Cyber Defense Magazine: Innovator Spotlight: Breaking the Silos: How Human Creativity Transforms Cybersecurity Defense at NetSPI

Cyber Defense Magazine caught up with Maril Vernon at RSA Conference 2025 for a conversation on proactive security using NetSPI for a better approach to threat and exposure management. Read the preview below or view it online. 

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Technology can protect us, but people truly defend us. Behind every firewall, every complex algorithm, and every security protocol stands a human – someone who thinks beyond the code, who understands that cybersecurity is fundamentally about anticipating human behavior, not just blocking technical vulnerabilities. 

Meet Maril Vernon, a cybersecurity professional who embodies this philosophy. With just six years in the industry, she’s already risen to a principal role, bringing a unique perspective that challenges traditional security paradigms. 

“I broke into cybersecurity completely non-technical,” Vernon reveals. “Within four months of starting, I was pen testing. A year later, I was on a red team for a FAANG-sized organization. Most red teamers don’t speak risk – that’s where I made my mark.” 

Her journey isn’t just a personal success story; it’s a blueprint for how modern cybersecurity professionals must think. Vernon’s background spans offensive security, risk management, and a deep understanding of cloud infrastructure – she even helped author the CIS benchmark for AWS. But what truly sets Vernon apart is her belief that security can’t exist in isolated chambers. “We need to break down silos,” she emphasizes. “Collaborative security means bringing together developers, pen testers, and every vertical in between.” 

This philosophy now drives her work at NetSPI, a professional penetration testing and product firm with over 350 fully badged in-house testers. 

You can read the full story here.