AI attacks now move in minutes, not weeks: N-Able's Robert Johnston on the SOC's AI reckoning

AI attacks now move in minutes, not weeks: N-Able's Robert Johnston on the SOC's AI reckoning

Author: David Shipley August 22, 2026 Duration: 36:23
How AI Is Reshaping MDR, SIEM, and the SOC: Robert Johnston on Faster Attacks, MSP Security, and What's Next
 
In this Weekend episode of Cybersecurity Today, host David chats with Robert Johnston—former U.S. Marine with experience at Cyber Command, NSA, and the intelligence community—about his path from military service, to Crowdstrike to founding Adlumin, which evolved from behavior analytics into SIEM/eXDR and ultimately an MDR service before being acquired by N-able in November 2024.
 
They discuss how AI is transforming SOC operations by automating time-consuming work like incident summaries, enabling more customized investigations, and helping reduce alert fatigue while improving verdicts. Johnston explains how AI-driven attacks are compressing dwell time from weeks to minutes or hours, forcing defenders to match detection and response speed, and predicts increased AI-enabled vulnerability discovery will make patching and vulnerability management more critical.
 
The conversation also covers MSPs becoming security providers, regulatory friction around AI, autonomous hacking headlines, and why hack-back by private companies risks collateral damage and liability.
 
00:00 Sponsor NordLayer
00:37 Weekend Show Intro
02:02 Robert Career Journey
03:08 Building Adlumin
05:50 AI Transforms SOC Work
08:56 AI Investigations Upgrade
11:23 Alert Fatigue and MDR
13:49 MSPs Become MSSPs
19:30 AI as Opportunity and Threat
21:13 Attack Speed Compression
22:54 Wins and Frustrations
26:59 Autonomous Hacking Reality
29:03 Hack Back Debate
32:43 Next 12 Months Forecast
34:28 Closing Thanks
35:22 Sponsor Message Return

Every morning, Jim Love sifts through the noise of the digital world to bring you a clear, concise briefing on what actually matters. Cybersecurity Today isn't about fearmongering; it's about practical awareness. You'll hear straightforward analysis of the most recent attacks targeting companies, from sophisticated ransomware campaigns to stealthy data theft. Jim breaks down the implications of major breach disclosures, explaining not just what was stolen, but how it happened and who is affected. The focus remains on actionable intelligence-concrete steps and strategic thinking that can help protect your organization's data and infrastructure. This daily podcast serves as an essential filter for IT professionals, business leaders, and anyone responsible for digital assets, transforming complex threats into understandable insights. Tune in for a grounded perspective on navigating an online landscape where the risks are constantly evolving, and the need for clear, timely information has never been greater.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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