Episode 106 - Stacking the Deck of Success with AJ Yawn

Episode 106 - Stacking the Deck of Success with AJ Yawn

In this episode of the Hacker Valley Studio podcast, hosts Ron and Chris interview AJ Yawn in an episode that is a mix between a master class and a founder’s journey. AJ is the founder and CEO of ByteCheck, with a personal and company goal to “make compliance suck less.” He is a cloud security expert, and brings to the conversation a wealth of wisdom on cybersecurity, leadership, and personal growth. The episode focuses on topics surrounding a major event in the past week for AJ and ByteChek, addressing AJ’s background, the work surrounding ByteCheck’s genesis, AJ’s thoughts on compliance, and more!

The interview begins with a look at AJ’s background. AJ grew up a military brat, and eventually found himself in the Army for a time. While he did not place much consideration on technology before he entered the Army, it was during his Army career that AJ developed an interest in cybersecurity. He became passionate about cybersecurity and the cloud, and he went all in! After he left the service, he began a job in cybersecurity consulting, and he’s been in the field ever since.

This episode is recorded at another momentous shift in AJ’s career, though, and Ron and Chris invite him to share about the past week, focusing on highs and lows. AJ shares about how he and his friend Jeff just launched ByteChek days ago, choosing as their launch date the significant holiday of Veterans Day! This choice was a way to honor AJ’s family members who served before him, and Ron and Chris also thank AJ for his own service to his country.

In light of this exciting time, AJ explains what the early days of the company have been like and considers some influences that have shaped him. In this stage of his company, AJ has capitalized on LinkedIn. He had previously not been accustomed to using the site or to the more general task of business promotion, but he’s found that networking on LinkedIn is a great way to grow a new business. He also explores ways in which his background in sports and as a middle child among nine siblings have shaped him as a cybersecurity worker and entrepreneur. Such factors of his youth helped him to foster a growth mindset and competitive nature, and also taught him to stand in his power.

Next, AJ talks about the thinking behind the tagline, “make compliance suck less,” which is honest, humorous, and relevant to the problem that drove AJ to start the company. As he navigates issues of business, compliance, and the like, AJ demonstrates remarkable capacities for focus. Ron and Chris wonder how he manages to focus on a single subject and to stay intentional for months or even years at a time, and AJ answers that he focuses on the process. In order to do so, he relies on the 90-91 model (which calls for the first 90 minutes of his day to be centered on a certain thing), as well as an array of goals.

AJ is also deeply committed to an active pursuit of personal growth. One of the clearest demonstrations of this commitment came in the years leading up to the launch of ByteChek. AJ saw the need for such a company years ago and had it in mind to start his own company, knowing that he needed to take a chance to make the impact he wanted to make. However, he also knew that he was not yet ready to start a business, so he created a masterclass for himself to prepare. Since, in first forming the company, he needed to place special focus on learning the business and marketing side of things, his successful navigation of LinkedIn is just one testament to the effectiveness of his intentional training.

Even in the midst of the fear surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic (and many problems for businesses), AJ was confident in betting on himself and launching ByteChek. And he’s confident in the future of the company, as well. He invests himself in making compliance exciting for clients, and among his projections for the future of compliance, he even includes plans for a ByteChek Academy! As the conversation reaches a close, AJ provides listeners with a final nugget of wisdom pertaining to the two most prominent themes of the conversation: betting on oneself and stepping into one’s personal power.

1:35 - This episode features AJ Yawn!

2:53 - AJ and his hosts turn to background info and what AJ is doing today.

4:35 - This past week has been huge for AJ because of his company launch!

6:33 - Did AJ’s interest in cybersecurity start while he was in the Army?

8:49 - The group speaks of AJ’s family background, including the fact that he is one of nine kids!

10:00 - Has being in the middle of a big family and playing sports shaped AJ?

12:52 - AJ and his hosts consider ByteChek’s tagline.

15:21 - How does AJ focus so well?

17:18 - Why did he launch the company now, even in the midst of COVID-19?

21:21 - AJ created a masterclass for himself.

25:38 - How does AJ make compliance exciting?

29:39- AJ is asked about the future of compliance.

33:45 - What’s one nugget of wisdom AJ can offer concerning two main themes of the episode?

Links:

Connect with AJ on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Hacker Valley Studio.

Support Hacker Valley Studio on Patreon.

Follow Hacker Valley Studio on Twitter.

Follow hosts Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran on Twitter.

Learn more about ByteChek, and mention Hacker Valley Studio to receive a limited time offer!

Avsnitt(390)

Cyber Defense Reinvented: The New Era of Attack Surface Management with Isaac Clayton

Cyber Defense Reinvented: The New Era of Attack Surface Management with Isaac Clayton

In this episode, Host Ron Eddings talks with guest Isaac Clayton, Senior Research Engineer at NetSPI. Ron and Isaac discuss the importance of ASM for organizations of all sizes, the challenges of asset identification, and framing a practical strategy to handle ASM.   Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Welcome 03:00 - Introducing guest, Isaac Clayton 04:25 - Understanding ASM 07:57 - Factoring in Attackers 10:47 - “Admit it’s a hard problem” 12:35 - Challenges & Surprises 15:03 - From our Sponsor, NetSPI 15:41 - The Right Medicine, The Right Dosage 19:04 - Zero Trust is Not Enough 20:37 - Prioritization— Baked In! 21:33 - The ASM Learning Curve 26:12 - “Not all ASM is Created Equal”   Links: Connect with our guest, Isaac Clayton : https://www.linkedin.com/in/isaac-clayton-24088696/ Check out NetSPI: asm.netspi.com 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

16 Jan 202432min

Cyber Resilience Unpacked: Securing Tomorrow Today with Bill Bernard

Cyber Resilience Unpacked: Securing Tomorrow Today with Bill Bernard

In this episode, Host Ron Eddings dives deep into crafting a resilient cybersecurity approach with guest speaker Bill Bernard, VP of Security Strategy at Deepwatch. Bill discusses the necessity of understanding business objectives to protect valuable assets but emphasizes focusing on risk-based strategies in addition to stronger detection and response mechanisms to help you play the long game.   Impactful Moments 00:00 - Welcome 01:43 - Introducing guest, Bill Bernard 04:22 - Understanding Emerging Threats 06:19 - What’s Old is New Again 08:48 - Buy a Helmet, Not a Bodysuit 11:57 - Defining Cyber Resilience 15:30 - Deepwatch’s Strategy for Resilience 18:31 - From our Sponsor 20:03 - MDR and Effective MDR Engagements 27:18 - Where Does AI Fit In With MDR? 32:57 - Staying One Step More Resilient 35:05 - Deepwatch- The Right Fit for You   Links: Connect with our guest, Bill Bernard : https://www.linkedin.com/in/billbernardchicago/ Take a Tour of the Deepwatch Managed Security Platform https://www.deepwatch.com/deepwatch-platform/#platform-tour Read the Move Beyond Detection and Response to Accelerate Cyber Resilience white paper, here: https://www.deepwatch.com/resource/go-beyond-cybersecurity-become-cyber-resilient/ Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleys... 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

9 Jan 202437min

Looking Backward to GROW Forward in Cybersecurity in 2024

Looking Backward to GROW Forward in Cybersecurity in 2024

In this episode, we’ll take a walk down memory lane. Hacker Valley looks back to 2023 to bring you some of the best clips with great advice and insight into being more creative, reflective, and resourceful with the hopes of inspiring you in 2024 to grow beyond where you are today. Impactful Moments 00:00 - Welcome 00:54 - A New Year is on the Way! 01:54 - ChatGPT and Cybersecurity 04:40 - Becoming an Industry Creative 07:47 - Leveraging AI in the Future with Storytelling - with Scott Sunderland 09:12 - Advice for your Content Creation Journey - with Jason Rebholz 11:15 - How to Start your Cybersecurity Book - with Kim Crawley 14:13 - Join our Mastermind 14:50 - The Right Platform for You - with Phillip Wylie 17:08 - Finding your Focus - with Simone Biles & Amy Bream 20:41 - Leveraging Human Resources in Cyber   Links: Check out the episodes highlighted: ChatGPT & Industry Creative-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u6m0SXFTmA Scott Sunderland-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pwTruINFiM Jason Rebholz-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao81IRnffc8 Kim Crawley-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKny7kVeRM0 Phillip Wylie-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5B1E2vp0DY Simone Biles & Amy Bream-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiebZS9s7sg Cyber Resources-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoTk3w_78co Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleys... 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

2 Jan 202423min

What’s Lurking In Your Containers? AMBERSQUID Operations, Freejacking, and Microservice Exploitation

What’s Lurking In Your Containers? AMBERSQUID Operations, Freejacking, and Microservice Exploitation

In this episode, Host Ron Eddings, discusses new tactics of adversaries with Director of Threat Research at Sysdig, Michael Clark. Michael digs into the cloud and shares trends about the AMBERSQUID operation and how to protect yourself from potential container-based threats.   Impactful Moments 00:00 - Welcome 01:20 - Introducing guest Michael Clark 03:09 - Finding AMBERSQUID 06:46 - Mining and Monitoring AWS Services 10:47 - Defending Against AMBERSQUID 14:03 - The Speed of Container-Based Threats 18:13 - The Costs of Freejacking 23:08 - Attribution & The Future Threat 26:30 - CIEMs Like You Have Secrets   Links: Connect with Michael Clark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelclarkinpa/ Check out Sysdig’s Threat Research: https://sysdig.com/threat-research/ 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

19 Dec 202323min

Pivotal Policy in the Age of AI with AJ Grotto

Pivotal Policy in the Age of AI with AJ Grotto

In this episode, Host Chris Cochran chats it up with former White House Senior Director for Cyber Policy, AJ Grotto. AJ shares his viewpoints about the current state of AI policies, the potential risks and benefits of AI technology, and the challenges in crafting effective policies in the field of cybersecurity. Impactful Moments 00:00 - Welcome 00:45 - Introducing guest, AJ Grotto 01:14 - Are Cyber and AI Separate? 03:37 - US Cyber Policy 08:06 - The Reality of AI Risk 11:20 - From Law to Cyber Policy 14:47 - Join our Mastermind! 15:36 - Policy Implementations 18:55 - Cyber Warfare and AI 22:13 - Advice for Getting into Cyber Policy   Links: Connect with AJ: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-grotto-2534b510a/ More about AJ and his current work: https://fsi.stanford.edu/people/andrew-j-grotto Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleys... 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

12 Dec 202324min

Ransomware: How to Use AI to Create a Readiness Kit with Scott Sutherland

Ransomware: How to Use AI to Create a Readiness Kit with Scott Sutherland

The adversary is using Artificial Intelligence. Why aren’t you? In this episode, Host Chris Cochran talks with Scott Sutherland, VP of Research at NetSPI, about everyone’s favorite hot topics; ransomware and AI. Scott will detail his experience with simulating ransomware attack scenarios, as well as discussing the difficulties businesses face when dealing with ransomware threats and prevention mechanisms and how AI can be leveraged to help. Impactful Moments 00:00 - Welcome 01:10 - Introducing guest, Scott Sunderland 03:24 - Interactions with Generative AI Chatbots 04:14 - Use of AI and Readiness 15:16 - A word from our Sponsor, NetSPI 15:55 - Using AI to develop Exercises 20:46 - Collaboration beats Adversaries 25:08 - Ransomware Bots 26:15 - Role of AI in Storytelling Continuously keep pace with your expanding attack surface with the most comprehensive suite of offensive security solutions: https://www.netspi.com/hackervalley Links: Connect with Scott Sutherland: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottpsutherland/ Learn more about our sponsor, NetSPI: https://www.netspi.com/ 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

5 Dec 202328min

Cover Your SaaS: Navigating OAuth and SaaS Security Challenges

Cover Your SaaS: Navigating OAuth and SaaS Security Challenges

SaaS misconfigurations may be responsible for up to 63% of security incidents. Do your SaaS applications have risky OAuth grants and misconfigurations? Let’s not find out. We will unravel the complexities of OAuth and how attackers are using OAuth to move from one app to another. Our special guest Jaime Blasco, co-founder and CTO at Nudge Security, shares techniques to protect your SaaS apps and identify risky and malicious OAuth grants. Are you ready to cover your SaaS and avoid finding yourself in the hot seat?    Show some love to our sponsor Nudge Security and win a Steam Deck: https://www.nudgesecurity.com/steamdeck   Links: Connect with Jamie Blasco: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimeblasco/ 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

28 Nov 202345min

Standing Out On LinkedIn as a Cybersecurity Professional with Chris Hughes

Standing Out On LinkedIn as a Cybersecurity Professional with Chris Hughes

In this episode, host Ron Eddings speaks with Chris Hughes, President at Aquia, Cyber Innovation Fellow at CISA, and cybersecurity legend. Special guest, Chris Hughes, was initially inspired to build a personal brand through a desire to mend his weaknesses and highlight his strengths. However, LinkedIn offered a platform to display his growth and learning, leading to him amassing over 50,000 followers! In addition to sharing his story, Chris will emphasize tips on how to start your own personal brand.   Key Moments: 00:00 -Welcome 00:56 - Introducing Guest, Chris Hughes 01:59 - Finding His Way to Cyber 03:20 - Brand Building on LinkedIn 05:19 - Power of Networking and Personal Branding 11:32 - Be a Part of Cyber Creator Con! 14:31 - The Impact of LinkedIn on Career Opportunities 16:48 - The Art of Content Creation on LinkedIn 20:16 - Cashing in on Career Capital 22:05 - Advice for Building a Personal Brand   Links: Follow Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/resilientcyber/ Check out Chris’ Podcast: https://resilientcyber.substack.com/ 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

21 Nov 202323min

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