In this episode, I interview Jessvin Thomas, a technologist and pioneer in the cyber with Nokia roots to Blackstone, Optiv, & Adlumin and now using AI to solve the data problem at Auguria.
This was a fun interview. I worked with Jessvin when I was at Optiv a decade ago, so we relived some good memories of bringing their MSS practice to market and launching a “NextGen SecOps” solution based on Phantom Cyber (SOAR was new at the time).
Watch the Interview on YouTube
Jessvin shares his journey from Cornell to working in IT support during the dot-com boom to manually inspecting firewall logs. He has a very cool vantage point, having worked IT at Nokia, in Cyber at Blackstone, running Optiv’s MSS business, and other leadership roles at Barracuda and Adlumin.
And of course we cover where he is today as a pioneer in using AI for data management as an advisor to Auguria. I’ve always respected Jessvin’s ability to explain complex technologies in an inspirational way.
Of course, I asked Jessvin, “What advice do you have for product marketers in cyber?” And Jessvin offered valuable advice summed up as - “become obsessed with the customer’s problem.” He also shared a fun story on winning the 2025 Houston SEC Con Launchpad event.
Here is a recap;
01:00 Early Career and Education at Cornell
07:20 First Steps in Cybersecurity from Nokia to Blackstone
13:57 Consulting and Career Growth
19:59 Building and Leading MSSP at Optiv
28:55 Current Ventures in AI and Data Analytics
39:50 Winning the Houston SEC Con
42:47 Advice for Product Marketers and Founders
48:44 Conclusion and Farewell
Brought to you by Cyber PMM
Thanks for listening to the Cyber Markets Brief #43.
Here's what's covered this week:
• Palo Alto Networks buys Chronosphere, boosting their observability game.
• Microsoft launches Autonomous Security at Ignite, aiming for self-sufficient solutions.
• IDC releases the 2025 XDR MarketScape for vendor evaluations.
• SAFE acquires Balbix, enhancing proactive security strategies.
• Aspen Cyber Summit dialogues led by the White House.
• Revolutionizing truth in cybersecurity sales—ditch the flashy pitches.
• Rethinking PMM success metrics for better GTM strategies.
• Cole Grolmus innovates AI agent identity strategies with observability.
• Evan Goldberg on LastPass's move to passwordless solutions.
• Cyber startups rake in a record $360M funding in a week.
• Key questions for CISOs evaluating AI SOC startups.
• Evolution Equity Partners lists top 50 cybersecurity innovators.
• Nudge Security focuses on workforce in their $7M Series A.
• Tier4 AI disrupts security operations with AI MDR.
• Mate Security emerges with wisdom-led AI SOC agent.
• Perplexity AI enhances efficiency with smart AI solutions.
• Dragos seeks a Technical Marketing Manager for ICS defense.
• Palo Alto Networks hiring for Cortex Cloud marketing.
• Strange Ventures offers AI fellowship for innovative minds.
To get this brief sent to your inbox every week, subscribe at www.cyberpmm.substack.com.
This brief is brought to you by Cyber PMM — learn more at www.cyberpmm.com.
Thanks for listening to the Cyber Markets Brief. Here’s what’s covered this week:
• Google launches Unified Security “Recommended”
• Deepwatch restructures around AI investment
• Identity market shifts as AI native platforms develop
• Forrester defines proactive security platforms
• Gartner initiates Exposure Assessment Platforms
• Pete Shoard on preparing for Autonomous SOCs
• CSA publishes new AI SOC benchmark
• Guardian covers the human toll of SolarWinds
• McKinsey’s State of AI 2025
• Spotlight’s 2025 analyst survey
• Gartner outlines the biggest PMM challenges
• Maze launches AI for VM
• AI security absorption analysis
• OpenAI introduces GPT 5.1
• PMM roles at Huntress, iboss, and SpecterOps
To get this brief sent to your inbox every week, subscribe at www.cyberpmm.substack.com.
This brief is brought to you by Cyber PMM — learn more at www.cyberpmm.com.
🚀 Cyber Markets Brief #41 is out.
🧠 Zscaler acquires SPLX — securing the AI lifecycle
📊 Gartner flags AI risk #2 for enterprise leaders
⚙️ Gartner SecOps Workflow — convergence across detection, response, and exposure
🤖 CrowdStrike launches Charlotte Agentic SOAR
🌍 CrowdStrike EMEA Threat Report — ransomware and extortion spike across Europe
🛰️ Ansa maps the Agentic Security landscape
💰 Armis raises $435M — IPO prep underway
📈 ConductorOne lands $79M to fight identity sprawl
🔎 SecurityWeek tracks 45 cyber M&A deals this month
💬 Torq’s AI Manifesto breaks the B2B messaging mold
🎨 AI + Jobs thread visualizes creative destruction
🎤 Nvidia GTC: Jensen drops AI infra insights for SecOps
🧭 Gartner PMM Study shows PM reporting trends 6%→15%
💼 PMM gigs: Cyera • Forescout • Lookout
😅 Meme of the week: Windows = patient on life support
🔭 Next up: AWS re:Invent + CyberMarketingCon 2025.
👉 Read the full breakdown and subscribe to get it sent to your inbox: https://open.substack.com/pub/cyberpmm/p/cyber-markets-brief-41-zsccaler-x
This episode was brought to you by Cyber PMM.
Learn more about Cyber PMM at www.cyberpmm.com
This week on the Cyber Markets Brief:
• Dataminr x ThreatConnect acquisition
• Panther doubles down on data
• Gartner’s AI SOC Agent spotlight
• $94.6B cyber market (Omdia)
• The AI gap widens (Gartner)
• Fluvio PMM AI Trends report
• Snyk’s Evo demo
• Sapphire Ventures’ Cyber Map
• OpenAI “Company Knowledge”
• Top PMM jobs + meme of the week
Subscribe to the Brief to receive this in your inbox at www.substack.cyberpmm.com
Brought to you by Cyber PMM - www.cyberpmm.com.
This week on the Cyber Markets Brief 🎧
💼 New Cyber PMM roles → VMRay, Tenable, Arctic Wolf
🔭 Ahead → Forrester Security & Risk Forum (Austin) + AWS re:Invent (Vegas)
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Substack.
Subscribe to get this in your inbox: www.substack.cyberpmm.com
Cyber Markets Brief #38 covers the week’s biggest moves in cybersecurity markets and product marketing: CrowdStrike x Pangea, Frost CWPP Radar, Vega + revel8 funding, AI-sim message testing, top gigs, and fall events.
This audio brief keeps PMMs, founders, and cyber pros ahead of the curve. Subscribe to fight digital chaos, turn noise into narrative, and do more with less.
👉 Subscribe to get weekly Cyber PMM insights, industry news, content plugs, tools, gigs, and tips direct to your inbox. www.cyberpmm.substack.com
Cyber Markets Brief #37 is live 🐳
👉 Subscribe on Substack: https://cyberpmm.substack.com
🧭 What’s Inside:
CrowdStrike scoops Onum. Cato and Varonis make AI security buys. Gartner unveils Cool Vendors in Agentic AI TRiSM. Google launches SecOps Labs. Plus Cloud 100, PMM jobs, events, memes, and a $400K tip.
Read the brief: https://open.substack.com/pub/cyberpmm/p/cyber-markets-brief-36
Cyber Markets Brief #36 is live 📰
👉 Read or listen on Substack:
🧭 What’s Inside:
📰 Industry Updates
• CrowdStrike acquires Onum, reports strong Q2’26
• Cato Networks acquires Aim Security
• Varonis buys SlashNext for AI email security
• Gartner: Cool Vendors in Agentic AI TRiSM
• Google launches SecOps Labs
🎧 Content Plugs
• Release vs. Launch process
• Val Tsanev on the “fatal mistake” of cyber websites
• Jason Oakley’s product page formula
• Kieran Flanigan: rise of the “Super IC”
🚀 Startups & Funding
• 17 cyber firms in Forbes Cloud 100
• SOC Jedi.AI drops an AI-generated SOC debate video
😂 Meme Highlight
• Mike Privette nails the state of the industry
🔭 Things Ahead
• Splunk .conf25 (Boston, Sept 7–10)
• CrowdStrike Fal.Con (Vegas, Sept 15–18)
• Gartner SRM Summit (London, Sept 22–24)
• MCP & AI Agent Security Conf (Sep 30)
• ICS Cybersecurity Conf (Atlanta, Oct 28–30)
• Forrester SR Forum (Austin, Nov 3–4)
💼 Cyber PMM Gigs
• Entrust – Director of Solutions Marketing
• Gravwell – Product Marketing Manager
• Datadog- Sr. PMM
💡 Tip
Keith Richman: Narrative > Writing. OpenAI’s $400K comms hires prove it.
READ OR LISTEN TO THE FULL BRIEF
IDC crowns IR leaders. Forrester’s AEGIS frames agentic-AI security. Okta adds Axiom for PAM. Cloudflare ships AI guardrails. Netskope S-1, Seemplicity $50M, VirtueAI MCPGuard. Plus content plugs, events, gigs, and a PMM impact tip.
Cyber Markets Brief #35 is live. Read or listen on Substack.
📰 Industry
• IDC names IR leaders
• Forrester AEGIS lands for agentic-AI security
• Okta to buy Axiom Security for PAM
• Cloudflare rolls out Zero Trust controls for AI
• CyberMarketingCon kicks off
🎧 Content
• Elena Verna on the end of pure managers (Marketing Against the Grain)
• PMM × customer conversations poll by Tamara Grominsky
• ASPM decoded by James Berthoty
🚀 Startups & Funding
• Netskope files S-1
• Seemplicity raises $50M
• VirtueAI launches MCPGuard
• August funding roundup from Dr. Cyber
🔭 Events
.conf25 Boston • Fal.Con Vegas • Gartner S&R London • ICS Cybersecurity Conf • Forrester S&R Austin
💼 Gigs
Cloudflare Sr PMM • Anvilogic Technical PMM • Datadog PMM, Threat Management
💡 PMM Tip
Pick one metric. Define your impact or you’ll keep explaining your job instead of doing it.
Want this sent to your inbox every week? Subscribe at: www.cyberpmm.substack.com
Cyber Markets Brief #34 is Live!
Netskope files S1. SailPoint x Savvy. Nir Zuk retires. WitnessAI firewall. DARPA CCxAI. MIT AI stat. Zscaler logs debate. Tsanev $10M bet. RedMimicry + 1Security raises. Clueso plug. New gigs. Adam Grant tip.
🔗 Read or listen to the full brief: https://open.substack.com/pub/cyberpmm/p/cyber-markets-brief-34
📰 Industry Updates
• Netskope files S1 — another public cyber player enters the market (thanks for the heads up J.D. Padgett, CFA)
• SailPoint to acquire Savvy (SaaS governance boost)
• Nir Zuk retires from PANW after 20 years shaping the industry
• PAN reports results - analysis from Ivana Delevska
• WitnessAI launches AI Firewall
• Rapid7 shifts into a full SecOps platform (analysis from Cole Grolmus)
🎧 Content Plugs
• DARPA’s CCxAI challenge — Resilience Cyber interview with Andrew Carney
• Google’s Agentic SOC vision
• Zscaler log retention debate - post from Steven Swift
• Val Tsanev bets $10M against “security consolidation”
• MIT: 95% of GenAI projects fail to deliver - posts from Priska Burkard & Rock Lambros
🚀 Startups & Funding
• Resonance Security origin story
• 1Security raises from DigitalOcean Ventures
• RedMimicry GmbH closes seven-figure seed round
🔧 Tool Plug
• Clueso (YC W23) → turns screen recordings into polished product videos & docs
🔭 Things Ahead
• Splunk .conf25 | CrowdStrike Fal.Con | Gartner S&R London | ICS Atlanta | Forrester Austin
💼 Gig Alerts
• Okta • Palo Alto Networks • Hack the Box • Skyhigh • Wiz • IANS • more
• Post from Andy Tzortzinis on PMMs actively looking for work.
💡 Tip
Don’t confuse confidence with competence. - Adam Grant (a.k.a. Reward the person who makes the room smarter--it's not always the chatterbox.)
🔗 Read or listen to the full brief: https://open.substack.com/pub/cyberpmm/p/cyber-markets-brief-34
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Brought to you by Cyber PMM 🐳
🐳 Fight digital chaos. Turn noise into narrative. Do more with less.
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🚨 Cyber Markets Brief #33 is live 🚨
🔗 Read the full brief & subscribe: https://open.substack.com/pub/cyberpmm/p/cyber-markets-brief-33
🐳 Top Cyber PMM Update
• 🎙 Interview with Ken Dunham — 35 years in cyber, from early internet threats to U2 spy planes, Predator drones, iDefense, and Optiv’s Threat DNA.
📺 https://youtu.be/ZTveExo5aRE?si=wVzVOMpBGi1C1foS
📰 https://substack.cyberpmm.com/p/s3e7-interview-with-ken-dunham-35
📰 Top Industry Updates
• 📉 Gartner stock takes heat — insiders say fundamentals strong
• 🥵 DEF CON 33 too big? Calls to split East/West
• 🏆 DARPA AIxCC crowns winners, tools going open-source
• 💰 Cisco doubles AI infra order targets
🎧 Top Content Plugs
• 📊 Security budgets slow to +4% YoY (IANS + Artico)
• 💬 SentinelOne CMO LinkedIn “winning” post debate
• 🤖 GPT-5 Prompting Guide for crisp PMM outputs
🚀 Startups & Funding
• 🤝 Accenture to acquire CyberCX (~A$1B)
• 💵 1Kosmos raises $57M Series B
🔧 Tool Plug
• ⌨️ Mac Voice Control Shortcut — tap Control twice, talk, done
🔭 Things Ahead
• 📅 AI Risk Summit — Aug 19–20
• 📅 CrowdStrike Fal.Con — Sep 15–18
• 📅 Gartner SRM Summit — Sep 22–24
• 📅 ICS Cyber Security Conference — Oct 28–30
• 📅 Forrester Security & Risk Forum — Nov 3–4
💼 Gig Alerts — Okta, Wiz, 1Password, KnowBe4, Cytactic
💡 PMM Tip
“Everyone has a plan till they get punched in the face” — Mike Tyson. Listen first. Talk less.
🔗 Read the full brief & subscribe: https://open.substack.com/pub/cyberpmm/p/cyber-markets-brief-33
Cyber PMM Podcast: Ken Dunham on Cybersecurity Leadership & Dark Web Operations
In this gripping episode of the Cyber PMM Podcast, I welcome cybersecurity veteran Ken Dunham, who shares insights from his 35+ years of experience in cybersecurity, incident response, dark web operations, malware research, and strategic transformation.
We dive into Ken's fascinating journey into cybersecurity, starting from a chance encounter with a Macintosh computer to pioneering efforts in threat intelligence. Ken also discusses his work with the U2 spy plane and Predator drone programs, his success with iDefense and Eyesight Partners, and the creation of the Optiv Threat DNA platform.
The conversation covers the importance of storytelling in cybersecurity, the role of faith and dreams in career progression, and practical advice for product marketers and those building new cyber products. Tune in to hear Ken's unique perspective on the evolving cybersecurity landscape and his tips for combating digital chaos.
00:00 Introduction to the Cyber PMM Podcast
00:17 Meet Ken Dunham: Cybersecurity Expert
01:14 Ken's Journey into Cybersecurity
03:12 College Days and Early Tech Fascination
05:21 First Encounters with Viruses and Early Programming
11:56 From Free Antivirus Software to About.com
16:42 Transition to Military Projects and Advanced Tech
22:00 Leadership Lessons and Emotional Intelligence
27:47 The Importance of Communication in Leadership
28:48 Ken's New Book on Cyber CSO Marksmanship
29:43 The Role of CISOs in the Industry
30:15 The Power of Storytelling in Cybersecurity
30:27 Creating a Community for CISOs
32:48 Transitioning to Cybersecurity Full-Time
34:42 The Journey with iDefense and iSight Partners
38:52 The Role at Optiv and Threat DNA
40:02 The Intersection of Biology and Cybersecurity
41:56 Challenges in the Cybersecurity Industry
52:03 Advice for Cybersecurity Product Marketers
54:23 Final Thoughts and Advice for Innovators
58:54 Conclusion and Contact Information
Cyber Markets Brief #32 just dropped. Here’s what’s inside 🧠👇
📰 Top Industry Updates
• Black Hat 2025 takeaways from Roger Grimes
• Gartner stock tanks—AI’s impact on analyst firms
• Richard Stiennon says LLMs aren’t replacing analysts (yet)
• Microsoft debuts Project Ire (autonomous malware agent)
🎧 Content Worth Bookmarking
• OWASP’s Agentic AI Security & Governance v1.0
• Anthropic’s Claude now auto-reviews code for security
• What is a hacker? Ted Harrington explains
🚀 Startup + Market Moves
• SentinelOne acquires Prompt Security (~$250M)
• Xbow becomes first autonomous pentest agent to top HackerOne
• Safe Security ($70M) + Noma Security ($100M) raise big
• AI security backlash heats up
• HACK ETF up 32% YoY
• 20 years of cyber M&A: 200 vendors became 11
🔧 Tool Plug
• OpenAI drops GPT-5 + OSS-120B model
• Cursor integration → fast-track PMM workflows
💼 PMM Jobs
• Cloudflare, Cyera, ReversingLabs, Delinea + more
💡 PMM Tip of the Week
Tech jobs may shrink, but AI freelance is booming.
Prompt engineering roles on Upwork are up 51% QoQ.
The audio version of this brief is AI-generated, using NotebookLM by Google.
This week’s brief includes Gartner’s updated $213B cybersecurity spend forecast, Palo Alto Networks’ bid to acquire CyberArk, IBM’s breach cost trend, GenAI trust issues, and why Peter Drucker wants you to skip that meeting. Plus, top tools, funding news, and Cyber PMM jobs worth chasing.
📩 Subscribe to receive the full brief straight to your inbox → https://cyberpmm.substack.com
🚨 Cyber Markets Brief #30 is live!
This week’s edition is loaded with sharp updates, real talk, and zero fluff.
🧭 What’s Inside:
📰 Top Industry Updates
• MSFT SharePoint exploit flagged as “SolarWinds-level”
• Allie Mellen on data lake strategy shifts
• 307 vendors headed to Black Hat
🎧 Top Content Plugs
• Gartner says: budgets are shrinking
• Wynter’s audit → 6% think their messaging stands out
• Expel CSO on MSSP trends
🚀 Funding & M&A News
• PANW x SentinelOne?
• DDOG x Upwind?
Hot takes from Cole Grolmus 👀
🔧 Tool Plug
🧠 Cursor – if you’ve got a workflow pain, build your own AI tool. Maybe your problem is a product.
💼 Cyber PMM Gigs
• Skyhigh, Microsoft, Elastic, KnowBe4
💡 PMM Tip
Use this AI prompt to simulate analyst feedback before your next messaging pitch. Fast, brutal, helpful.
💨 Fluffy Word to Watch
❌ Agentic. Use it sparingly. Describe the agent’s actual function + user outcome.
📬 Subscribe: https://cyberpmm.substack.com
Thanks for listening to Cyber Markets Brief #29!
This week’s drop hits hard with industry insights, PMM tools, funding news, and a much-needed reminder to pause and reset.
Here’s what’s inside:
📰 Industry Updates
• Gartner 2025 Magic Quadrant for EPP
• CyberArk launches tools to secure AI agents in AWS
• Forescout unveils non-quantum-safe encryption detection
🎧 Content Plug
• Lex Fridman interviews DHH (worth every minute)
🚀 Startup & Funding
• Cybersecurity funding hit $9.4B in H1 2025• Empirical Security emerges from stealth with $12M
🔧 PMM Tool Plug
• Navattic – no-code interactive product demos for GTM teams
🔭 Things Ahead
• Black Hat USA 2025 (Aug 2–7)
• DEF CON 33 (Aug 7–10)
💼 PMM Job Alerts
• HUMAN, SentinelOne, Abnormal AI, CrowdStrike, NETSCOUT
💡 PMM Tip
Step away. It's summer. You need the reset.
💨 Fluffy Phrase to Avoid
❌ “Fluffy” (yes, even this word is getting... fluffy)
👇 Subscribe here if you haven’t yet:
https://cyberpmm.substack.com/
Cyber PMM Brief #28 – The Summer Slowdown Edition ☀️🐳
This week:
• 41 cybersecurity M&A deals shake up the vendor map
• Google, Thales, and OpenText drop fresh threat intel
• Forrester’s new Zero Trust Wave changes the leaderboard
• Black Hat & DEF CON are coming fast—PMMs, get ready
• Plus: the one meeting you should decline this week
Slower pace, same smart signal. Subscribe for weekly drops built for cybersecurity PMMs who want zero fluff, full focus.
Brief #27 is live—your industry edge in less than 15 minutes. Packed with signal, not noise, here’s what Cyber PMMs need to know:
• Cloudflare launches Pay-Per-Crawl, reshaping AI economics
• New AI tools built for PMMs and creators
• Top podcasts on GTM strategy + SecOps AI
• Fresh cyber startup funding and product launches
• Black Hat 2025 and what’s ahead for August
Stay sharp. Stay ahead.
In this episode of the Cyber PMM podcast, I interview Jordan Snapper, also known as Dr. Cyber, who is the CEO and Chief Content Surgeon of Doctor Cyber. We dive into the essential collaboration between product marketers and content marketers in cybersecurity.
Watch the full episode on YouTube
Jordan shares his unique journey into the cyber world, the importance of understanding the product deeply, and the pivotal role of content in addressing cyber buyers' pain points.
The discussion covers practical tips, such as leveraging Reddit and podcasts for content intelligence, the significance of original research, and effective strategies for utilizing AI tools to scale content production.
Jordan also highlights the value of aligning product and content marketing from day one and offers insights into the landscape of cyber content marketing. This episode is packed with actionable advice for anyone looking to excel in cybersecurity marketing. 00:00 Introduction to the Cyber PMM Podcast00:16 Meet Dr. Cyber: Jordan Snapper's Journey00:49 The Importance of Content in Cyber Marketing05:05 Leveraging Reddit for Content Insights07:45 AI Tools and Content Production21:51 The Power of Original Research32:29 Introduction to MCP and Medium32:43 Exploring Substack and Technical Content33:53 Content Distribution Channels: Reddit, YouTube, LinkedIn35:26 The Importance of Owning Your Content36:13 Maximizing Podcast Content37:36 Creative Content Strategies and Industry Insights46:22 Event Marketing and Content Generation50:13 Effective Product Marketing and Use Cases54:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts