The wait is over. SOC Unlocked is back and better than ever.

This season, we’re stepping in front of the camera—bringing you the faces behind the frontline. You’ll gain new perspectives from fresh voices on the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity, the future of SOC operations, and the role of AI in it all.

Our premiere episode features a powerful conversation with Patricia Titus, Field CISO at Abnormal AI. Drawing on more than two decades of experience—including leadership roles at the TSA, Freddie Mac, and Symantec—Patti brings both gravitas and grit to the mic.

Patti began her career in military intelligence, honing her skills as a Morse code operator during the Cold War. That experience launched a global journey across both government and private sectors, with roles at the State Department, Department of Defense, and even the Swiss government. Patti’s move into cybersecurity was just as bold—she stepped up and asked for the role before it even existed.

"If you want something, ask for it," she says. That mindset became a guiding principle throughout her career—and it’s advice she now passes on to the next generation of security leaders.

In one standout story, Patti recounts a pivotal moment just two weeks into a new CISO role, when a six-year-old breach resurfaced publicly. The data was old, but the crisis was real—and it underscored a key theme of the episode: data has long-term value, especially in the wrong hands.

Even outdated data can do damage. Organizations must rethink data minimization and understand the persistent risks of exposure—especially in an AI-driven era where threat actors are faster and more creative than ever.

Patti also discussed how AI is transforming security teams, not just through tools but by redefining roles. She predicts new titles and career paths emerging, such as AI security engineers and behavioral risk analysts. But alongside opportunity comes complexity—and a growing need for frameworks to guide responsible AI use.

Patti urges security teams to think ahead to quantum computing, warning that many organizations aren’t prepared for what’s next. Encryption, data value, and risk strategy must evolve now, not later.

“Security has been figuring out risk management—we’ve been flying the plane while we’ve been building it.”

Our discussion also covered a reality many security teams know all too well: people remain the most unpredictable variable in any security strategy. Whether it’s an honest mistake under pressure or an intentional act of negligence, human behavior introduces risk that can’t always be patched or firewalled.

Patti challenges the industry to stop positioning employees as the first line of defense, and instead leverage technology—like behavioral AI—to reduce reliance on human action as a primary control. As she puts it, "We’ve got to stop using people as our first line of defense."

This episode serves as an important reminder that cybersecurity isn’t just about firewalls and frameworks. It’s about leadership, resilience, and knowing when to speak up. As the pressure mounts and AI rapidly reshapes our threat landscape, leaders like Patti are showing us what it means to navigate complexity—and stay human while doing it.

Whether you're early in your security career or managing global incident response, this episode delivers insights you won’t want to miss. You can find SOC Unlocked on all of your favorite streaming platforms or listen below!