Welcome back… to the show! Hacker Valley Studio podcast features Host Ron Eddings, as he explores the world of cybersecurity through the eyes of professionals in the industry. We cover everything from inspirational real-life stories in tech, to highlighting influential cybersecurity companies, and we do so in a fun and enthusiastic way. We’re making cybersecurity accessible, creating a whole new form of entertainment: cybertainment.
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Welcome back… to the show! Hacker Valley Studio podcast features Host Ron Eddings, as he explores the world of cybersecurity through the eyes of professionals in the industry. We cover everything from inspirational real-life stories in tech, to highlighting influential cybersecurity companies, and we do so in a fun and enthusiastic way. We’re making cybersecurity accessible, creating a whole new form of entertainment: cybertainment.
Purple Teaming Is the New Job Security with Maril Vernon
Hacker Valley Studio
43 minutes 26 seconds
4 months ago
Purple Teaming Is the New Job Security with Maril Vernon
Cybersecurity isn’t just red or blue anymore... it’s purple, white, and deeply human. Maril Vernon, award-winning ethical hacker and Senior Solutions Architect at NetSPI, returns to the Hacker Valley Studio to discuss purple teaming as the most future-proof career path in cyber. She opens up about mentorship, burnout, compensation realities, and how we’re still failing the fundamentals.
Together, Ron and Maril dig into what purple teaming really is (and isn’t), why soft skills matter more than ever, and how defenders are the frontline signal source for law enforcement. From guiding her mom into IR to co-founding Mind Over Cyber, Maril embodies what it means to show up for the cyber community and demand more from the culture itself.
Impactful Moments
00:00 - Introduction01:01 - Maril’s role at NetSPI03:00 - Why purple skills are future-proof05:19 - Salary truths in purple teaming08:30 - Know your value, negotiate wisely13:07 - How defenders enable law enforcement16:22 - The real meaning of purple teaming18:39 - Common misconceptions debunked24:45 - People are always the soft spot26:01 - The two security stack must-haves29:00 - Mom made it to incident response30:48 - Maril’s mentorship philosophy34:09 - Why you need to post anyway36:35 - What Mind Over Cyber is really about40:00 - CISOs are burning out silently41:31 - Closing thoughts
Links:
Connect with our guest, Maril Vernon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilvernon
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Hacker Valley Studio
Welcome back… to the show! Hacker Valley Studio podcast features Host Ron Eddings, as he explores the world of cybersecurity through the eyes of professionals in the industry. We cover everything from inspirational real-life stories in tech, to highlighting influential cybersecurity companies, and we do so in a fun and enthusiastic way. We’re making cybersecurity accessible, creating a whole new form of entertainment: cybertainment.