Episode 106 - Stacking the Deck of Success with AJ Yawn

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 had on the internet and cybersecurity. Later in the episode, Jeff talks about his transition from the NSA to the private sector and his focus on Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliance. He explains the importance of PCI and how it provides a framework for organizations to protect sensitive data and maintain secure networks. Impactful Moments 0:00 - Intro 01:15 - Welcome Jeff Man 01:51 - Jeff’s introduction to computing and cybersecurity 09:25 - Creation of the first NSA Red Team 15:20 - Leaving NSA and Focusing on PCI 19:41 - Advice for Those Starting in Cybersecurity 21:53 - Staying up to date with Jeff Man Links: Stay in touch with Jeff Man on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreyeman/ 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/ Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord

18 Juli 202322min

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 privacy, and the potential impact of duality's solutions in various industries such as finance and healthcare. Check out Duality’s webinar, Why Data, Privacy, & Security Leaders are Key to Growth & Innovation Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 01:09 - What is homomorphic encryption? 04:03 - Misconceptions of security and privacy 06:25 - What is Duality’s mission? 10:04 - Does Google Drive use homomorphic encryption? 13:08 - What homomorphic encryption enables 22:08 - Innovations that Duality is working on 24:37 - Secure data analytics and Homomorphic encryption 31:41 - Impact of AI and LLMs on security and privacy Links: Stay in touch with Derek Wood on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drwood/ Learn more about Duality Technologies: https://dualitytech.com/  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/ Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord

11 Juli 202336min

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/ 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 00:56 - The future of AI in cybersecurity 02:24 - Addressing the elephant in the room 03:15 - Amplifying your productivity  05:13 - AI & vulnerability management 09:00 - Remediating vulnerabilities with AI 11:41 - Join our community!  12:32 - Coding, building, & developing 18:13 - Final thoughts

27 Juni 202319min

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/ 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 Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Intro 01:09 - Introducing Brian Contos 04:03 - Brian’s passion for startups 06:13 - Emerging tech & AI 07:50 - The intersection of AI & cybersecurity  09:50 - The future impacts of AI 10:58 - How will AI enhance cybersecurity? 15:02 - Data assessment vs data integration 17:46 - Join our community! 18:48 - Getting out of your comfort zone 21:21 - Small touches lead to big finishes

20 Juni 202324min

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 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: 02:39 - Balancing cybersecurity and parenting 04:27- Maternity/paternity leave in cyber 08:33 - Skills in parenting for cybersecurity 10:36 - Career sacrifices 14:05 Parenting with a support system 17:31- Being more than a parent

13 Juni 202320min

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

6 Juni 202315min

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?

30 Maj 202315min

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. 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 https://www.netspi.com/HVM Links: Connect with Nabil Hannan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nhannan/ Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hackervalleystudio 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: 01:08 - 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?

23 Maj 202325min