From Navy Red Team to Blue Team: David Perez's Cybersecurity Journey

In this episode of Simply Defensive, hosts Josh Mason and Wade What’s Up interview David Perez, a Navy veteran who transitioned from red teaming to blue teaming in cybersecurity. David shares insights into his career path, his experience with the Navy’s Skillbridge program, and the challenges he faced moving from a structured military environment to the more fluid civilian sector.

David also discusses the importance of thinking like an attacker for effective defense, his thoughts on training and detection engineering, and offers valuable advice for those looking to break into the cybersecurity field. Join the conversation to learn about David’s journey, his day-to-day responsibilities, and how he stays sharp in the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity.

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00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:19 David Perez's Cybersecurity Journey

00:54 Transition from Military to Civilian Cybersecurity

01:48 Skill Bridge Experience

03:07 First SOC Job and Responsibilities

03:51 Becoming a Detection Engineer

04:41 Challenges and Freedom in Cybersecurity Roles

08:28 Detection Engineering Insights

11:06 Risk-Based Alerting

13:14 Detection Rule Management

16:38 Detection Building Process

18:24 Automated Threat Hunting

19:40 Challenges in Detection Engineering

20:15 Resources and Learning for Detection Engineering

21:46 Teaching and Learning in Cybersecurity

22:46 The Importance of Experience in Detection Engineering

28:31 Balancing Work and Personal Life

31:46 Advice for Aspiring Blue Teamers

34:12 Conclusion and Contact Information

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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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