The Cybersecurity Recruiter talks to Manal Iskander, Founder, PCtronics Managed IT, Security and Automation
The Cyber Security Recruiter PodcastShow Notes
AI-Native Cybersecurity, MSP Automation, and What Education Must Change Next - with Manal Iskander
On the Cybersecurity Recruiter podcast, the host speaks with Manal Iskander, founder of PCtronics , co-owner of Green Shack Marketplace, and Marketing Lead at Fugazi about how AI and cybersecurity are now inseparable and how she’s using an AI-native, agentic software stack (including SuperOps, NinjaOne, SentinelOne, Huntress, and SharePoint-based automation) to speed onboarding, triage tickets, and generate monthly security and operations reporting that drives recurring revenue plus project work.
She describes using a human-centered “double diamond” approach (discover, define, design, deliver) with governance and accountability to decide what to automate vs. keep human-in-the-loop, giving examples like overriding blocked logins for a traveling CEO. She discusses private equity buying MSPs based on MRR, her goal to build toward a much larger exit, and her July 30 keynote in Sacramento for California higher-education CTOs on standardized AI adoption, governance, curriculum shifts toward critical thinking, and risks like Anthropic’s “Mythos” zero-day tool.
Book recommendations mentioned: “Abundance,” “The Human Fork Encoded,” and “The 80-Year Theory.”
00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:28 Keynote and AI Security 01:51 Manel Background Story 03:25 Restaurants and Balance 04:47 Building an AI Native MSP 07:25 PBS Show Origin Story 09:47 Tech as Human Extension 13:54 Human in the Loop Security 15:19 Double Diamond Workflow 19:58 Automated Reporting Engine 23:20 Private Equity and Exit Plans 24:41 Leaving Reporting Teams 25:30 AI Tools For Operations 25:52 AI Boom For Business 26:57 Education Adapts To AI 30:18 Governance For Universities 31:30 Mythos Zero Day Fears 32:48 AI Geopolitics And Money 37:06 Human Fork And Cycles 40:22 Future Work And UBI 42:23 Keeping Up With Pace 43:42 July Keynote Preview 46:46 Adoption Divide And Wrap
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00:00 Welcome and introductions 00:39 Lindsay career snapshot 01:41 Threat intel at Human 02:37 New book launch 03:33 Malware needs context 04:42 Spotting real people online 08:25 AI as attack amplifier 09:45 Phishing at scale 11:50 Democratized hacking risks 15:18 Path to VP leadership 20:00 AI proof risk communication 21:53 Time boxing MIT MBA grind 23:13 Writing a book discipline 23:49 Small wins and purpose 25:15 Book writing deepens mastery 26:39 Communication skills through practice 29:15 Behind the scenes struggles 32:02 Mentors versus sponsors 34:41 Security community collaboration 35:48 Whats next and book teaser 37:46 Boat go faster mantra 39:49 Final thanks and wrap up