SSP 011: Building a Security Team or Hire a MS(S)P? w/ Karim Hijazi

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Build my Own Security team or Hire a MS(S)P? This is a common question most businesses will have to answer at some point of its’ life.

Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer or “blue pill” that solves everyone’s problems.

What should you look for? How should you determine exactly what you need?

Today we’re speaking with Karim Hijazi, CEO of Previalion as he shares his thoughts behind building a security team from scratch and things to look out for when hiring a MS(S)P?

We’ll unpack his passion towards educating security professionals and the rest of the business on how to be ore secure.

You’ll quickly connect with Karim’s unique ability to break down complex concepts into easily digestible metaphors that you can understand and implement in your own security program.

Let’s get into it!

Listen to Karim’s first conversation HERE

Today’s Guest

Karim Hijazi - Connect

Bio:

Karim has been at the forefront of attacker counterintelligence and infiltration research for the last decade, developing new ways for security teams to clandestinely monitor hackers and anticipate attacks before they happen. Prior to launching Prevailion, Karim was the founder/CEO of Unveillance, an early pioneer in advanced threat intelligence and the first cloud-based data leak intelligence platform.

Karim successfully exited Unveillance in 2012 with an acquisition by Mandiant, and he was then appointed as Mandiant’s new director of intelligence. While at Mandiant, Karim played an important role in that company’s well-known APT1 report released in 2013, which definitively linked the People’s Liberation Army of China to widespread cyber espionage activity against US interests. Mandiant was acquired by FireEye soon after.

During the hacktivist heydays of the early 2010s, Karim engaged in a well-documented battle with the Anonymous offshoot “LulzSec,” after the group compromised an InfraGard database. Karim’s confrontation with the group was featured in Parmy Olson’s book, “We Are Anonymous,” as well as national media like CNN and CNET. During the Arab Spring, Karim also served as a key contributor to the Cyber Security Forum Initiative’s “Project Cyber Dawn Libya,” which provided the first in-depth look at Libyan cyber warfare capabilities and defenses. CSFI’s membership includes military officials, academics and business leaders from the US and around the world.

Over the years, Karim has served as a cybersecurity industry source for many prominent news outlets, including CNN, Fox News, Washington Post, The New York Times, Forbes, CyberScoop and many more.

Before devoting his work full-time to defense and intelligence product development, Karim served as founder at Demiurge Consulting, a counterintelligence and countermeasure consultancy whose clients and collaborations included Coca-Cola, TSYS, Baker Botts LLP, McKesson, Palantir, MIT, Berkeley and Stanford Universities.

Listen to Karim's Podcast, Introverted Iconoclast Here

You’ll Learn:

  1. How to build a Security Team from Scratch

  2. What to Consider when hiring new talent

  3. How to Identify the best talent

  4. What a MSP or MSSP should provide

  5. Red Flags from a MSSP

  6. The impact team dynamic has on the success of the organization

Resources:

Equipment I used:

All Links below are amazon affiliate links. These are products that I bought with my own hard earned dollars to create a show/experience that my audience will enjoy. As you can tell, equipment is expensive. These links will help support the show at no additional expense to you. If you have any questions about any of the items and how I use them, email me at eddie@simplysecurepodcast.com.

Video Stuff

  • iPhone 12 Pro Max - Link

  • Neon Lightening Bolt - Link

  • Desk Clamp - Link

  • Lightening AV adapter - Link

  • GVM Lights - Link

  • GVM Soft Box - Link

  • Backlight - Link

  • RGB Lights for Background - Link

  • HDMI Capture Card - Link

  • Wall mount Boom Arm - Link

Audio Stuff

  • Shure Mic & Boom Arm - Link

  • Shock Mount - Link

  • Sony Headphones - Link

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SSP 012: How to Identify, Assess and Implement a New Security Tool w/ Ron Eddings

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SSP 010: Cyber Security and the Business w/ Keyaan Williams