Automating the Blue Team | Kevin Mata (Swimlane) on SOAR & AI in Cybersecurity

Automation is changing the way defenders work. In this episode of Simply Defensive, we sit down with Kevin Mata, Director of Cloud Operations at Swimlane, to talk about his journey from flipping burgers at In-N-Out to flipping SOC alerts with automation, SOAR, and AI.

Kevin shares how he got started in cybersecurity, how Swimlane helps Blue Teams save time and reduce alert fatigue, and where AI is already making a difference in the SOC. Along the way, he and Wade swap stories about early career struggles, Python hacks, and the future of automation in security operations.

If you’ve ever wondered how much you can trust automation, what SOAR really does in a SOC, or how AI will shape the future of defenders—this episode is for you.

👉 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Kevin’s unique career journey: In-N-Out → SOC → Swimlane leadership
- How to use automation to supercharge Blue Team efficiency
- The role of SOAR platforms in ticketing, response, and orchestration
- Where AI fits into SOC operations (and where it doesn’t…yet)
- Tips for defenders at any stage of their career

🔗 Links & References from the Episode:
- Swimlane: https://swimlane.com
- Recorded Future: https://www.recordedfuture.com
- VirusTotal: https://www.virustotal.com
- Mistral AI: https://mistral.ai

👥 Connect with Us on LinkedIn:
- Josh Mason (Co-Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacmason
- Wade Wells (Co-Host): https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadingthrulogs/
- Kevin Mata (Guest): https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinmata
- Swimlane: https://www.linkedin.com/company/swimlane

🎙️ More Simply Defensive
- Full playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4Q-ttyNIRAr6DVrsASx1-Fv-TsooJ3M4
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/72QTocT5FSTSPV7o1UcMS4
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/il/podcast/simply-defensive/id1773806182

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with your fellow defenders. Every week, Josh Mason and Wade Wells bring you practical, no-fluff conversations with cybersecurity leaders.

=========================
Sponsored by ThreatLocker - Free 30-day trial of ThreatLocker
https://www.threatlocker.com/simplydefensive
=========================
All the ways to connect with Simply Cyber
https://SimplyCyber.io/Socials
=========================
This podcast is presented by Simply Cyber Media Group