Tales From The SOC

From going undercover on the dark web to hunting down ransomware that doesn’t want to be found, our co-hosts Duck and David bring a unique perspective to real-world cybersecurity. ”Tales from the SOC” is your go-to podcast for exploring the weird and wonderful world of the Security Operations Center.

Join us on this journey, because understanding is the first step to securing your world.

For more information about our human-led cybersecurity services, head to: https://solcyber.com/

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20 episodes
monthly
Avg 22 min
English

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#27
August 21 · 25 min
Nightmare Eclipse - Where next for bug disclosures? | S1 Ep027
A delightfully provocative discussion of 0-days, bug disclosures, and the very concept of Patch Tuesday. Co-hosts Duck and David challenge entrenched and stodgy industry practices, all with their usual sales-free wit and sensitivity.
#26
July 27 · 24 min
AI - Enterprise best practices | S1 Ep026
Co-hosts Paul Ducklin and David Emerson present an informative guide to using AI safely in your business. No FUD, no hype, and no excitable marketing. Lots of plain-English insight, all presented with their customary good humor.
#25
June 28 · 26 min
Exploits versus Entropy | S1 Ep025
Are the shiniest new threats worse than the disruptive disorder of history? Paul Ducklin and David Emerson are in great form, as always - thoughtfully outspoken but infectiously good humored at the same time.
#24
May 27 · 19 min
Classic Crypto - The Babington Plot | S1 Ep024
Co-hosts Duck and David have more Classic Crypto tales, way back in Shakespeare's time! Insider threats, social engineering, scammer trickery, state-sponsored actors, cryptographic cracking, forged authentication - today's cybersecurity woes, more than 400 years ago.
#23
April 27 · 24 min
Classic Crypto - Operation GUNMAN | S1 Ep023
Co-hosts Duck and David tell the GUNMAN story, a fascinating Cold War tale of USA versus USSR. Learn how the KGB sidestepped American cryptography with a keylogger that demands technical respect (and teaches valuable lessons) to this day, and how the NSA fought back.
#22
March 25 · 25 min
Back to Basics | S1 Ep022
Co-hosts Duck and David take a look at B2B. But they don't mean business-to-business, they mean BACK TO BASICS. Because some cybersecurity problems aren’t best solved by technology. (With humor and good grace throughout!)
#21
February 25 · 23 min
Metrics and measurements - Do they really matter? | S1 Ep021
Co-hosts Duck and David ask some tricky cybersecurity questions, including, "How do you know you're doing the right things to start with?"
#20
January 29 · 21 min
The sins of the past | S1 Ep020
Co-hosts Duck and David take an informed and entertaining look at "the sins of the past" - long-standing bugs that we could so easily have avoided, but didn't.
#19
Dec 30, 2025 · 23 min
The 12 (+353) Days of Sysmas | S1 Ep019
Ready to avoid Yet Another Year-End Cybersecurity Threat Report? Join co-hosts Duck and David for a Treat instead! Our plain-speaking duo celebrate Sysmas - because 'tis the season to be thankful for the Sysadmins, IT staff, and SOCstars everywhere who keep us safe, even in the holidays when many of us are busy with, well, with *not* being busy with cybersecurity 🎉
#18
Nov 26, 2025 · 23 min
Fighting fake content: How you can help | S1 Ep018
Cybersecurity snake-oil is alive, and social media sites are helping it thrive. Duck and David bring their usual strong opinions and good humor to explain why and how to stop it. They're outspoken enough to inspire you to act, while also amusing enough to keep things upbeat and optimistic throughout. Listen now. And tell your friends!
#17
Oct 29, 2025 · 21 min
Waking up from Breach Fatigue | S1 Ep017
As cybersecurity battle cries go, "Assume breach" isn't very convincing. Duck and David explain how to adopt a more positive, proactive mindset.
#16
Sep 17, 2025 · 24 min
What to do about AI? | S1 Ep016
How to stay secure in an AI attackers' world. Practical and actionable advice as co-hosts Duck and David reassure you that it's not as hard as some people think.
#15
Aug 25, 2025 · 22 min
Social engineering - What to do? | S1 Ep015
What if your attackers don't need any technical skills? What if you let them in yourself, simply by being too helpful? Co-hosts Duck and David tackle the tricky problem of treacherous criminals who don't need vulnerabilities, exploits, hacking abilities, or malware.
#14
Jul 24, 2025 · 23 min
SOC Response - How much "out" in outsource? | S1 Ep014
Cybersecurity is a journey, not a destination. Engaging with an MSSP cannot simply be, "Sign the paperwork, walk away, and leave the journey to someone else." Co-hosts Duck and David bring their gentle wit, their thoughtful advice, and just a tiny touch of literary flair to this vital question.
#13
Jun 19, 2025 · 22 min
Taming the ransomware beast | S1 Ep013
Will we ever conquer the scourge of ransomware? Can rules and regulations help? Should we be allowed to pay off cybercriminals at all? Co-hosts Duck and David attack these troublesome questions with their usual mix of insight and humor.
#12
May 15, 2025 · 21 min
AI in cybersecurity - Bane or benefit? | S1 Ep012
Why does it sometimes sound as though no one ever thought of using AI in cybersecurity until now, even though it's been an important part of the industry for years? Is the endless hype helping or hindering our fight against cybercrime?
#11
Apr 7, 2025 · 19 min
Signalgate? Couldn't have asked for a better example | S1 Ep011
Mobile devices have many useful security features - but they aren't impervious to attackers or malware. And they can't protect you from yourself. Co-hosts Duck and David offer their usual mix of gentle humor and solid advice to help you stay safe.
#10
Mar 21, 2025 · 20 min
Govt. versus Crypto - where next? | S1 Ep010
When governments insist that we need to regulate encryption algorithms, is that a practical step, or just intellectual laziness? Co-hosts Duck and David tell it like it is!
#9
Feb 14, 2025 · 18 min
False innovation and invented minutiae | S1 Ep009
Co-hosts Duck and David tell it like it is! Why dramatic threat names and cybersecurity FUD serve marketing but not society, and what we can do about it.
#8
Jan 8, 2025 · 21 min
The illness of excess | S1 Ep008
There's an ever-increasing cost in collecting more and more data just in case. But is there any real value in doing things that way? Co-hosts Duck and David offer their usual mix of gentle humor and sound advice to stop you getting lost on Butter Mountain, or drowned in Data Lake.

Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes