INTERVIEW: A Q&A with Stephan Tallent

Tell us a little bit about your career.

Started a SOC within a VAR, converted the VAR to an MSSP, and sold it. Since then I’ve been working to empower MSSPs to be better and more profitable at their craft with a service enablement mindset around key cybersecurity technologies and security operations. That includes telecommunications companies, SaaS vendors, and security vendors like Fortinet and Cybereason.

**How do you like to spend your free time? **

In the ocean, paddle surfing, on a golf course, or on the soccer pitch. I love cooking too, so big fan of trying new things in the kitchen.

**What do you do at Cyware? **

I lead our MSSP Go-to-market. I joined Cyware to strengthen and expand our MSSP program, developing valuable service offerings that address the current and emerging needs of our partners. While I aim to build on the existing program, my approach involves introducing innovative services and optimizing operations to ensure our solutions meet the evolving needs of MSSPs. This includes consulting on architecture, service creation, go-to-market strategies, and sales operations to ensure our partners are equipped to boost efficiency, efficacy, and profitability.

**What do MSSPs need from Cyware? **

MSSPs need solutions that are not only effective in tackling the threat landscape but are also efficient, agile, and scalable to manage. They look for modular solutions that can be tailored to diverse customer requirements. To address these needs, I plan to leverage Cyware's unique cybersecurity portfolio to enhance analyst productivity and reduce operational costs for our partners. This will involve close collaboration with MSSPs to understand their challenges and customize our offerings to better suit their needs.

**What industry-related misconception drives you crazy? **

AI is going to automate security operations. This oversimplifies the complexities and nuances of the field. Security operations involve not just the identification and neutralization of threats, but also strategic decision-making that requires human judgment, contextual understanding, and adaptability to the evolving threat landscape. This oversimplification can lead to unrealistic expectations from technology, underestimating the indispensable role of skilled cybersecurity personnel in devising and implementing comprehensive security strategies.

What three words would you use to describe Cyware?

Automated, collective defense

**If you were a professional athlete, what would your walkout music be? **

Barracuda by Heart

**What’s your guilty pleasure movie? **

Animal House

**If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be? **

Sydney, Australia

**What is your favorite TV show and why? **

I don’t watch much TV, but I like The Today Show. I like to start my mornings with news updates and enjoy the familial format and the commentators.