vendors

21:34 - Doing more with less/cost-effectiveness

23:22 - Is 100% automation doable?

24:20 - You can have your cake and eat it too with third-parties

In this episode, Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran discuss the concept of "paying the piper" and its impact on their careers and personal lives. Paying the piper means facing the consequences of one's actions, whether they are good or bad. Chris shares his personal struggles and successes while working at Netflix, where he had to balance his career and family. Ron and Chris also discuss the importance of finding balance in one's life, understanding the consequences of one's actions, and recognizing the impact of one's legacy on both their family and the world.

Links:

Icarus’ Balloon: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/icarus-balloon-short-story-chris-cochran-chris-cochran

Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio

Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/

Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com

Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord

Impactful Moments:

00:00 - Introduction

01:18 - What does it mean to ‘pay the piper’?

03:22 - Sacrifices and paying your dues

05:06 - Icarus’ Balloon

07:16 - Maintaining a balanced life

08:36 - Join our community!

09:40 - What is your legacy?

13:32 - Conflict = growth

15:27 - Learning to love the process

18:05 - The power of exploration

19:34 - Staying committed

In this podcast episode, Jack Roehrig, Technology Evangelist at Uptycs, discusses his experience with burnout and health issues due to his job as a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Jack has always known health is wealth and retired to Mexico for a few months to recover from his burnout. Despite telling himself he wouldn't work again, Jack discovered Uptycs, a leading XDR platform that has the opportunity to change cybersecurity and joined their team as Technology Evangelist. Links: Follow Jack Roehrig on

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

Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio

Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/

Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com

Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord

Impactful Moments:

00:00 - Introducing Jack Roehrig

01:40 - Jack’s security origin story

04:50 - The harsh realities of burnout in tech

05:33 - Finding peace in Mexico

07:51 - Working for your purpose

11:26 - From risk aversion to risk tolerance

13:51 - Join our community!

15:37 - Falling in love with XDR

In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked importance of empathy in the cybersecurity field. Our guest, Tracy Maleeff, shares her personal journey from community involvement to the industry and discusses how embracing empathy can lead to more effective threat intelligence and a stronger cybersecurity community.

Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio

Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/

Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com

Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord

Impactful Moments:

00:00 - Introduction

01:42 - Tracy’s volunteer and community participation

05:58 - Empathy in cybersecurity, or lack thereof

10:36 - How to bring more empathy into cybersecurity

13:21 - Tracy’s threat intelligence aspirations

18:46 - Identifying the “perfect” employer

20:19 - Diversity of thought and empathy

22:44 - Farewell and outro

Head into RSA 2023 with a purpose. This episode is all about how to reach a win-win when sealing deals, getting hired, and networking.

Impactful Moments

Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio