Season 1 - Episode 2 (Pedro Kertzman & A. Stryker)
whatshot 6 snips
Mar 20, 2025
This insightful discussion highlights the essential role of threat intelligence in cybersecurity strategy. The guest shares her unconventional journey from marketing to becoming a threat intelligence analyst, emphasizing the importance of transferable skills. There’s a focus on evaluating cybersecurity vendors, advocating for genuine security practices over mere compliance. The conversation also touches on community engagement and learning opportunities in the field, demonstrating the vibrant support available for newcomers in cybersecurity.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Unconventional Cybersecurity Entry
Stryker transitioned into cybersecurity from content marketing after realizing her prior work involved security elements.
She leveraged her writing skills to break into CTI despite not following the traditional military or IT pipeline.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Overcome Hiring Bias with Niche
Overcome cybersecurity hiring bias by being exceptionally skilled and niche-focused.
Define your cyber niche aligned with your strengths, demand, and interest to improve chances.
insights INSIGHT
CTI Program Maturity Levels
Not every organization needs a dedicated CTI team but all need threat intelligence.
CTI maturity spans from basic information gathering to fully resourced, specialized teams.
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Threat intelligence forms the backbone of effective cybersecurity strategy, but what does it really take to build a successful CTI program? In this fascinating conversation, Stryker, a threat intelligence analyst at a major US insurance company, challenges conventional wisdom by asserting that while every organization needs threat information, not every organization requires a dedicated threat intelligence team.
Drawing from her unconventional journey from marketing professional to threat intelligence analyst, Stryker offers a refreshing perspective on career transitions in cybersecurity. "I'm a poster child for having to do everything the difficult way," she admits, before revealing how she recontextualized her decade of content marketing experience into valuable security skills. Her story demolishes the myth that there's only one path into the industry, though she acknowledges the reality: "It's not an entry-level position... you have to be that much better than everybody else to overcome bias."
The conversation delves into the maturity spectrum of threat intelligence capabilities, from organizations just beginning to monitor key resources to those with fully dedicated teams. Stryker provides practical advice on selecting security partners who offer contextual guidance rather than checkbox compliance: "Listen for the ones who say 'no, and here's why, but here's what you can do instead.' That's the sign of an organization that wants to be a partner."
For professionals looking to sharpen their CTI knowledge, Stryker emphasizes the importance of primary sources over media summaries and shares her methodology for building a comprehensive intelligence feed. She also reveals her unique approach to helping others transition into cybersecurity through her "Career Campaigns" workshop, which uses tabletop RPG concepts to help people reimagine their professional skills.
Whether you're building a threat intelligence program, considering a career pivot, or simply fascinated by the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, this episode offers invaluable insights from someone who's navigated the journey firsthand. Subscribe now for more conversations with Cyber Threat Intelligence thought leaders who are reshaping how we think about CTI.
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!
Cyber Threat Intelligence Podcast