🔥 Nobody Got Fired for Hiring IBM... But Maybe They Should Have

In this episode of Dirty South Security, we're pulling back the curtain on the security industrial complex. Tony UV sits down with Dan Tentler to discuss why small boutique security firms are running circles around the big consulting giants, and why that matters more than ever in the age of AI.

Host: Tony UV
Guest: Dan Tentler

What We Cover:

The Boutique Advantage We break down why procurement processes favor mediocrity, the difference between checkbox security and actual security, and why small firms' "unfair advantages" (speed, skin in the game, and actually giving a damn) are reshaping the industry.

Real Offensive Security Most pentests are security theater. We discuss what adversary emulation actually looks like, the attack techniques keeping security professionals up at night (supply chain attacks, LOLBins, modern C2 frameworks), and the massive gap between what vendors sell and what attackers actually do.

AI: The Offensive Security Inflection Point When everyone has AI, attack surface becomes intelligence surface. We explore how LLMs are being weaponized for polymorphic malware, why prompt injection is the new SQL injection, and why companies building AI without offensive security expertise are sitting ducks.

The Business of Staying Small and Deadly Why we don't want to be a 500-person firm, the scaling trap that kills quality, and how to build sustainable boutique practices through high-value, low-volume models.

Hot Takes & Hard Truths We tackle controversial topics: Are most cybersecurity certifications worthless? Is MITRE ATT&CK just intimidating wallpaper? Zero trust products vs. real zero trust. Bug bounties: innovation or race to the bottom? The ethics of red teaming and where we draw the line.

Key Takeaway:

If your security team can't think like attackers, you're already compromised.

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// ABOUT VERSPRITE //
VerSprite is a leader in risk-based cybersecurity services and PASTA threat modeling, enabling businesses to improve the protection of critical assets, ensure compliance, and manage risk. Our mission is to help you understand and improve your organization’s cybersecurity posture. With cyberattacks increasing in number and sophistication daily, it is crucial to protect your organization’s assets, protect your clients, and maintain the same, excellent reputation and trust you have worked hard to build. We believe that an integrated approach will result in better and more cost-effective security practices and business outcomes.