S2 E4: SOC Operations and Metrics with Hayden Covington

Feb 3, 2025

Hayden Covington, a security professional at Black Hills Information Security, shares his expertise in SOC operations and metrics. He discusses the importance of meaningful performance indicators and transparent communication with clients. Hayden also introduces his new online course on SOC foundations, drawing on practical examples with Elastic and Jira. He navigates the challenges of public speaking and shares personal stories from his journey in cybersecurity. Additionally, he emphasizes the value of personal documentation and productivity tips for tech professionals.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Navigating SOC Metrics and Communication

02:05 • 10min

From Traffic Troubles to SOC Training Innovations

11:38 • 5min

Navigating Public Speaking and Cybersecurity Courses

17:07 • 12min

Gamers' Tales: From D&D to VR Horrors

29:33 • 5min

The Power of Personal Documentation in Tech

34:27 • 2min

In this episode of Simply Defensive, hosts Josh Mason and Wade Wells are joined by Hayden Covington from Black Hills Information Security. Hayden shares insights into his role at a Security Operations Center (SOC), discussing key metrics, challenges in SOC work, and the importance of communication with MSP customers.

The conversation also delves into Hayden's new course on SOC foundations using Elastic and Jira, his experiences with public speaking, and the importance of personal documentation for productivity and problem-solving.

- Hayden’s Webinar on Metrics in the SOC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvsAy4xXrpQ
- Hayden’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayden-covington-468495128/
- Hayden’s Course: https://www.antisyphontraining.com/course/foundations-of-soc-with-elastic-and-jira-with-hayden-covington/

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:18 Hayden's Background and Role at Black Hills
01:15 Importance of SOC Metrics
04:06 Challenges in SOC and Customer Relationships
09:19 Working from Home vs. Office
11:50 Foundations of SOC Course
16:46 Discussing the Course and Coffee Consumption
17:30 Teaching Experiences and Imposter Syndrome
19:10 Career Journey and Working at Black Hills
20:55 Public Speaking and Overcoming Fear
22:52 Balancing Hobbies and Work
27:57 Dungeons & Dragons and Gaming
33:41 Productivity Tips and Tools
34:41 Conclusion and Farewell

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Connect with your hosts:
Josh Mason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuacmason
Wade Wells: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wadingthrulogs
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