In this episode, host Ron Eddings is joined by Co-Founder and CEO of ThreatLocker, Danny Jenkins, to talk about his "Hero’s Journey" from IT to launching ThreatLocker. From spam emails, bots, and ransomware to persuading people to take a new approach -- this story has all of the villains and obstacles any cybersecurity champion will inevitably face and conquer! Sponsor: Get unprecedented visibility and control of your cybersecurity, quickly, easily, and cost-effectively. Check out our friends at ThreatLocker today and let them know Hacker Valley sent you! https://www.threatlocker.com  Impactful Moments 00:00 - Welcome 00:55 - Introducing guest, Danny Jenkins 02:00 - The start of Danny’s journey 04:10 - Moments it changed 06:55 - The worst job in the world 08:36 - Starting with the endpoint 09:18 - An uphill battle 13:25 - Going all in 15:21 - A word about our sponsor! 16:35 - Zero to hero 18:47 - Trust and ringfencing 22:53 - What is zero trust? 25:00 - Zero trust at ThreatLocker 28:25 - Tools to make decisions 29:09 - Productivity tools? Not anymore! 31:10 - Making yourself more secure Links: Connect with our guest Danny Jenkins: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyjenkinscyber/ Learn more about ThreatLocker: https://www.ThreatLocker.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

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Starting at the Endpoint with Danny Jenkins

In this episode, host Chris is joined by Erika Eakins — a cybersecurity sales ninja, podcaster, and co-founder at Teach Kids Tech. Erika opens up about her challenges entering tech and cybersecurity as a woman and her mission to serve the underrepresented. Erika also shares how the strength and resilience she acquired in childhood have helped to carry her through unexpected hardships in the industry like layoffs. Impactful Moments: 0:00-Welcome 00:50-Introducing guest, Erika Eakins 01:22-Erika’s origin story 05:43-Being judged on looks 07:10-”Why are you still in?!” 07:47-Where to find strength 10:40-Who are the Cyber Queens? 13:18-Join our mastermind! 14:02-Aiming to Overcome Obstacles 16:08-Reflection on Resilience 17:54-Teach Kids Tech 20:30-The legacy of Queens 23:23-Power of Positivity & Support Links: Connect with our guest Erika Eakins https://www.linkedin.com/in/eeakins/ Check out The Cyber Queens Podcast https://www.cyberqueenspodcast.com/ Learn more about Teach Kids Tech https://www.teachkidstech.net/ 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

Having Resilience In Your Cyber Career with Erika Eakins

It’s a classic technologist conundrum: Should I build or buy the solution I need to solve a problem? The “Build vs. Buy” conundrum is faced by technology teams worldwide. To help approach this riddle, Chris Cochran speaks to two industry veterans, Slavik Markovich co-founder & CEO of Descope, and Rob Fry, co-founder of AKA Identity.  Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a CTO, or just tech-curious, this episode offers invaluable insights. Using the identity market as a case study, we’ll explore the multifaceted considerations needed to make the best choice for your team and organization.   Impactful Moments: 0:00 - Build vs. Buy: The Classic Technologist Conundrum 0:37 - Show Intro 0:57 - Introducing Slavik Markovich and Rob Fry 3:25 - Previous build vs. buy project 6:44 - Decision logic for build vs. buy  15:09 - How does tech sway your decision making? 19:44 - How does data impact decision making? 24:31 - How do processes influence decision making? 29:13 - Maintaining custom tech solutions over time 33:28 - Tenants for building a tech company 41:06 - Build authentication and user journey flows with Descope   Links:  Learn more about Descope: https://www.descope.com/ Connect with our guest Slavik Markovich: https://www.linkedin.com/in/slavikm/ Connect with our guest Rob Fry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fry-rob-g/ 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

Build vs. Buy: The Classic Technologist Conundrum

Embrace the AI Revolution in Cybersecurity! Ron Eddings explores the dynamic world of AI, from cybersecurity automation to anomaly detection. Learn how AI is being used by practitioners and creators to stay one step ahead of the adversary and the competition   Impactful Moments 0:00 - Intro 1:35 - Origin into cybersecurity and automation 6:12 - What is Artificial Intelligence? 8:23 - Using AI to Classify Phishing Emails 11:32 - Descript and Claude2 to Summarize Content 17:54 - ChatGPT Advanced Data Analysis 21:41 - Top 4 AI Red Team Attacks 26:09 - Cybersecurity AI Disrupters 27:50 - Cybersecurity Creative Mastermind   Links: Connect with Ron Eddings: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/ 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

AI Is the Tool Not the Toolbox

For this week's episode, we brought back a fan favorite Security Teams Can't Do It All. This episode features guest Rob Wood, CISO at CMS, who discusses the challenges of data silos in the workplace and the importance of supportive leadership.   Links: Connect with our guest Rob Wood on LinkedIn 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

Security Teams Can’t Do It All with Rob Wood - REWIND

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 loves a former CISO 06:16 - Creating digestable content for all 09:07 - The nuances of MFA 11:16 - Goal setting 14:06 - The harsh reality of content creation 18:56 - Bullets before canon balls 28:53 - Join our mastermind! 29:57 - Balance is key 31:25 - Mastering effective communication 33:29 - Advice for aspiring content creators   Links: Connect with our guest Jason https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrebholz/ Check out Jason’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@teachmecyber 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

The Art of Creating Cybersecurity Content With Jason Rebholz

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: 00:00 - Welcome 01:10 - Introducing guest, Eric Avigdor 02:27 - Cybersecurity is like an orchestra 03:20 - Product Management vs Engineering 04:40 - Misconceptions of Product Management 07:09 - Understanding the product 08:18 - The realities of the job 10:51 - Tying the whole story together 13:32 - Why Votiro? 16:52 - Leading the way in innovation 19:05 - A word about our sponsor 21:24 - A use-case storytime 23:17 - Integrating where content resides 25:06 - Security + collaboration is the goal 27:50 - Advice for aspiring Product Managers Links: Connect with Eric Avigdor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-avigdor-0b561118/  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

Humility In Product Management with Eric Avigdor

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 team cultures 11:58 - Creating opportunities for collaboration 14:28 - Setting goals and expectations 17:24 - Creating team identity together 24:15 - Identifying areas for improvement 28:09 - Psychological safety in leadership 30:12 - Creating a safe space 34:52 - Adults and the inner child 37:26 - Empathy and understanding Links: Connect with Marty Overman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martyoverman/ 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

Leadership In Cybersecurity with Marty Overman

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 - Welcome 01:35 - Introducing guest, Jamie Blasco 02:25 - How does SaaS fit into AI today? 03:52 - Areas of opportunity for AI & SaaS 05:17 - A walk down Jamie’s memory lane 09:56 - Finding the shadow IT 15:08 - What are the risks? 18:26 - A word from our sponsor! 20:40 - 3rd party risk & data usage 24:33 - Types of AI Nudge is utilizing 26:38 - The premise behind Nudge 30:50 - Employees as part of the solution 33:13 - SaaS — critical but risky 36:43 - Jamie’s final words of advice 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.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

SaaS Opportunities & Consequences of Using AI

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 & conveying information  07:39 - How do I tell better stories? 14:25 - The Story Circle & The Hero's Journey 22:11 - Understanding your audience 24:41 - Simplifying cybersecurity  30:20 - The impact of storytelling 36:01 - Mastering storytelling in cybersecurity  Links: 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

Mastering The Art Of Storytelling In Cybersecurity

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

Hacking, Innovation, & the Formation of the First NSA Red Team with Jeff Man

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

Privacy by Design: The Future of Homomorphic Encryption & Secure Data Analytics

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

The Future of AI In Cybersecurity

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

Vulnerability Hunting & AI with Brian Contos

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 

Balancing Work & Parenting In Cybersecurity

We are Ron Eddings and Chris Cochran from the Hacker Valley Studio podcast. We explore the human condition to inspire peak performance in cybersecurity. Join us on our quest to find inspirational stories and knowledge to elevate ourselves and our communities.

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