In this episode, host Ron is joined by the CISO at Corvus Insurance, Jason Rebholz, to talk about the life of being a cybersecurity content creator. From his drive to create cyber content for technical and non-technical audiences to the sometimes harsh realities of content creation, Jason opens up about the importance of having passion and well-balanced goals. Impactful Moments 00:00 - Welcome 01:12 - Introducing guest, Jason Rebholz 02:05 - Jason’s cybersecurity background 04:37 - Everybody lov...
Aug 29, 2023•36 min•Season 6Ep. 293
In this episode, hosts Ron and Chris are joined by special guest Eric Avigdor, VP of Product Management at Votiro. With humility as the focal point, Eric details his journey as a Product Manager — sharing his unique approach to leadership and customer engagement, as well as the art of asking the right questions. Discover how Votiro is spearheading content security innovation, and don't miss Eric's advice for budding Product Managers eager to make their mark in the industry. Impactful Moments: 00...
Aug 22, 2023•30 min•Season 6Ep. 292
Host Chris Cochran is joined by Marty Overman, Senior VP at Imperva, to discuss the importance of self-awareness and transparency in cybersecurity leadership. The two emphasize the need for leaders to recognize their strengths and weaknesses and understand and empathize with the needs and experiences of those they lead. Impactful Moments 00:00 - Welcome 00:52 - Introducing guest, Marty Overman 01:26 - What makes a great sales leader? 04:50 - The power of asking questions 07:27 - Building strong ...
Aug 15, 2023•38 min•Season 6Ep. 291
In this episode, host Ron is joined by Jamie Blasco, co-founder and CTO at Nudge Security, to discuss the opportunities of SaaS as well as the security implications of AI. Jamie also considers the importance of striking a balance between productivity and security when employees adopt new tools. Lastly, he emphasizes his philosophy of treating employees as part of the solution and creating a culture where they feel valued and included in the company's security efforts. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - ...
Aug 01, 2023•39 min•Season 6Ep. 290
How do you effectively persuade team members and stakeholders to take action, convey the importance of new projects, or request additional resources? Communicating technical security information often leads to disconnection or worse, falls on deaf ears. During this hour-long livestream, hosts Ron and Chris tackle how you can turn the tables by leveraging the primal power of storytelling, enhancing attention and engagement. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 04:39 - Storytelling & convey...
Jul 25, 2023•38 min•Season 6Ep. 289
In this episode, Chris and Ron Eddings are joined by Jeff Man, a legend in cybersecurity. The conversation begins with Jeff sharing his experiences as a member of the first NSA red team and his involvement in groundbreaking projects. He discusses his early days working with computers at the National Security Agency (NSA) in the 1980s and his role in developing a software-based encryption system. Jeff also points to the significance of the first publicly available web browser and the impact it ha...
Jul 18, 2023•23 min•Season 6Ep. 288
In this episode, Chris and Ron interview Derek Wood from Duality Technologies, a leading privacy technology company to discuss the concept of homomorphic encryption and its significance in data security, privacy, and governance. Homomorphic encryption enables users to perform computations on encrypted data without exposing it, revolutionizing the way data is used and analyzed. In this episode, the group discusses the challenges in the current data landscape, the importance of security and privac...
Jul 11, 2023•37 min•Season 6Ep. 287
In this episode, Ron and Chris explore the vast potential of AI in cybersecurity, including its ability to develop cybersecurity solutions, provide recommendations and predictions for cyber practitioners, and even assist attackers in identifying vulnerabilities and creating exploits. Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio.com Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/ L...
Jun 27, 2023•19 min•Season 6Ep. 286
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 landsca...
Jun 20, 2023•24 min•Season 6Ep. 285
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 c...
Jun 13, 2023•20 min•Season 6Ep. 284
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...
Jun 06, 2023•16 min•Ep. 283
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, per...
May 30, 2023•16 min•Season 6Ep. 282
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 pos...
May 23, 2023•26 min•Season 6Ep. 281
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. Say goodbye to frustration and hello to peace of mind with VI...
May 16, 2023•26 min•Season 6Ep. 280
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 ...
May 09, 2023•22 min•Season 6Ep. 279
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: Fol...
May 02, 2023•23 min•Season 6Ep. 278
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://ha...
Apr 25, 2023•23 min•Season 6Ep. 277
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. If you want to catch up with the Hacker Valley Team during RSA be sure to jump into our discord. You can join by going to hackervalley.com/discord Impactful Moments 00:00 - Intro 01:28 - Recapping our first time at RSA 03:02 - The 4 types of interactions 05:27 - Purposeful relationship building 06:57 - The vendor experience at RSA 08:51 - Opportunities and mutual...
Apr 18, 2023•24 min•Season 6Ep. 276
RSA is right around the corner and we’re so excited because it’s one of our big opportunities to meet with you, our dedicated listener. If you want to catch up with the Hacker Valley Team be sure to jump into our discord. You can join by going to hackervalley.com/discord Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Intro 01:24 - Introducing Amy Bream & Simone Biles 02:50 - What’s it like being at a cybersecurity conference? 04:20 - Persevering through adversity 05:28 - Consistency — according to Amy & Sim...
Apr 11, 2023•36 min•Season 6Ep. 275
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 01:22 - What is Threat Intelligence? 02:17 - How did you get into Threat Intel? 03:20 - All...
Apr 04, 2023•29 min•Season 6Ep. 274
Special Thanks to our sponsor NetSPI NetSPI has a team of skilled pen-testers that can help you find those critical vulnerabilities and become your partner in creating the right remediation game plan for you. Check them out at http://netspi.com/HVM This Hacker Valley Studio episode features Jake Reynolds, Head of Emerging Technology @ NetSPI. We chat with Jake about: 0:00 - Welcome Jake Reynolds 2:30 - What is a full stack engineer? 4:39 - Having a large cybersecurity attack surface 6:00 - Attac...
Mar 28, 2023•31 min•Season 6Ep. 273
In this episode of the podcast, Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran share insights and tips on how to navigate a career in cybersecurity. They discuss the importance of having the right mindset, finding the right career path, building a network, and negotiating a salary. Ron and Chris emphasize the value of having a positive attitude and being open to learning and growth. They suggest exploring different areas within cybersecurity to find the best fit for your interests and skills. Additionally, they ...
Mar 21, 2023•37 min•Season 6Ep. 272
In this episode of the Hacker Valley Studio podcast, hosts Ron and Chris tackle arguably one of the most difficult roles in cybersecurity: Incident Response. Drawing on his years of experience at organizations such as US Cyber Command, NSA, and Netflix, Chris shares his knowledge on what it takes to properly handle Severity 1, 2, and 3 level incidents. Together, Ron and Chris cover everything from the roles and responsibilities of an incident commander to the steps of bringing an incident to a c...
Mar 14, 2023•37 min•Season 6Ep. 271
In this episode, Chris and Ron are joined by author, TED Talk presenter, and Chief Research Officer at WithSecure, Mikko Hyppönen, to discuss the past, present, and future of cybersecurity. With over 30 years of experience in cybersecurity, Mikko shares his insights on everything from the importance of knowing and understanding the enemy to the security implications of smart devices. Be sure to subscribe to Hacker Valley Studio, the premiere cybersecurity podcast for cybersecurity professionals ...
Mar 07, 2023•32 min•Season 6Ep. 270
In this episode of the Hacker Valley Studio podcast, Chris Cochran and Ron Eddings discuss cybersecurity resources for learning and standing out in the field. In the episode, the two discuss SANS Institute posters for pentesting, purple teaming, and incident response. The two also showcase Google Hacking resources for finding domains of interest for cybersecurity. Ron and Chris highlight how podcasts can be a great way to try out a book before buying it, as authors often share the best parts of ...
Feb 28, 2023•30 min•Season 6Ep. 269
Welcome to the Hacker Valley Studio podcast, Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran reflect on their most pivotal moments in the industry. The two share personal stories that shaped their careers, from Chris' journey to landing his dream role at Netflix to Ron's early years in cybersecurity and hitting his career goal of earning $100k. But it's not all about the money – Ron and Chris delve into the importance of money management and the harsh realities of poor spending habits. They also discuss the philo...
Feb 21, 2023•26 min•Season 6Ep. 268
In this episode of the Hacker Valley Studio podcast, hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran explore the power of ChatGPT and attempt to build a Python script that scrapes BleepingComputer for the latest headlines. Chris also takes a moment to reflect on the rise of the ‘Industry Creative’- a term he coined for individuals that leverage their practical industry experience into creating content for their community. The two share their predictions on the future of cybersecurity content creation, why t...
Feb 14, 2023•33 min•Season 6Ep. 267
In this episode of the Hacker Valley Studio, hosts Ron and Chris are joined by McKenna Yeakey to talk about her experience with being laid off in cybersecurity and finding a new job. Mckenna shares her journey through the emotional and psychological struggles she faced during her layoff, and how she overcame feelings of self-doubt and worthiness. She also highlights the role her professional network and the cybersecurity community played in supporting her during this difficult time and how she u...
Feb 07, 2023•35 min•Season 6Ep. 266
In this episode of the podcast, Maril Vernon joins Ron and Chris and discusses the importance of breaking down silos between cyber teams and inspiring individuals to drive their own careers in cybersecurity. Maril has been a key player in promoting the concept of purple teaming - the combination of red teaming and blue teaming to improve an organization's overall security posture. She discusses the importance of hands-on experience and practical knowledge over just having certifications. Maril's...
Jan 31, 2023•34 min•Ep. 265
In this episode of Hacker Valley Studio, Rob Wood, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at CMS, discusses the challenges of data silos within organizations. Rob explains that security teams often operate in silos, with different departments focusing on various aspects of security, such as incident management, compliance, and penetration testing. One way to improve this is by flattening the organizational structure and finding ways to work together in the same data environments, using the sa...
Jan 24, 2023•30 min•Season 6Ep. 264