Hacker Valley Studio

• Can AI Run Your SOC Better Than You? with Ahmed Achchak

  What if your security team never missed a single alert and actually had time to think strategically? In this episode, Ahmed Achchak, CEO and Co-Founder of Qevlar AI, reveals how autonomous SOCs are reshaping security operations worldwide. From tackling alert fatigue to empowering analysts with intelligent AI-driven investigations, Ahmed shares the inside story of building a system that can act on threats faster than any human alone. Learn how Qevlar’s innovative approach is giving organizations clarity, control, and measurable ROI while freeing security teams to focus on what truly matters. Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction 01:30 - Founding Qevlar AI by chance 03:30 - Inefficiency of current SOCs 05:00 - Augmenting analysts, not replacing them 08:00 - AI investigating alerts at scale 11:30 - How autonomous agents handle phishing 14:30 - Why tackling all alerts maximizes ROI 17:30 - Graph technology as investigation backbone 25:00 - Limitations and randomness of LLMs 30:30 - Advice for testing AI in SOCs Links Connect with our guest Ahmed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmed-achchak-872554109/   Check out Qevlar’s website: https://www.qevlar.com/   Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/    

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• Making Cybersecurity Marketing Creative (and a Little Sexy) with Maria Velasquez

  Who said cybersecurity had to be serious? The future of cyber is creative, human, and even a little sexy. In this special 400th episode, Ron Eddings celebrates six incredible years of Hacker Valley Studio with one of cyber’s most creative voices, Maria Velasquez, Co-Founder of the Cybersecurity Marketing Society and Co-Host of Breaking Through in Cybersecurity Marketing. Together, they discuss how bold storytelling, authentic community, and a touch of fun are reshaping the way we connect in cybersecurity. Maria opens up about turning burnout into purpose, building a 4,000-strong global movement, and why the next frontier in cyber might just be entertainment.   Impactful Moments: 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - CISA layoffs and collaboration fragility 04:00 - Welcoming Maria Velasquez 06:00 - How loneliness sparked a global community 08:00 - Why collaboration fuels cybersecurity growth 10:00 - When cybersecurity marketing was “boring” 12:00 - The rise of creativity and brand power 14:00 - Story behind Torque’s “Kill the S.O.A.R” campaign 15:00 - Making cybersecurity emotional and human 17:00 - Maria’s advice for bold marketing leaders 18:00 - The next big thing: experiential marketing 20:00 - Inside Cyber Marketing Con 2025 24:00 - Final reflections on community and creativity 27:00 - Ron’s takeaways: connection drives innovation Links: Connect with Maria on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-vepa/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/

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• How to See Your Organization Like a Hacker with Chris Dale

  To defend like a human, you first have to think like a hacker. In this episode, Ron Eddings sits down with Chris Dale, Co-Founder and Chief Hacking Officer at River Security, to explore the human side of hacking, where curiosity, persistence, and vigilance meet defense. Chris shares how the traditional idea of penetration testing has evolved into a continuous journey of discovery, and why reconnaissance and storytelling are critical tools for modern defenders. From real-world breach stories to lessons on trust and responsibility, this episode reveals how thinking like a hacker, and acting like a human can transform the way we approach cybersecurity.   Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction and massive breach overview 03:00 - Trusted systems become exposure points 05:00 - Meet Chris Dale of River Security 07:00 - The problem with traditional pen testing 08:30 - Continuous reconnaissance and real-world risk 10:00 - Knowing yourself as a security principle 13:00 - The meaning of continuous vigilance 15:00 - Turning cybersecurity lessons into stories 18:00 - Storytelling and mindset in defense 19:30 - Final takeaways on fundamentals and vigilance   Links: Connect with our Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisad/ Read the Tech Radar article here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/f5-breach-fallout-over-266-000-instances-exposed-to-remote-attacks Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/      

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• Coding by Vibe: The Future of AI-Built Security with Ron Eddings

  When code meets intuition, innovation gets personal. But what happens when we let AI vibe with our ideas? In this episode, Ron Eddings covers the rise of AI-driven development from Vibe Coding, where natural language shapes real code, to the emerging Model Context Protocols (MCPs) that redefine how apps talk to AI. He breaks down the recent Figma MCP vulnerability to discuss how creativity and security now collide in surprising ways. With hands-on insights using Raycast and practical steps for building responsibly, Ron takes you inside a new era where human intuition and machine intelligence truly build together.     Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - The Figma vulnerability explained 03:00 - Why MCP security matters 05:00 - What vibe coding really means 07:00 - Writing with intention and context 08:00 - The power of structured prompting 10:00 - How MCP connects everything 12:00 - Why adoption is skyrocketing 15:00 - Setting up an MCP server 17:00 - Agents, actions, and security trust 19:00 - The real takeaway: curiosity with caution 30:00 - Predictions on OpenAI’s upcoming browser 33:00 - The profit battle between OpenAI and Microsoft 35:00 - Windsurf’s rollercoaster of acquisitions   Links: Connect with our Ron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronaldeddings/ Check out the Hacker News article here:  https://thehackernews.com/2025/10/severe-figma-mcp-vulnerability-lets.html?m=1   Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/  

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• Learning How to Learn: Mastering the Cyber Fundamentals with Rich Greene

  The real edge in cybersecurity isn’t found in new tools, it’s built through timeless fundamentals and a mindset that never stops learning. In this episode, Ron sits down with Rich Greene, Senior Solutions Engineer and Instructor at SANS Institute, to uncover how true cyber value starts with skills, curiosity, and mindset. Rich shares his remarkable story of surviving a battlefield injury, retraining his brain, and how that journey shaped his approach to mastering cybersecurity. Together, they connect real-world lessons like the recent Discord breach to the core truth that even advanced systems depend on people who master the basics. Impactful Moments 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Discord breach and third-party risk 05:00 - Meet Rich Greene from SANS 06:00 - The power of mastering fundamentals 07:00 - Learning how to learn 08:30 - Rich’s story of rebuilding his memory 11:00 - Forcing the brain to grow stronger 12:00 - Top skills that get you paid 14:00 - Skills that lead to fulfillment 16:00 - Fundamentals that fuel long-term success 17:00 - The OSI model decoded 20:00 - Why operating systems matter 21:00 - Security operations fundamentals 23:00 - Why cloud is the #1 must-learn skill 25:00 - Final advice: sharpen your fundamentals   Links Connect with our Rich on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/secgreene/ Check out our upcoming events: https://www.hackervalley.com/livestreams Join our creative mastermind and stand out as a cybersecurity professional: https://www.patreon.com/hackervalleystudio Love Hacker Valley Studio? Pick up some swag: https://store.hackervalley.com Continue the conversation by joining our Discord: https://hackervalley.com/discord Become a sponsor of the show to amplify your brand: https://hackervalley.com/work-with-us/  

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