What happens when you go from fixing executives’ laptops at Goldman Sachs to defending against cyber threats in a SOC?

In this episode of Simply Defensive, hosts Josh Mason and Wade Wells sit down with Kevin Apolinario — better known as KevTech — to unpack his journey from IT support to cybersecurity analyst, all without a single certification.

Kev gets real about what it’s actually like to land your first SOC role: the flood of alerts, the burnout, learning Excel the hard way, and relying on ChatGPT to survive scripting. He also shares how TryHackMe, Hack The Box, and constant hands-on practice built the foundation for his success.

If you’ve ever wondered what breaking into cybersecurity really looks like, this conversation pulls back the curtain — no fluff, no spin, just honest talk from the trenches.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:29 Guest Introduction: Kev Apolinario
00:51 Transition to SOC Analyst Role
01:53 Challenges and Learning in Cybersecurity
06:43 Handling Alerts and Fatigue
10:26 Importance of Teamwork and Asking for Help
19:56 Executive Support Experience
27:02 Advice for Aspiring Blue Teamers

Follow Kevin on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@kevtechitsupport
Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itprofessionalkevinapolinario

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon for more blue team content!

🔗 Follow the hosts:
Josh Mason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacmason/
Wade Wells: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadingthrulogs/

💡 Brought to you by ThreatLocker – Secure your business with zero trust application control.

🎙️ More Simply Defensive
- Full playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4Q-ttyNIRAr6DVrsASx1-Fv-TsooJ3M4
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/72QTocT5FSTSPV7o1UcMS4
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/il/podcast/simply-defensive/id1773806182

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with your fellow defenders. Every week, Josh Mason and Wade Wells bring you practical, no-fluff conversations with cybersecurity leaders.

=========================
Sponsored by @ThreatLocker - Free 30-day trial visit:
https://www.threatlocker.com/simplydefensive
=========================
All the ways to connect with Simply Cyber  
https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials
=========================
This podcast is presented by Simply Cyber Media Group

In this episode of Simply Defensive, we sit down with JB, a Senior Cybersecurity Engineer working in detection engineering. JB shares his journey from SOC analyst to detection engineer, diving deep into the challenges of cloud-native security, Kubernetes logging, and building a sustainable career in cybersecurity.

What We Cover:

• What detection engineering actually means in 2025
• Working with dual-cloud environments (AWS + GCP)
• The challenges of Kubernetes logging and ephemeral containers
• SANS FOR508 (Digital Forensics and Threat Hunting) experience
• How to avoid burnout in InfoSec
• Building a SOC career: What do entry-level analysts really need to know?
• Work-life balance with kids and an ambitious security career
• DefCon stories and the Octopus Games competition

Resources & Links Mentioned:

• Live Overflow's Hextree.io learning platform: https://hextree.io
• SANS FOR508 (GCFA): https://www.sans.org/cyber-security-courses/advanced-incident-response-threat-hunting-training/
• Marcus Hutchins (MalwareTech) on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malwaretech/
• Graham Helton's Kubernetes security work: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamhelton3/
• Simply Defensive Podcast: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4Q-ttyNIRAr6DVrsASx1-Fv-TsooJ3M4
  
  

Connect with JB:

• YouTube: @JBCulbert
• Twitter/X: @JBTweetsStuff

Timestamps: 

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:50 JB's Day-to-Day Role in Cybersecurity

01:47 Past Experiences and Career Journey

02:27 Challenges in Detection Engineering

03:23 Kubernetes and Incident Investigation

03:51 SANS Classes and CTF Experiences

09:07 Remote vs In-Person Learning

11:21 Future Plans and Learning Platforms

14:13 Docker and Kubernetes in Labs

16:11 The Reality of Cybersecurity Skills

16:40 Defcon and Octopus Games

22:04 Balancing Cybersecurity and Personal Life

31:01 Advice for Aspiring Blue Teamers

32:57 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon for more blue team content!

🔗 Follow the hosts:
Josh Mason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacmason/
Wade Wells: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadingthrulogs/

💡 Brought to you by ThreatLocker – Secure your business with zero trust application control.

🎙️ More Simply Defensive
- Full playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4Q-ttyNIRAr6DVrsASx1-Fv-TsooJ3M4
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/72QTocT5FSTSPV7o1UcMS4
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/il/podcast/simply-defensive/id1773806182

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with your fellow defenders. Every week, Josh Mason and Wade Wells bring you practical, no-fluff conversations with cybersecurity leaders.

=========================
Sponsored by @ThreatLocker - Free 30-day trial visit:
https://www.threatlocker.com/simplydefensive
=========================
All the ways to connect with Simply Cyber  
https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials
=========================
This podcast is presented by Simply Cyber Media Group

In this episode of Simply Defensive, Josh Mason and Wade Wells sit down with Markus Schober, founder of Blue Cape Security, to talk all things digital forensics, incident response (DFIR), and why hands-on training beats theory every time.

We dig into:
 🔹 The hidden value of building your own cyber range
 🔹 How IR pros train using real attacks (and why they need red team skills)
 🔹 Eric Zimmerman's forensics tools and practical lab setups
 🔹 Ransomware war stories from Fortune 100 response
 🔹 The role (and limitations) of AI in forensics
 🔹 How to break into DFIR as a practitioner — not just a paper tiger

Whether you’re building detections, teaching DFIR, or just figuring out where to start, this one’s for you.

👇 Timestamps https://www.bluecapesecurity.com/& Resources
 0:00 Intro & ThreatLocker sponsorship
 2:00 Markus' journey from responder to trainer
 5:00 What makes a good DFIR workshop?
 7:00 Building a cyber range that doesn’t suck
 10:00 Favorite open-source tools (hint: Zimmerman)
 14:00 Consulting vs. in-house IR
 19:00 APT10, ransomware, and real-world incidents
 24:00 Can AI replace forensic analysts?
 27:00 Where to find Markus' courses
 29:00 Parting wisdom for aspiring defenders

📚 Check out Blue Cape Security:
→ https://www.bluecapesecurity.com/
→ Hands-on IR & Forensics Labs
→ Certification (coming soon!)

🔗 Follow the hosts:
 Josh Mason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacmason/
Wade Wells: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadingthrulogs/

💡 Brought to you by ThreatLocker – Secure your business with zero trust application control.

From Army recon missions to building Morado, COO Jordan Kalm reveals how military intelligence tactics translate into modern cyber threat intelligence. In this Simply Defensive episode, Josh Mason and Wade Wells dive into what really works for blue teams and SOC analysts — and what’s just noise.

👉 If you’ve ever wondered how to turn raw intel into actionable defense, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways you can use right away.

⏱ Timestamps
 0:00 – Intro & Jordan’s background
 4:00 – From infantry recon to threat intel
 12:00 – Building a threat intel platform that works
 20:00 – What blue teams actually need
 33:00 – Advice for new defenders

🔗 Connect with Jordan & Morado
 Jordan Kalm: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-kalm-2a562b5b/
Morado: https://www.morado.io/

👥 Connect with us on LinkedIn:
- Josh Mason (Co-Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacmason
- Wade Wells (Co-Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadingthrulogs/
- Kevin Mata (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinmata
- Swimlane: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swimlane

🎙️ More Simply Defensive
- Full playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4Q-ttyNIRAr6DVrsASx1-Fv-TsooJ3M4
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/72QTocT5FSTSPV7o1UcMS4
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/il/podcast/simply-defensive/id1773806182

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with your fellow defenders. Every week, Josh Mason and Wade Wells bring you practical, no-fluff conversations with cybersecurity leaders.

=========================
Sponsored by ThreatLocker - Free 30-day trial of ThreatLocker
https://www.threatlocker.com/simplydefensive
=========================
All the ways to connect with Simply Cyber
https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials
=========================
This podcast is presented by Simply Cyber Media Group

From the streets to the SOC. 💻

In this episode of Simply Defensive, Josh Mason and Wade Wells talk with Andrew Crotty — aka Ginger Hacker. A former detective turned Tier 3 SOC analyst and Army reservist, Andrew shares his journey into cyber, the struggles of breaking in, and the lessons he’s learned (including the rookie mistake that accidentally dosed the DMV 👀).

What you’ll hear:
🔹 Andrew’s pivot from law enforcement to cybersecurity
🔹 SOC life, schedules, and fighting burnout
🔹 Job hunting, recruiters, and landing that first role
🔹 Why soft skills matter as much as technical skills
🔹 Andrew’s advice for blue teamers: ask why, stay curious, fight alert fatigue

📺 Check out Andrew’s channel, Ginger Hacker: https://www.youtube.com/@gingerhacker

🎙️ More episodes of Simply Defensive: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4Q-ttyNIRAr6DVrsASx1-Fv-TsooJ3M4&si=TqefAfDjdR1AYt1c

👥 Connect with Us on LinkedIn:
- Josh Mason (Co-Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacmason
- Wade Wells (Co-Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadingthrulogs/
- Kevin Mata (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinmata
- Swimlane: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swimlane

🎙️ More Simply Defensive
- Full playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4Q-ttyNIRAr6DVrsASx1-Fv-TsooJ3M4
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/72QTocT5FSTSPV7o1UcMS4
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/il/podcast/simply-defensive/id1773806182

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with your fellow defenders. Every week, Josh Mason and Wade Wells bring you practical, no-fluff conversations with cybersecurity leaders.

=========================
Sponsored by ThreatLocker - Free 30-day trial of ThreatLocker
https://www.threatlocker.com/simplydefensive
=========================
All the ways to connect with Simply Cyber
https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials
=========================
This podcast is presented by Simply Cyber Media Group

Automation is changing the way defenders work. In this episode of Simply Defensive, we sit down with Kevin Mata, Director of Cloud Operations at Swimlane, to talk about his journey from flipping burgers at In-N-Out to flipping SOC alerts with automation, SOAR, and AI.

Kevin shares how he got started in cybersecurity, how Swimlane helps Blue Teams save time and reduce alert fatigue, and where AI is already making a difference in the SOC. Along the way, he and Wade swap stories about early career struggles, Python hacks, and the future of automation in security operations.

If you’ve ever wondered how much you can trust automation, what SOAR really does in a SOC, or how AI will shape the future of defenders—this episode is for you.

👉 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Kevin’s unique career journey: In-N-Out → SOC → Swimlane leadership
- How to use automation to supercharge Blue Team efficiency
- The role of SOAR platforms in ticketing, response, and orchestration
- Where AI fits into SOC operations (and where it doesn’t…yet)
- Tips for defenders at any stage of their career

🔗 Links & References from the Episode:
- Swimlane: https://swimlane.com
- Recorded Future: https://www.recordedfuture.com
- VirusTotal: https://www.virustotal.com
- Mistral AI: https://mistral.ai

👥 Connect with Us on LinkedIn:
- Josh Mason (Co-Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacmason
- Wade Wells (Co-Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadingthrulogs/
- Kevin Mata (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinmata
- Swimlane: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swimlane

🎙️ More Simply Defensive
- Full playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4Q-ttyNIRAr6DVrsASx1-Fv-TsooJ3M4
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/72QTocT5FSTSPV7o1UcMS4
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/il/podcast/simply-defensive/id1773806182

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with your fellow defenders. Every week, Josh Mason and Wade Wells bring you practical, no-fluff conversations with cybersecurity leaders.

=========================
Sponsored by ThreatLocker - Free 30-day trial of ThreatLocker
https://www.threatlocker.com/simplydefensive
=========================
All the ways to connect with Simply Cyber
https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials
=========================
This podcast is presented by Simply Cyber Media Group

Ready to level up your defensive cybersecurity skills? In this episode of Simply Defensive, Josh Mason and Wade Wells sit down with Dan Regalado and Belem — the founders of Hack Defender Academy — to explore how they’re using CTF-style challenges, real malware cases, and gamification to prepare the next generation of defenders.

💡 We cover:

• Why gamified, CTF-style learning works better than traditional training
• How Hack Defender Academy helps beginners grow into skilled malware analysts
• The role of AI in threat research — friend, foe, or both?
• The importance of staying hungry and keeping your edge as a blue teamer

🚨 Special Gift for Our Listeners: Hack Defender Academy is giving away one free certification pass! Details in the episode.

🔗 Links from the episode

Hack Defender Academy
 🌐 Website: academy.hack-defender.com
 ▶️ YouTube: Hack Defender Official
📱 TikTok: @HackDefOfficial
📸 Instagram: @HackDefOfficial
🐦 X (Twitter): @HackDefOfficial
💼 LinkedIn: Hack Defender
📘 Facebook: Hack Defender

Connect with our guests
🔹 Dan Regalado – LinkedIn
🔹 Belem – LinkedIn

Simply Defensive Podcast
🎧 Spotify: Simply Defensive
🎧 Apple: Simply Defensive

Sponsor
 💼 Thanks to ThreatLocker for supporting this episode.

👍 If you enjoyed this conversation, hit Like, Subscribe, and ring the 🔔 so you don’t miss our weekly episodes!
Drop a comment with the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a blue teamer — we’d love to hear your story.

=========================
Sponsored by ThreatLocker - Free 30-day trial of ThreatLocker
https://www.threatlocker.com/simplydefensive
=========================
Connect with your hosts:
Josh Mason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacmason
Wade Wells: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadingthrulogs
=========================
All the ways to connect with Simply Cyber
https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials
=========================
This podcast is presented by Simply Cyber Media Group

In Season 4, Episode 4 of Simply Defensive, hosts Josh Mason and Wade Wells sit down with Rob Allen, Chief Product Officer at ThreatLocker, to dive deep into the world of Zero Trust security, proactive cybersecurity strategies, and ransomware prevention.

Rob shares expert insights on:

• Proactive vs. Reactive cybersecurity — why a balanced security stack matters
• How Zero Trust infrastructure can stop cyber attacks before they start
• ThreatLocker’s "Deny by Default" approach to endpoint and application control
• The importance of application definitions for effective security
• Why AI is not the silver bullet for cybersecurity defense
• Common security myths and misconceptions that put organizations at risk

Whether you’re a SOC analyst, detection engineer, IT manager, or anyone interested in protecting against ransomware, this episode offers practical, real-world strategies for building a stronger cyber defense posture.

Timestamps:
 00:00 – Introduction and Host Greetings
 00:23 – Guest Introduction: Rob Allen from ThreatLocker
 00:44 – Rob Allen's Role and Responsibilities
 02:30 – Proactive vs. Reactive Cybersecurity Approaches
 03:54 – Challenges in Cybersecurity Detection
 05:24 – ThreatLocker’s Deny by Default Approach
 09:48 – The Importance of Application Definitions
 16:52 – Security Myths and Misconceptions
 18:53 – AI in Cybersecurity: Hype vs. Reality
 23:32 – Travel Plans and Closing Remarks

🔗 Connect with Rob Allen & ThreatLocker
 Website: https://www.threatlocker.com/
 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/threatlocker/

=========================
Sponsored by ThreatLocker - Free 30-day trial of ThreatLocker
https://www.threatlocker.com/simplydefensive
=========================
Connect with your hosts:
Josh Mason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacmason
Wade Wells: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadingthrulogs
=========================
All the ways to connect with Simply Cyber
https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials
=========================
This podcast is presented by Simply Cyber Media Group

What if GitHub sucks for security detections—and AI is finally good enough to replace it?

Join Josh Mason and Wade Wells as they sit down with Aaron Mog, the outspoken founder of Detections.ai, to unpack why detection engineering is broken—and how his new platform signed up 4,000+ users in just two weeks.

Aaron doesn’t hold back. From ranting about GitHub’s failures to sharing how AI is now actually useful for real-world detections, this episode goes deep into:

Why most teams still build detections in silos (and waste time doing it)
What makes detections fail—and what 80% of orgs get wrong
How Detections.ai uses prompt engineering and log analysis to generate battle-ready alerts
Why vendors will never cover all your detection needs (and that’s okay)

Whether you're a threat hunter, detection engineer, or just AI-curious, this episode will challenge your assumptions and give you practical ideas to level up your SOC.

Connect with Aaron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronmog
https://detections.ai/ Code “SimplyCyber”

👉 Subscribe for more real talk on cyber defense.
🎧 Listen in and get ahead of the curve.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:31 Aaron Mog and Detections.ai Overview
01:58 Community-Driven Detection Engineering
04:24 AI Integration and Product Evolution
06:20 Challenges in Detection Engineering
08:11 AI's Role in Detection Engineering
15:51 Vendor Limitations and Custom Solutions
16:54 Microsoft's Limitations in Cybersecurity
17:23 The Evolution of Threat Hunting
18:07 Collaborative Approach to Cybersecurity
20:07 Crowdsourcing and AI in Detection Engineering
20:57 Challenges and Innovations in AI for Security
21:37 AI's Role in Detection and Response
23:25 Elastic's Blog and Detection Engineering
24:29 AI in Summarizing and Enhancing Security Reports
28:14 Community and Commercial Aspects of AI in Security
32:18 Conclusion and Community Engagement

=========================
Sponsored by ThreatLocker - Free 30-day trial of ThreatLocker
https://www.threatlocker.com/simplydefensive
=========================
Connect with your hosts:
Josh Mason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacmason
Wade Wells: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadingthrulogs
=========================
All the ways to connect with Simply Cyber
https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials
=========================
This podcast is presented by Simply Cyber Media Group

How does a Navy fire control tech who once wrangled a six-barrel death robot become the head of security operations at Jack in the Box? In this episode of Simply Defensive, we sit down with Chris Julio — SOC Manager, veteran, and self-proclaimed lover of both metrics and munchie meals.

Chris shares his journey from Windows NT and dot-matrix printers to modern InfoSec leadership, explains what he actually looks for when hiring blue teamers (hint: it's not your certs), and drops tactical insights on building a metrics program that actually matters to the business.

We also talk about:

• The chaos theory of SOC alerts
• The power of curiosity in detection work
• Building a team culture that beats burnout
• Why your legal team doesn’t care about phishing — and how to change that

Oh, and there's a fast-food burger debate. No spoilers, but lines are drawn.

Whether you're just getting started in security or leading your own team, this episode’s got something for you.

Connect with Chris on LinkedIn:
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherjulio/

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:43 Chris Julio's Navy Background

04:27 Transition to Cybersecurity

06:42 Hiring and Team Building Insights

21:36 Balancing Work and Family Life

25:53 Engaging with the InfoSec Community

27:09 Final Thoughts and Advice for Blue Teamers

28:16 Closing Remarks and Sponsor Acknowledgment

=========================
Sponsored by ThreatLocker - Free 30-day trial of ThreatLocker
https://www.threatlocker.com/simplydefensive
=========================
Connect with your hosts:
Josh Mason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacmason
Wade Wells: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadingthrulogs
=========================
All the ways to connect with Simply Cyber
https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials
=========================
This podcast is presented by Simply Cyber Media Group