When data “walks out the door,” the hardest part isn’t always the malware, it’s the human story behind the keyboard. We sit down with Ankara Managing Director Alyssa Lisiewski, a cyber forensics and intelligence practitioner who has worked across the intelligence community, the Department of Defense, and enterprise security, and who has testified as an expert witness in federal and military courts. Together, we unpack what it really takes to follow a digital trail when the threat actor is unknown, evidence is messy, and the stakes are high.

Alyssa shares how early curiosity with computers, a criminology foundation, and years of hands-on digital forensics shaped her investigative approach. We talk about the pivot from classic crime scene fascination into computer forensics, the value of mentors who take a chance on you, and the grind of working full time while earning a graduate degree. From there we get into “preventive forensics” and thinking like an adversary, how threat intelligence connects to forensic analysis, and why insider threat and insider risk are rarely just technical problems.

We also go where security conversations often avoid: the psychological weight of major crimes work, what it means to see people at their worst, and why boundaries matter when compartmentalization starts to fail, especially after becoming a parent or working from home. Alyssa explains how she now blends threat actor attribution, deep forensic investigations, and post-breach litigation support, and why building flexible, sustainable roles is the future of cyber investigations.

Subscribe for more practical security conversations, share this with someone building a career in digital forensics or insider threat, and leave a review so more listeners can find Voices of the Vigilant.

This episode is brought to you by Onyxia Cyber — the Operational Cyber Resilience Platform that turns security data and asset intelligence into action. Onyxia helps security teams spot risk early, sharpen their strategy, and tie day-to-day operations to measurable business outcomes. Trusted by Fortune 500 leaders. Book a demo and mention Voices of the Vigilant to get your first month free → https://www.onyxia.io/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=vigilant_violet

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A lot of people think cybersecurity has one “right” entry point: computer science degree, IT help desk, then a straight climb into security. Courtney Hans is living proof that the best security leaders often come from the roads nobody expects. She’s led adventure travelers through remote terrain, earned an MBA, built security programs as a first security hire inside a fast moving SaaS startup, and now serves as VP of Cyber Services at ANV Cyber helping policyholders use cyber insurance as a relationship that reduces risk, not just a payout after a bad day.

We get into how confidence is built, not gifted. Courtney shares the real experiences that taught her “I can do hard things,” and why that matters when you’re laid off, starting over, or walking into a board level conversation. From there, we unpack the day to day reality of security leadership: influence without ownership, trust as your main lever, and why curiosity beats fear based messaging when you’re trying to build a security first culture.

You’ll also hear a grounded take on modern cyber risk management, including how insurance questionnaires miss nuance, how to avoid wasting budget on the wrong security tools, and why hardening what you already own in Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 can deliver fast wins. We touch AI security, changing best practices, and the leadership skill of saying “I don’t know yet” while still staying accountable and helpful.

If you’re planning a cybersecurity career pivot, hiring security talent, or trying to make security work for the business instead of against it, this conversation will give you language, frameworks, and a mindset you can use immediately. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s considering a pivot, and leave a review to help more people find the show.

This episode is brought to you by Onyxia Cyber — the Operational Cyber Resilience Platform that turns security data and asset intelligence into action. Onyxia helps security teams spot risk early, sharpen their strategy, and tie day-to-day operations to measurable business outcomes. Trusted by Fortune 500 leaders. Book a demo and mention Voices of the Vigilant to get your first month free → https://www.onyxia.io/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=vigilant_violet

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Everybody wants AI right now, and that includes the teams security rarely sees as “technical.” When marketing, HR, and ops start downloading agent tools, prompt packs, and random code from the internet, we get a new kind of software supply chain risk, one that most security programs are not staffed or tooled to handle.

I sit down with Amber Bennoui, a product leader and builder who has worked across cloud security, developer pipelines, and software supply chain security, and who now co-leads community efforts through the AI Security Alliance (AISECA). We talk about the mindset behind frontier work: learning fast, asking better questions, and refusing to ship “AI features” that do not answer the basics of who, what, when, where, and why. Amber shares what it looks like to pressure-test guidance with peer reviewers so it works in real companies, not just on a spreadsheet.

We also go deep on Jiffy Labs, Amber’s project to bring visibility, scanning, and risk scoring to the AI artifact ecosystem. Think inventory for prompts, models, and agent components, plus practical ways to assess provenance and lineage when security tools are blind to what is actually being pulled into environments. From the Mythos conversation to the reality of ephemeral code rewritten by autonomous agents, we unpack why traditional security patterns struggle and why the AI “shared responsibility model” is still missing.

If you care about AI security, AI governance, DevSecOps, and the future of AppSec, this conversation will sharpen how you think and what you ask for next. Subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review to help more people find Voices of the Vigilant.

This episode is brought to you by Onyxia Cyber — the Operational Cyber Resilience Platform that turns security data and asset intelligence into action. Onyxia helps security teams spot risk early, sharpen their strategy, and tie day-to-day operations to measurable business outcomes. Trusted by Fortune 500 leaders. Book a demo and mention Voices of the Vigilant to get your first month free → https://www.onyxia.io/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=vigilant_violet

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Security teams get asked the same question in a hundred different ways: “What’s the ROI?” We go straight at it with Monica Reagor, Manager of Information Security Compliance at Crestron Electronics and host of the My GRC POV podcast, to show how governance, risk, and compliance becomes a growth lever when it’s done with clarity, data, and the right relationships.

We trace Monica’s path from technical IT roles into compliance, then zoom in on the real work of modern information security compliance: translating legislation into executive decisions, turning requirements into engineering action, and mapping frameworks like NIST and ISO 27001 so you can scale evidence, audits, and certifications without burning out your team. We also talk about why “I don’t make money” is the wrong framing and how security can protect revenue, reduce loss, and even help win contracts when customer security questionnaires become the price of entry.

Then we get into the pressure cooker: AI governance, privacy, supply chain risk management, and the reality that regulations evolve across US states, federal agencies, the EU, and APAC markets at the same time. Monica shares why operating to the most restrictive standard can be the simplest global strategy, and why GRC must show up early so teams can move fast with documented risk decisions instead of last-minute blockers.

If you’re building a GRC program, defending a security budget, or trying to connect compliance to real business outcomes, you’ll leave with language you can use and a clearer mental model for the layers. Subscribe, share this with a teammate who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest challenge proving security value.

This episode is brought to you by Onyxia Cyber — the Operational Cyber Resilience Platform that turns security data and asset intelligence into action. Onyxia helps security teams spot risk early, sharpen their strategy, and tie day-to-day operations to measurable business outcomes. Trusted by Fortune 500 leaders. Book a demo and mention Voices of the Vigilant to get your first month free → https://www.onyxia.io/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=vigilant_violet

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We are participating in Podcasthon 2026. Podcasthon is the world’s largest podcast charity initiative, bringing together podcasters globally to raise awareness for charitable causes.

In support of this noble cause, we spotlight the Women’s Society of Cyberjutsu with CEO Mari Galloway, tracing how hands-on training, cohort mentorship, and a tight-knit community create real jobs and lasting confidence. We unpack CyberjutsuCon 2026, the “Beyond The Patterns” theme, and a make a clear ask to support growth.

In this episode we discuss:

• Origins of Cyberjutsu and the early workshop model
• Mary’s path across SOC, vuln management, sales, and leadership
• Why hands-on labs beat lectures for real skill transfer
• The evolving mission to include chapters, academies, and grants
• measuring impact with surveys, testimonials, and outcomes
• Cohort mentorship that builds leaders and peers
• Accessibility, scholarships, and low-cost entry points
• CyberjutsuCon 2026 format, theme, and community vibe
• Sponsorship tiers, current partners, and funding needs
• Chapter expansion targets in Miami, Chicago, Seattle, Midwest
• Vigilance as authentic leadership and daily practice

If you know me personally, even if you don't know me personally, but you know me professionally, and we've done business together before, I expect you to step up. We need you to step up. You have no problem using the talent that is being produced by Cyberjutsu and other organizations. It's time for you to help. This is an easy way for you to invest in developing and growing talent  for your organization. It is a no brainer. Please get a hold of Mari, get a hold of me, go to the website - https://womenscyberjutsu.org/ and make difference.

This episode is brought to you by Onyxia Cyber — the Operational Cyber Resilience Platform that turns security data and asset intelligence into action. Onyxia helps security teams spot risk early, sharpen their strategy, and tie day-to-day operations to measurable business outcomes. Trusted by Fortune 500 leaders. Book a demo and mention Voices of the Vigilant to get your first month free → https://www.onyxia.io/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=vigilant_violet

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Security fails when it’s written for auditors instead of humans. Jess Vachon sits down with cybersecurity and privacy leader Ash Mohanaprakas to unpack how the best security programs feel practical, lightweight, and deeply aligned to the mission, even under pressure. Ash shares how she helps organizations turn security from a cost center into a strategic advantage that supports enterprise deals, customer trust, and acquisition readiness.

Ash’s story is anything but linear: an Oxford-trained linguist, a first-generation immigrant, and one of the only undergraduate student parents during her time there. We talk about how language and identity shape the way people interpret risk, why “translation” is an underrated security leadership skill, and how her early governance, risk, and compliance work at a huge university taught her to design controls that researchers can actually live with. The conversation also gets candid about imposter syndrome, early-career salary constraints, and the confidence that comes from learning hard frameworks by doing real work.

From ISO 27001 to SOC 2, we dig into what companies get wrong when they overbuild compliance with endless policies, and what to do instead when you need scalable security with minimal friction. We also tackle AI security and AI governance: why “AI-first” is not a differentiator, how to think about agentic workflows, and where AI can genuinely reduce repetitive GRC tasks so humans can focus on complex risk decisions and culture.

If you care about cybersecurity leadership, pragmatic compliance, risk management, board communication, and building security programs that scale, this one will land. Subscribe, share this with a security leader who’s drowning in documentation, and leave a review with the most “unread policy” moment you’ve seen.

This episode is brought to you by Onyxia Cyber — the Operational Cyber Resilience Platform that turns security data and asset intelligence into action. Onyxia helps security teams spot risk early, sharpen their strategy, and tie day-to-day operations to measurable business outcomes. Trusted by Fortune 500 leaders. Book a demo and mention Voices of the Vigilant to get your first month free → https://www.onyxia.io/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=vigilant_violet

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What if building stronger security started with building stronger people? We sit down with founder and researcher Shira Shamban to explore the human engine behind cloud security: courage, bias, pivots, and the relentless focus required to turn signal into action. From a values‑driven upbringing and early community projects to leading a startup through the 2020 lockdowns, Shira’s story pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to ship meaningful outcomes when the odds say don’t.

We unpack her first thesis—PLG and shift‑left for developers—and why it crashed into day‑to‑day incentives. Then we trace the pivot: keep the core engine that analyzes cloud infrastructure and auto‑remediates misconfigurations, but deliver it to the security teams who own risk, reporting, compliance, and budgets. Along the way we confront the market reality of CSPM saturation, where category leaders win on brand safety as much as features, and how “nobody was fired for buying IBM” still shapes enterprise cybersecurity. The result is a candid look at tool sprawl, alert fatigue, and the real metric that moves CISOs: hours saved and friction reduced between security and engineering.

Shira also shares why Israel keeps producing high‑impact cybersecurity startups—mandatory service, hands‑on constraints, and a figure‑it‑out mindset that mirrors startup life. We look ahead to AI in the cloud and quantum timelines without the hype, balancing today’s phishing and misconfigurations with tomorrow’s decryption risks. Most of all, we talk advocacy: saying yes to the stage to make women visible, mentoring through communities like She Codes and Cyber Ladies, and treating karma as infrastructure for a healthier industry.

If you care about cloud security, startup execution, and the people who make both possible, this conversation will sharpen your lens and expand your playbook. Subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs a push to take the next step.

This episode is brought to you by Onyxia Cyber — the Operational Cyber Resilience Platform that turns security data and asset intelligence into action. Onyxia helps security teams spot risk early, sharpen their strategy, and tie day-to-day operations to measurable business outcomes. Trusted by Fortune 500 leaders. Book a demo and mention Voices of the Vigilant to get your first month free → https://www.onyxia.io/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=vigilant_violet

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What if the fastest way to break into cybersecurity isn’t another cert, but a soldering iron, a home lab, and the courage to say “I don’t know”? We sit down with Rob “Bowtie Security Guy” Whetstine—prop builder, mentor, and former Disney security leader—who built his career from other people’s discarded tech and turned a bow tie into a personal brand that helped him conquer social anxiety and stand out in rooms that matter.

Rob takes us from dumpster diving to Fortune 500 leadership and lays out a practical roadmap for anyone trying to enter or advance in cyber. We talk about why tinkering beats test prep, how to build troubleshooting instincts, and what it really takes to succeed in high-pressure interviews at places like Disney, Google, and Amazon. Rob makes a compelling case for servant leadership: define success clearly, protect vacations, build redundancy, and bring calm to incident chaos with a simple check—“Is anyone dying?” The result is strong, sustainable teams that deliver consistently without burning out.

We also tackle the uncomfortable truth behind the “cyber talent shortage.” Many of those roles are unfunded headcount, which is why entry-level postings get thousands of applications and interviews flow through referrals. Rob shares how he social-engineered LinkedIn, sent targeted video intros, and turned weak ties into opportunities. If you’re neurodivergent, you’ll hear concrete ways companies can interview better—advance questions, work samples, real accommodations—and why honesty about gaps earns trust. The through line is simple: passion and proof beat pedigree when paired with clear communication and relentless curiosity.

Join us for a candid, practical, and human conversation that will sharpen your job hunt, reshape your leadership, and remind you why solving real problems matters more than sounding smart. If this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show.This episode is brought to you by Onyxia Cyber — the Operational Cyber Resilience Platform that turns security data and asset intelligence into action. Onyxia helps security teams spot risk early, sharpen their strategy, and tie day-to-day operations to measurable business outcomes. Trusted by Fortune 500 leaders. Book a demo and mention Voices of the Vigilant to get your first month free → https://www.onyxia.io/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=vigilant_violet

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Reinvention isn’t a neat pivot. It’s a grind, a choice you make on hard mornings, and a mindset you carry when no one’s clapping. We sit down with Saeger Fischer of Omada Technologies—former educator, mom of three, and 17‑time marathoner—who rebuilt her career in cybersecurity by treating learning like training and partnerships like team sports. Together we trace the real skills that translate from the classroom to the SOC: structure, self‑teaching, differentiated learning, and the patience to process before speaking. If you’ve ever felt behind, this story shows how consistent effort compounds into momentum.

We also zoom out to the big picture leaders are wrestling with. Is the AI bubble nearing a correction as tools overpromise and underdeliver on simple workflows? Where do agentic SOC models fit, and how do we balance machine speed with human judgment? We break down why you can’t buy your way out of risk, how to separate signal from vendor noise, and why relationship‑driven selling outperforms quarter‑end pressure tactics. Then we dig into category shifts reshaping architecture: the rise of enterprise browsers like Island, collapsing brittle stacks, enabling zero trust without heavy VPNs or VDI, and speeding secure onboarding in minutes, not months.

Finally, we confront timelines most teams prefer to defer: post‑quantum cryptography. Ten‑year roadmaps are already stale, and “harvest now, decrypt later” is not a thought experiment. We outline pragmatic steps to inventory crypto dependencies, prioritize migrations, and budget in phases. We also talk about public‑sector headwinds and where practitioners can still find trusted signal—peer communities, credible advisories, and leaders who share what actually works. If you’re eyeing a move into cyber, or you’re in the trenches and need a reset, this conversation blends grit, guidance, and grounded predictions you can act on today.

If this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and drop your bold 2026 security prediction in a review—we’ll feature our favorites in a future episode.

This episode is brought to you by Onyxia Cyber — the Operational Cyber Resilience Platform that turns security data and asset intelligence into action. Onyxia helps security teams spot risk early, sharpen their strategy, and tie day-to-day operations to measurable business outcomes. Trusted by Fortune 500 leaders. Book a demo and mention Voices of the Vigilant to get your first month free → https://www.onyxia.io/?utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=vigilant_violet

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If you’ve ever felt like the odd one out in tech, this conversation will feel like oxygen. Akira Brand joins us to share how a shy kid, bullied for being different, found sanctuary in two unlikely rooms—the choir room and the computer lab—and turned that mix of voice and logic into a career leading application security. We map the path from opera training to DevRel to AppSec leadership, and dig into the moments that change everything: the first terminal command that touched the internet, the DEF CON night when community said “you belong,” and the leadership shift from heroic bursts to steady, compounding wins.

We get tactical without losing the human thread. Akira explains why AppSec works best as enablement, not enforcement, and how a good leader “tailors” security into the SDLC instead of tearing it apart. Threat modeling becomes the star—recast from checkbox to business engine. We talk metrics that matter, risk you intentionally accept, and where compensating controls deliver the most value. You’ll hear pragmatic guidance on keeping velocity without sacrificing security, building credibility with developers, and designing programs teams actually use.

We also explore AI’s double edge. For seasoned engineers, AI can boost secure development and documentation at speed. For beginners, it can hide missing fundamentals and import flawed patterns. Akira shares how to keep human review in the loop, vet model provenance, and use agentic AI to ship real tools faster—without skipping security basics. The episode closes with a message for outsiders: keep your integrity, find your people, and let your craft be both voice and shield.

Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a lift, and tell us: what’s one security habit you’d “tailor” into your team’s workflow today? Your reviews help this show reach more builders, breakers, and brave weirdos—thanks for being part of the Voice of the Vigilant community.

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