MSSP Leadership Lessons from Ed Vasko, CEO of High Wire Networks’ Overwatch

TL;DR: In this episode you will learn:

• When should CEOs leverage emotional thinking vs analytical thinking?

• How do MSSPs evaluate new markets to break into?

• How do CEOs analyze and identify industry trends that are worthy of exploration?

In this episode of Let’s SOC About It, the podcast by D3 Security, the conversation revolves around effective leadership and the challenges of navigating the MSSP industry. Amy Tom, D3’s Community Manager, sits down with Ed Vasko, the recently appointed CEO of High Wire Networks’ Overwatch. Ed brings more than 30 years of experience as a cybersecurity entrepreneur and has been a CEO four previous times.

Ed shares with Amy his unique perspective as an MSSP executive, with many interesting insights about leadership. He contrasts his experience as a founder with the experience of coming into a well-established team at Overwatch, and describes how that impacts his approach to strategy.

Ed also shares insights into the evolving cybersecurity landscape. With new threats emerging daily, it is crucial for leaders to stay ahead of potential risks. This leads to a broader look at identifying emerging opportunities within under-served sectors, known as greenfield or blue sky markets, where competition is low and demand is high. Ed speaks on how he found those opportunities with a previous company, and how he is approaching the same process with Overwatch.

This episode also delves into the urgent need for cybersecurity in industries such as manufacturing and critical infrastructure, particularly within the defense industry. Ed emphasizes the importance of protecting these sectors from adversarial threats and the national security implications of cyberattacks. Despite the high demand for services in these areas, the workforce is insufficient to meet the need, creating an opportunity for providers to step in and offer much-needed coverage.

Episode Highlights