Hacker Valley Studio

What happens when cutting-edge AI meets the art of deception? In this episode, Iain Jackson, Academy Hive Leader at CovertSwarm, takes us through the uncanny potential and risks of synthetic voices and AI in cybersecurity.  Together, Ron and Iain discuss how adversaries are using AI to bypass human intuition. From synthetic voice calls to automating phishing attacks at scale, this episode explores...

What happens when cybersecurity puts people first? Julie Haney, Human-Centered Cybersecurity Program Lead at NIST, shares how designing security with humans at the center leads to greater adoption, reduced frustration, and stronger protection. In this episode, Julie discusses how to improve user adoption by simplifying complex security processes, why empathy is a game-changer for effective securit...

Do you deserve to be hacked? With that bold tagline, CovertSwarm is pushing leaders to rethink how they test and defend their systems, and in this episode, they’re sharing firsthand how organizations can prepare for adversaries in the wild. Recorded at Black Hat 2024, Ron is joined by Ilan Fehler, US Sales Lead at CovertSwarm, and Dahvid Schloss, Hive Leader at CovertSwarm to explore the world of...

Cybersecurity is evolving fast, and AI is at the center. Roy Halevi, Co-Founder and CTO of Intezer, explains how AI automates SOC operations, improving speed and accuracy while freeing up teams to focus on critical threats. In this conversation with host Ron Eddings, Roy explains how AI automates critical tasks like alert investigation and response, reducing noise and improving accuracy. Roy share...

Can you truly protect what you can't see? Wes Wright, Chief Healthcare Officer at Ordr, joins Ron to share how organizations can shine a light on their network and asset blind spots and take control of their digital assets. In this episode, Ron and Wes discuss the importance of asset visibility in cybersecurity, outlining the potential of CAASM (Cyber Asset and Attack Surface Management) and how i...

How do you create waves of change in an industry? Connie Matthews, Founder and CEO of ReynCon, speaks with Ron about the power of resilience, mentorship, and taking that first bold step in cybersecurity. In this powerful episode, Connie shares her path as a pioneering woman in cybersecurity. Discussing diversity, mentorship, and her nonprofit EmpoW-ER, Connie’s shared lessons and insights on resil...

Is cybersecurity gatekeeping holding back the industry? Naomi Buckwalter, Senior Director of Product Security at Contrast Security and Founder of the Cybersecurity Gatebreakers Foundation, argues that fresh talent and open doors are crucial for industry growth. In this episode, Naomi challenges why industry hiring norms fall short, shares candid stories of her own missteps, and explains why humili...

In a world filled with AI-generated deceptions, how do we discern what’s real? Ron sits down with Perry Carpenter, author of FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI-Generated Deceptions, to discuss the risks and the potential of synthetic media and human risk management. Whether you’re worried about deepfakes or curious about AI’s role in creativity, this...

How does one become a true security leader? According to Nathan Case, it’s not about titles—it’s about impact.  In this episode, Nathan Case, VP of Cloud Security at Clarity, shares his journey through security leadership, including stories from his time at AWS and his approach to building mission-driven teams. Nathan discusses balancing family with leadership, the future of AI in cybersecurity, a...

How can AI shape the future of cybersecurity defense? In this episode, we dive into SOC operations, AI integration, and the latest in threat detection with John Hubbard, Cyber Defense Curriculum Lead at SANS. John discusses the expansive landscape of cybersecurity defense, while sharing insights on AI's role in threat detection and the cutting-edge tools that are pushing the boundaries of cybersec...

Have you ever lost something important, only to find out someone moved it without telling you? The same thing happens with our personal and business data. But what if you could see what the adversary sees?  In this episode, Jason Haddix, Field CISO at Flare, shares his experiences in red teaming, accessing dark web credentials, and protecting against malicious actors. Whether you're curious about...

In this episode, Ron Eddings and Jen Langdon speak with Senthil Ramakrishnan, Assistant Vice President of Cybersecurity Product at AT&T Business. Senthil shares information about how a new product, AT&T Dynamic Defense™, helps protect customers by providing threat detection and mitigation at the network edge. They’ll discuss how it can address evolving cybersecurity threats, including real...

Technical skills open doors, but are soft skills sealing the deal? In this episode, Evgeniy Kharam reveals how communication and connection lead to success in technical sales.    From vulnerability to voice control, Evgeniy shares how to connect with clients and sell more effectively in tech.   Evgeniy Kharam has authored “Architecting Success: The Art of Soft Skills and Technical Sales”, to teach...

Ever wondered how the best defenders become unstoppable? They think like the attackers. In this episode with Jason Haddix, we reveal the strategies hackers don’t want you to know about and show you how to use them to your advantage. Jason, CEO of Arcanum Information Security and Field CISO at Flare, helps us step into the mind of a hacker. With stories and insights that will change how you think a...

Joe South is a testament to resilience, unconventional decisions, and finding success in unexpected places. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a rut or on the verge of giving up, Joe’s experience might be the jolt you need to keep pushing forward. Joe, Principal Security Engineer and host of the “Security Unfiltered” podcast, shares his journey into cybersecurity and battling depression after being reje...

At Black Hat 2024, we sat down with Kayla Williams, Chief Information Security Officer at Devo, to discuss her career journey, the role of AI in cybersecurity, and the pervasive issue of burnout among SOC analysts. Through her research with Wakefield Research, Kayla and her team discovered that 83% of IT professionals are burnt out due to stress, lack of sleep, and anxiety. IT and Security burnout...

In this episode, Ron sits down at Black Hat with guest Seemant Sehgal , Founder & CEO of BreachLock, to learn more about how offensive security, such as red teaming and pen testing, fits into the cyber ecosystem. Seemant highlights how his background as a practitioner has helped him better understand the pain points that customers feel and assist them in making the most of their budget. Impact...

In this episode, Ron and Jen welcome you to Vegas and discuss a little background on Black Hat and DEF CON and how to make the most of your time professionally. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Welcome 00:56 - Hello From Vegas! 01:41 - Conference Anxiety 03:43 - Origins of Black Hat 06:17 - Which Conference? 08:18 - Conference Strategy 11:47+ - You Can Only Pick One…   Links: Check out our upcoming even...

In this episode, Hosts Ron Eddings and Jen Langdon discuss questions about AI in Cyber. From the current state to where AI could be going, to resources to help you engage and up-level, there’s a little bit of everything for everyone in this episode.   Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Welcome 00:46 - Introduction 02:29 - Engineering AI 06:54 - Was it Made By AI? 09:07 - Join Our Mastermind 10:15 - AI in...

In this episode, hosts Ron Eddings and Jen Langdon discuss the power of storytelling through various media. Whether your goal is to create video content, deliver keynotes on stage, or be creative through other digital mediums, there will be something for everyone! Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Welcome 01:05 - Introductions 04:55 - Storytelling in Story Circle 09:23 - Crossing Across the Story Circle...

In this episode, Ron Eddings will explore the massive adaptation of SaaS applications and ways to tame the beast. Our guest Yoni Shohet, Co-Founder & CEO at Valence Security, will help provide insight into the capabilities of a SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) platform and best practices for implementing a SaaS security solution. Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Welcome 01:59 - Introducing gu...

In this episode, Host Ron Eddings is joined by guests Anirban Banerjee, CEO and Co-Founder at Riscosity, and James Berthoty, Founder and Analyst at Latio Tech. Together they focus on data security, AI-driven product development, and the challenges of implementing AI solutions responsibly. Anirban discusses the importance of organizational buy-in and well-defined policies, while James underscores t...

In this episode, Host Ron Eddings catches up with one of his colleagues, Whitney Palacios, Vice President and CISO at BigBear.ai . They explore the challenges and responsibilities of being a CISO and Whitney addresses key cybersecurity issues such as the importance of balancing security with innovation, especially in the context of AI. Whitney offers sage insight into Security Operations Centers (...

In this episode, Host Ron Eddings catches up with longtime friend, Tanya Janca, Head of Education and Community at SemGrep and author of 'Alice and Bob Learn Application Security.' Tanya shares her experiences from working in the Canadian government to joining Microsoft and eventually founding WeHackPurple. Tanya talks about her new role at SemGrep, where she focuses on making application security...

In this episode, Hosts Ron Eddings, and Jen Langdon share takeaways from Ron's RSA conversation with Colin Constable, Co-Founder and CTO at Atsign On this show, they’ll break down Networking 2.0 and how it can serve as the next evolution for data ownership and access control. Colin and his team at Atsign have built the atProtocol®, a new open-source internet protocol that makes private and secure...