LevelUp Cyber

About LevelUp Cyber

What is Project Cyber Ready? We are on a national mission to build the ultimate, replicable blueprint for cyber readiness. By researching what is actually working across the country and sharing those stories, we are piecing together the master plan to figure out exactly what is needed to solve this problem once and for all. We don’t have a technology problem; we have a readiness problem. Over the last decade, billions of dollars have been invested in the cybersecurity landscape. We built the labs, designed the ranges, launched the certifications, and bought the software. We already have the tools we need to protect our digital world. But we still have a massive gap. The breakdown isn't our tools; it is how we operate. It’s how we hire, how we use our existing infrastructure, and how we educate our communities. That is the driving force behind the Project Cyber Ready podcast.

Publisher

Tony Bryan

Category

business · education · technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

9 Aug 2019

Latest episode

7 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

1 of 122 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   7 Oct 2026

   Part 3: The “Last Mile” Problem – With Jeff Welgan

   What happens when earning a cybersecurity credential isn’t enough to prove you can do the job? In this episode of Project Cyber Ready, I’m continuing our four-part series by sitting down with Jeff Welgan, CEO of SkillRex, to explore the “last mile”—the gap between earning credentials and demonstrating that you can apply those skills in a real-world environment. The cybersecurity hiring market has changed dramatically. With layoffs, offshoring, downsizing, and automation reshaping the market, employers have more experienced candidates to choose from while entry-level candidates face an increasingly competitive path into the industry. At the same time, certifications and degrees don’t always tell the full story of what someone can actually do. Jeff and I discuss why measurable, demonstrable skills are becoming increasingly important—and why employers need better ways to understand the capabilities of the people they’re hiring. So what does it take to close that last-mile gap? In Part 3, The “Last Mile” Problem, Jeff and I dig into the challenges of translating job descriptions into actual skill requirements, why employers and candidates often speak different languages, and how skills-based approaches can provide better visibility into workforce capability. We also explore the role of hands-on experience, mentorship, labs, job rotations, and practical assessments in helping candidates move beyond theoretical knowledge and demonstrate what they can actually do. Jeff also shares how SkillRex approaches skills measurement and workforce intelligence, including how organizations can establish a baseline of capabilities, identify skill gaps, measure skill growth, and use that data to make better workforce decisions. And we talk about something every organization is thinking about right now: How do you know whether your investments in people, training, and technology are actually working? From measuring skill yield to identifying where organizations should upskill versus hire, data can help employers make more informed decisions—and ultimately build a stronger, more resilient cybersecurity workforce. This is Part 3 of our four-part Project Cyber Ready series. Join me and Jeff Welgan as we explore what it really takes to bridge the gap between credentials and capability—and why proving what you can do may matter more than ever in today’s cybersecurity hiring market. 🎧 Listen in and let’s keep the conversation going. Connect & Join the Movement: 🌐 Website: https://wecyberup.org/ (https://wecyberup.org/) 💼 LinkedIn: Connect with Tony Bryan (https://linkedin.com/in/anthonybryan1); Connect with Jeff Welgan (https://linkedin.com/in/jeff-welgan) 🔔 Subscribe: Hit follow on your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode in our 4-pillar rotation.

2. 

   21 Sept 2026

   Part 2: The Supply Gap: Why the Talent Pipeline Is About to Shrink — With Will Markow

   What happens when the cybersecurity talent pipeline itself starts to shrink? In this episode of Project Cyber Ready, I’m continuing our four-part series by sitting down with Will Markow, founder of FourOne Insights and the developer behind CyberSeek, to take a closer look at the data behind the cybersecurity workforce and what it tells us about the future of the talent pipeline. We’ve heard the headlines about hundreds of thousands of open cybersecurity jobs, but what do those numbers actually tell us? Will and I unpack the data behind the commonly cited workforce shortage figures and explore the difference between job openings, actual supply and demand, and the realities facing early-career versus experienced cybersecurity professionals. So what does this mean for employers, job seekers, educators, and workforce organizations? In Part 2, The Supply Gap: Why the Talent Pipeline Is About to Shrink, I explore the forces reshaping the cybersecurity workforce and the challenges we need to address before the pipeline contracts even further. Will and I also discuss skills-based hiring, including how removing unnecessary bachelor’s degree requirements can expand the talent pool and reduce hiring costs. We talk about how traditional HR processes can create barriers for qualified candidates and how AI is changing the hiring process by making it easier for candidates to apply—and harder for employers to identify true proficiency. We also explore what employers can gain by looking beyond traditional credentials and investing in talent-friendly practices like mentorship, personalized skills development, and stretch assignments—and how these approaches can impact hiring, retention, and the cost of building a cybersecurity team. The cybersecurity workforce isn't standing still. Between changing hiring practices, AI, shifting employer needs, and the challenges facing the talent pipeline, we're entering a new phase—and understanding what the data is really telling us is an important first step toward preparing for what's next. This is Part 2 of our four-part Project Cyber Ready series. Join me and Will Markow as we dig into the data, look beyond the headlines, and explore what employers and communities can do to build a stronger cybersecurity workforce pipeline. 🎧 Listen in and let’s keep the conversation going. Connect & Join the Movement: Website: https://wecyberup.org/ (https://wecyberup.org/) LinkedIn: Connect with Tony Bryan (https://linkedin.com/in/anthonybryan1) | Connect with Will Markow (https://linkedin.com/in/will-markow) Subscribe: Hit follow on your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode in our 4-pillar rotation.

3. 

   16 Sept 2026

   Part 1: The Broken Handoff: When “Job-Ready” Gets Lost in Translation

   What happens when “job-ready” means different things to educators and employers? In this episode of Project Cyber Ready, I’m kicking off a four-part series exploring one of the biggest challenges I see in the cybersecurity workforce: the broken handoff between training and hiring. We have a massive and growing cybersecurity training ecosystem producing tens of thousands of candidates each year. At the same time, employers are navigating a very different reality—one shaped by risk, compliance requirements, changing hiring practices, and the need for measurable, immediately applicable skills. So why aren't those two sides connecting more effectively? In Part 1, The Broken Handoff: When “Job-Ready” Gets Lost in Translation, I unpack the different realities facing employers and educators, how advisory boards can unintentionally create isolated pockets of readiness, and why localized feedback doesn't always translate across the broader job market. I also share three steps I believe can help us start bridging that divide: Shift from opinions to frameworks. Use established frameworks like NIST/NICE, CMMC, and CIS Controls to create a shared language around cybersecurity skills. Standardize around regional market demands. Establish a common baseline for entry-level cybersecurity roles while still accounting for the unique workforce needs of each community. Share resources across pathways. Find ways for universities, community colleges, workforce organizations, and training providers to share resources, hands-on environments, and knowledge rather than operating in silos. We don't need to eliminate advisory boards or industry collaboration. We need to make those connections clearer, more objective, and more scalable. This is Part 1 of our four-part Project Cyber Ready series. Join me as we look at what it will take to build a stronger connection between cybersecurity education, employers, and the workforce. 🎧 Listen in and let’s keep the conversation going. Connect & Join the Movement: Website: https://wecyberup.org/ (https://wecyberup.org/) LinkedIn: Connect with Tony Bryan (https://linkedin.com/in/anthonybryan1) Subscribe: Hit follow on your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode in our 4-pillar rotation.

Inside a recent episode

Ep 104: API Security 101 with Jeremy Snyder

Published 27 Aug 2024 · Transcript excerpt

[…] I think of websites and HubSpot and websites that aim to process and PCI stuff. And, you know, there's a lot of stuff, you know, what are some things that small the mid -size, or even big businesses can do to make that better? Well, I'll start with the good news. And the good news is that let's say in the example that you just gave, which I think is typical for many smaller to medium -sized businesses, you're writing very few of your own APIs if you're a small to medium business. You're probably consuming a lot of third -party APIs from exactly the likes of the companies that you mentioned, you know, the HubSpots, the stripes, the Twilios of the world, plaid, and any number of kind of common services that you might hear of Google Analytics would be another one. […]

Who has been a guest on LevelUp Cyber

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Sairam Durgaraju
• Jessica Cassidy
• Steve Zalewski
• Susan Klement
• James Bierly

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.7 / 5

7 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Questions about LevelUp Cyber