Cyber Threat Intelligence Podcast Season 1 - Episode 13 (Pedro Kertzman & Bianca Miclea)
What does it take to build an effective Cyber Threat Intelligence function from scratch? In this eye-opening conversation, Bianca Miclea shatters the myth that cybersecurity is only for those with traditional technical backgrounds.
Bianca shares her remarkable journey from politics student to cybersecurity leader, revealing how her academic background became an unexpected asset in the CTI world. "It was one of those 'this is really cool, but I could never do this' thoughts," she explains, describing her initial hesitation before diving into the field. This refreshing perspective demonstrates how diverse educational paths can strengthen cybersecurity teams—an important message for anyone contemplating a career transition.
The conversation explores what makes CTI truly valuable: actionable intelligence that connects directly to security operations. Bianca walks us through her experience establishing a CTI team at a major financial institution, emphasizing the critical difference between information collection and intelligence that drives meaningful security improvements. Her implementation of monthly Mitre ATT&CK exercises brings together cross-functional teams to identify control gaps and assign clear accountability—a practice listeners can immediately adopt to enhance their security posture.
Perhaps most valuable is Bianca's practical advice for managing the overwhelming information flow in threat intelligence. Her concept of "reporting thresholds" offers a framework for prioritization that helps CTI teams focus on what truly matters while preventing analyst burnout. Combined with her insights on board communication, community engagement, and measuring CTI effectiveness, this episode delivers a masterclass in modern threat intelligence leadership.
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Thanks for tuning in! If you found this episode valuable, don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review. Got thoughts or questions? Connect with us on our LinkedIn Group: Cyber Threat Intelligence Podcast—we’d love to hear from you. If you know anyone with CTI expertise that would like to be interviewed in the show, just let us know. Until next time, stay sharp and stay secure!