In the latest episode of SOC Unlocked, host Mick Leach sits down with Mike Vetri, Director of Security Operations at a healthcare tech company, to discuss his unique path from Air Force pilot training to becoming a leader in cybersecurity. Mike reflects on the mindset required to thrive in the constantly evolving field of cyber defense, drawing from his military background and his experience leading critical operations in both government and private sectors. He highlights the importance of continuous learning, comparing cybersecurity to martial arts—where you need to “train like a black belt” to stay ahead of adversaries. Mike also shares valuable insights on managing high-stress incidents, the need for cross-training within security teams, and why setting boundaries with leadership during a cyber crisis is crucial.

Senior Information Security Engineer Steven Dumolt joins SOC Unlocked to share the real-world challenges of working in a SOC. From scaling cloud-first operations to tackling alert fatigue and AI hype, he offers insights on resilience, teamwork, and career growth in cybersecurity.

In the latest episode of SOC Unlocked, host Mick Leach sits down with Nikki Milburn, Franklin County’s Chief Information Security Officer, who rose from an unexpected start to become a leader of a dynamic security team. Nikki unveils her strategies for safeguarding essential public infrastructure, navigating the intense speed of cyber threats, and empowering the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. Discover how Nikki’s commitment to community and collaboration drives her approach to security and keeps public services resilient against the latest threats.

Healthcare security leader Michael Myint joins host Mick Leach on the latest episode of SOC Unlocked to explore how AI is changing security operations, what modern leaders should expect from emerging vendors, and why the fundamentals still matter. Drawing on 30 years in information security, Michael shares a practical view of where AI is delivering value today—and where hype still outpaces reality.

Together, Mick and Michael discuss deepfakes, AI-powered SOC workflows, startup innovation, board-level reporting, and the career habits that separate good practitioners from future security leaders. The conversation lands on a clear takeaway: teams should embrace modern security architectures, but never at the expense of sound judgment, strong foundations, and ownership.

Host Mick Leach welcomes renowned ethical hacker and author FC to SOC Unlocked for an unforgettable deep dive into the human side of cybersecurity. From walking unnoticed into a government facility with hundreds of cameras to the infamous “gold bar” heist that still makes clients squirm, FC’s stories reveal how curiosity, timing, and psychology often outsmart even the strongest technical defenses.

Together, Mick and FC explore the fine line between ethical hacking and criminal creativity, the crucial role of trust (and why it so often backfires), and how AI is reshaping both sides of the security battlefield. The conversation is equal parts thrilling and practical—a reminder that true security depends less on tools and more on awareness, discipline, and a healthy dose of skepticism.

In this episode of SOC Unlocked: Tales from the Cybersecurity Frontline, host and SOC expert Mick Leach chats with Jeremy Ventura, Field CISO at Myriad360. The pair discuss the importance of Field CISOs in guiding and advising customers, the value of relationships with value-added resellers, and the art of storytelling in cybersecurity. They also highlight the challenges faced by cybersecurity teams and the role of AI can play as an enabler rather than a threat. Finally, Jeremy provides advice for individuals aspiring to work in a SOC, emphasizing the importance of being hungry, humble, and smart, and the need for networking and taking risks.

In this episode of SOC Unlocked: Tales from the Cybersecurity Frontline, host and SOC expert Mick Leach sits down with Joe South, a seasoned cybersecurity expert and Principal Cloud Security Engineer, to explore his career journey and insights into the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity. Joe shares his path from starting in IT to eventually transitioning into the cybersecurity field, offering valuable advice for anyone looking to break into the industry. Throughout the episode, he emphasizes the importance of persistence in the face of rejection, recounts a memorable incident involving a password rotation issue that caused significant disruption, and highlights the crucial role of effective communication and thorough testing in preventing such mishaps. For those aspiring to enter cybersecurity, Joe also provides practical guidance, from building a home lab to continuous learning and earning essential certifications. Tune in to learn more.

Threat intelligence leader Piotr Wojtyla joins host Mick Leach on the latest episode of SOC Unlocked to unpack how AI, behavioral modeling, and threat intelligence are converging to reshape modern security operations. Drawing from years in incident response and nation-state investigations, Piotr explains why combining known-good behavior with known-bad intelligence is critical to detecting today’s most evasive threats.

Together, Mick and Piotr explore how machine learning and LLMs are transforming the SOC from a linear alert factory into a feedback-driven decision engine—while also exposing new risks, from remote insider scams to agentic AI and SaaS token abuse. The conversation blends war stories, practical lessons, and forward-looking insight, underscoring a central theme: AI can elevate defenders dramatically, but strong security still depends on human judgment, curiosity, and fundamentals done right.