But what do you really want?

But what do you really want?

From CISO Perspectives (public) by N2K Networks

March 24, 2026 · 42 min · Season 16 · Episode 130

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges in articulating cybersecurity needs and the impact of talent poaching on the cyber talent ecosystem.

Despite being adopted and prioritized by many organizations, cybersecurity still faces a significant challenge where leaders still cannot articulate their needs, and find and develop talent. Rather, organizations oftentimes follow the same strategy many others are utilizing, which involves poaching talent with enticing salaries. In this episode of CISO Perspectives, host ⁠Kim Jones⁠ sits down with Ed Vasko, the CEO at High Wire Networks, to discuss this approach and the impacts it is having on the cyber talent ecosystem. Throughout the conversation, Ed and Kim discuss their experience when assessing talent and some of the mistakes made by the industry, and what can be done to begin correcting this approach. Want more CISO Perspectives? Check out a companion ⁠⁠blog post⁠⁠ by our very own Ethan Cook, where he breaks down key insights, shares behind-the-scenes context, and highlights research that complements this episode. It’s the perfect follow-up if you’re curious about the cyber talent crunch and how we can reshape the ecosystem for future professionals.

People in this episode

Host: Kim Jones

Guest: Ed Vasko

Topics covered

  • cybersecurity
  • talent acquisition
  • leadership
  • industry challenges
  • cyber talent ecosystem

Keywords

  • cybersecurity
  • talent
  • leadership
  • poaching
  • industry mistakes
  • ecosystem

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: High Wire Networks

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